I paint animals with reverence, affection, and close attention.

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My work grows out of a deep love of animals and the joy of studying them slowly — the curve of an ear, the direction of fur or feathers around an eye, the moment when light brings a gaze to life.

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I’m drawn to painting animals in a focused, almost icon-like way, and presenting them as cherished objects. Many pieces are finished with hand-crafted frames inspired by the wide, dark frames of Northern European painting, with gilded elements that give the animals presence and dignity.

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Alongside that sense of devotion, there is often playfulness at work — a quiet humor, a spark of personality, a suggestion of mischief or tenderness. I’m interested in the way animals can feel solemn and amusing at the same time, capable of holding gravity and lightness in a single glance.

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These works are meant to feel like quiet treasures — playful and reverent at once — honoring animals as beings worthy of care, attention, joy, and a little ceremony.

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—Julie Miller