about NANCY HUGHES MILLER

Unspoiled, desolate beaches were the norm before cars, high-rise bridges and condos packed the oceansides with people. When I paint I feel I am recreating scenes from long ago — rare and endangered landscapes with nothing man-made imposing on the view. Only through my imagination is my art possible and I hope I will always find inspiration in the world we have now. I feel an urgent solution must be found to safeguard our planet as a healthy environment is quickly getting beyond our reach.

I hope my scenes of inlet waters winding to the ocean or those with large clouds on the horizon are a calming influence on the viewer. As a North Carolina landscape artist, I have a love for my state's barrier islands— but not just for their sandy beaches. To me, relaxing and soothing to view are their tidal, salt marshes separating the islands from the mainland. I find them especially inspiring in mid-summer, when the marsh grass turns brilliant yellow-green. I feature this chartreuse-like color in many of my marsh paintings, combined with varying colors in the sky and water. 

I hope my art connects with people and evokes fond memories of a family beach vacation. A lot of families have traditions around their annual week at the beach. They'll rent the same cottage the same summer week at the same coastal community for years and years. Some say my art takes them back to special times and places — a reminder of being carefree and relaxed.

As the Luminists, I strive not to paint the reality of the landscape but 'the state of feeling’ which the landscape produces. I share some of the practices and goals of 19th century Luminists, as do other modern landscape artists, exploring light and its colorful effects on a scene. Elevating everyday nature, I favor compositions with large skies and reflective waters— rendered in a smooth finish without visible brushstrokes. Luminist landscapes emphasize tranquility, depicting a poetic experience of nature or a contemplative perception of nature.

I paint using my imagination, memory and sometimes photographic references. The process involves balancing various components to achieve a pleasing composition. Here, the ancient concept of yin and yang applies as opposites of bright and dark interplay and complement each other to convey a sense of harmony.