Sue Miller

Tracing the Path of an Artist's Life
by Vern Miller

Tracing the path of an artist's life and career is always an interesting pursuit. Every artist seems to see, hear and feel the world in his/her own, unique way. It is often uncommon to find an artist who is able to balance concurrent careers in painting, teaching and marketing his/her creative works. Sue Miller is one of these rare exceptions to what seems to be the rule.

Sue's interest in art was inspired at a very young age by her father, Tony Pacheco, professional artist/musician/teacher.  While teaching Sue how to "see" and develop the techniques necessary to capture these perceptions on paper and canvas, he also showed by example that artists have the capacity to excel at multiple creative pursuits as well as be loving, nurturing parents and self-sufficient, good providers.

It is, perhaps, this example that prompted Sue to begin her professional career as a commercial artist. For twenty years, Sue worked in the advertising departments of ad agencies and newspapers and later became art director for a specialty Real Estate Corporation followed by spearheading the art department for a chain of department stores throughout the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area. All of this time, she continued painting evenings and weekends, developing her skills and building a voluminous portfolio of original artwork.

About sixteen years ago, when faced with her then employer's decision to close their company's art department and outsource all advertising, Sue realized it was time to "soul search" and look at some other options in her career path. Upon her husband's suggestion, she decided to stay at home and begin advertising for art lessons in her home studio. What began with one student rapidly grew into The Magic Palette Art Studio with over 130 students attending art classes each week. In addition to teaching all of these students ranging in age from 4 years old thru senior citizens, Sue also constantly painted.

As the United States entered its first war with Iraq, Sue found herself searching for subject matter that might give people hope and joy. It was during this time that she became interested in painting angels and fantasy art. "It was comforting for me to get lost in the realms of angels or the little fantasy worlds I could create on paper. It was my hope that others would find this same sense of peace and joy in my work."

As Sue sent her work out to magazines, book publishers and companies that license artwork for use on gift products, she discovered that people did have a genuine interest in the message she was trying to convey in her art. As a result, Sue signed licensing agreements with several companies including Pacific Trading, The Fairy Society, Heaven and Earth Designs, Up Your Art, Fantasy Fabric Blocks and Peter Stone Jewelers, Additionally, Sue's painting graces the covers of fantasy book, "Princess Melia" and several magazines. She has also been the featured artist in several fantasy and fairy magazines.

Sue's artwork recently appeared in "How To Draw and Paint Fairies" and "How To Draw and Paint Fairyland" both by famed fantasy artist Linda Ravenscroft. Sue's work also appears in "500 Fairy Motifs" by popular fantasy artist, Myrea Pettit of Fairies World as well as in "Visions of Atlantis" by Ellen Million. Plus "How to Draw and Paint Dragons" by Vickie Visconte to be released soon by a major publisher.

She and her husband, musician/teacher/composer/songwriter, Vern Miller, are currently finishing work on a book of paintings by Sue with inspirational poems by Vern which is slated for release in the Fall, 2008. David Richie of Fairies World is writing the forward and paintings by several of Sue's favorite, well known fantasy artists will be appearing in the book's gallery section.

Sue lives in Northwestern New Jersey, with her husband, Vern, and diatonically challenged golden retriever, Autumn, on scenic Lake Shawnee, in what is locally referred to as the "House of Art and Music. "I spend much of my day painting while Vern is writing, playing and recording in his studio directly across the hall. Autumn lies snoozing on the floor in the hallway between our rooms. It's real cozy"