Hi, I’m Barbara Miller, Aviation Artist and Partner-in-Command
I am an Annapolis, Maryland, artist based at W29 (Bay Bridge Airport). I fly from the right seat of N424BB - a Cirrus SR22 Platinum.
After I began flying in a general aviation aircraft I found my true artistic muse. I express the discovery and wonder of flying in my artwork. I am also an advocate for Partner-in-Command training and participation.
I paint other beautiful subjects such as the flowers that grow in my gardens and the landscapes that pass below.
Inspiration From General Aviation
My experience with general aviation began over 27 years ago when I met my husband and his Cessna Skyhawk.
We transitioned to a Commander 114B and, in 2015, to a new Cirrus SR22.
Our travels frequently include flights up-and-down the East Coast and across the country to-and-from Southern California. During these adventures I practice my Partner-in-Command skills and, of course, discover new amazing views.
The airports and FBOs along the way provide a vast array of unique aviation-related experiences and add to the joyful sense of life traveling by air.
My Style as an Artist
I studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art before beginning a career in advertising graphic design. Shortly after, I co-founded a software company (focused on the real estate title insurance industry) and used my artistic skills to build our brand and separate us from the competition with clean product design. After 20 years of ownership, the business was sold and I began painting full-time.
I begin my work abstractly using large color shapes. It may stay abstract as I move through the intention behind the piece or, when painting a specific aircraft, tighten into realism.
Finding the perfect medium to express my observations in art has led me in many directions. Luminous layering of oil paint provides a rich depth of color and surface that expresses the essence of a subject. Watercolor is unpredictable and allows my imagination to work in conjunction with memory to create a new visual invention. Oil pastel is used to add texture and color in airscapes and aerial abstract art.
Perspective is Everything
I fly with several cameras and lenses equipped with flexible hoods to reduce glare and protect windows from scrapes and scratches. Time spent editing these images adds to the visual memory I rely on to start a painting.
Annapolis Artist
My studio is on the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland. Our location in Maryland is a great base from which to explore the East Coast and beyond.