A New Wee Art Lamp

Just finished this little art lamp today. It's called "A Wealth of Pennies" and is only about 7" high and 6 wide. It's got lines from a poem I wrote a while ago on the top and bottom front edges, "Tossing magic around like a wealth of pennies" and "Transmuting nickel silver into finest liquid gold."

I'll have to do a video of it so you can see all sides and see it switched on. Inside it has a wee candelabra night light bulb, so it's completely safe to have it enclosed. Makes for a nice warm glow.

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A Wondrously Odd Calendar from HaggisVitae Studios

I had a bunch of requests to do a 2015 wall calendar... so here she is! Had a ball designing it. It's got a bunch of Vintage Fictions images (you can flip through on the site to see what's included), and with each image is a favorite quote to keep your brain humming through the year. Check it out and maybe pick one up for yourself if you are tired of the kitten, puppy, lighthouse, barn calendars that seem to be everywhere this time of year.

Wishing everyone a HAPPY HOLIDAY! 

Stay safe and warm and hug all your loved ones tight. 

Thanks for all your support, 

and for joining me on this odd little journey.

Cheers,

Julie

aka HaggisVitae

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"Out Of The Past" - A Two Woman Show Not To Be Missed

Please join Jann Kniskern and I 

for a night of vintage-inspired artwork. 

For more info, here's an excerpt
 from our press release...

"Artists Julie Miller and Jann Kniskern are conjuring up the past in darkly magical ways this winter with their evocative two-woman show, “Out of the Past”, running December 1- 31, 2014 at the popular J.B. Kline & Son Gallery in the heart of Lambertville, NJ.

'Jann contacted me with the idea of a two woman show after seeing my work, and seeing this crazy passion we both have for vintage photographs and for using them in our work,' says Julie Miller. 'Our two styles are quite different, and yet they complement each other in some really exciting ways.'

Their delight in vintage photographs is the common thread for the two artists, though woven through their work in exquisitely different ways. For Miller, vintage photos, seamlessly merged with other images of her own, allow her to create a surreal universe where anything is possible; a netherworld of strange characters, unlikely settings, and curious tales.

In Kniskern’s work, vintage photos become part of a larger, layered image, reflecting her background in textile design. Her playful use of color, her juxtaposition of images, text, and textures, all combine to create a richly collaged, boldly graphic image that brings these vintage portraits to exuberant life.

Miller’s pieces are beautifully printed editions of digitally manipulated images and photos, in rich, soft sepia, monochromatic tones, and muted colors, while Kniskern’s are colorful, one-off images using screen printing and other printmaking techniques.

Join these two kindred artists for their “Out of the Past” Opening Reception at the J.B. Kline Gallery during Lambertville’s Second Saturday celebration on Saturday, December 13 from 6-9pm. Enjoy music, nosh on homemade holiday treats, and do some last minute shopping for that special, hard-to-buy-for someone. The artists will have a beautiful array of gift-able art available, from journals, books and cards to pillows, prints, buttons and more."

—Kate Scuffle, Anam Cara Communications

PLEASE COME SAY HI, HAVE A NOSH, CHECK OUT SOME COOL

VINTAGE-INSPIRED ARTWORK, DO A BIT OF 

LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING
AND BE SOCIAL.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOVELY EVENING!

OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, December 13, from 6 - 9 p.m.

J.B. Kline and Son Gallery

25 Bridge Street

Lambertville, NJ 08530

Mon. thru Thurs. & Sun Noon to 8 p.m.
Fri. & Sat. Noon to 9 p.m.
609/397-7026


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The Guardian

The Guardian, ©2006 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studios

Ever-present boy of light

He sits atop the books by night

To keep them safe from theft or harm

His watch he keeps until the morn

When off he flies to slumber sweet

Tucked in amongst the volumes neat

~J. Miller

(This is a piece from 2006! One of the first I made. I can't believe I hadn't yet posted it to this blog. He is still a favorite of mine.)

The Nerdist Purchased My Lower Deadhorse!! Wooo!

Was so excited to awake to this post (which I was alerted to by friend Marc... thank you, Marc!) 

The Nerdist, Chris Hardwick, of "Talking Dead" and the Nerdist Podcase (among many other things!) purchased one of my images, "The Lower Deadhorse Fall Festival and Nonchalant Balancing Competition of 1892.

How very cool of him to post about it too, and to give me credit. Thank you, Nerdist. That was quite awesome of you. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come. This was definitely the highlight of my day! Underneath this post in the comments are bunches of his fans that are also liking my wee creepy man. This is my brush with fame. 

Have you seen this Lower Deadhorse Image of mine? Here it is...

"The Lower Deadhorse Fall Festival and Nonchalant Balancing Competition of 1892"
©2010 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studios

"I can do this... I can DO this! I've been up here each of the last 322 years, you'd think it would come easy by now.   Just... have... to FOCUS... "

Alchemy III - Solve et Coagula

 ©2007 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studios

An oldie from the vaults.

A Vintage Fiction Ice Bucket Challenge - "Die Eimer Mit Eis"

Was nominated to do the ALS ice bucket challenge by a brilliant artist friend, Matt Roby in the UK. I detest being on film or speaking or any such thing, but was feeling guilty for avoiding the challenge. SO, I did a bit of a dark, German expressionist/newsreel thing. Check it out!

I had so much fun making this thing, it's made me want to do more dark, odd videos.

PS It was about 500 degrees Fahrenheit with 167% humidity this day. The black clothing head to toe and the black wool hat were akin to a hair shirt. I was doing penance for my slow followthrough on this challenge.




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Elazarus P. Magnolia, Esquire

He was never very amused when they dressed him in this fashion. They thought it was cute and giggled and snapped photographs. He stood patiently trying prevent his irritation and humiliation from being apparent.

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Curious DNA Tangles

©2014 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studio

Mutations be damned, mother loved them all equally.

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Boo. (Preparing for Halloween)

"Pockets" ©2014 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studio

Working on a pile of new images. It's a bit cool out, and for August in the northeast, that's crazy. Has me thinking about the fall and pumpkins and bats and spiders and Halloween.

Calling The Seasons—another new art lamp

Just completed this lamp, all set to go to Ron De Long's gallery this coming weekend. These lights are keeping me up at night—I keep imagining other images that will work together. I have some very cool antique clock cases that will be the next victims. They are both dark and Gothic looking. Perfect. I'm thinking about vintage medical illustrations. Hmmmm.

Please see the previous post for information on this show/sale featuring 10 artists. I've reduced my prices on many things. Will have some things priced crazy low. Come join us for a day of art in the country!

Behold, The Insect King

Just finished this piece yesterday. Sometimes I complete a piece and am ok with selling it right away, this one, however, I feel attached to. It's small and compact and magical. The light pours through the metal dome and strange shapes appear in light on the ceiling. 

I will have this piece for sale at Ron De Long's gallery this coming weekend along with a few other lights I've made recently.

Ron has a gorgeous property with a restored barn and farmhouse. If you are anywhere near Slatington PA, please think about coming out to the show. It's Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20th. There are 10 artists showing and selling their work. Make a day of it, come see the artwork, maybe take a piece or two home, have some wine, and chat with the artists.

Here are the details...

Saturday, July 19 from 10 - 5

Sunday, July 20 from noon - 4

Studio & Gallery 2908
2908 Rockdale Road
Slatington PA  18080

Ars Medica, a Mutter Inspiration

Ars Medica, mixed media
 ©2013 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studios

Inspired by a visit to the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, this mixed media piece incorporates a real, vintage glass eyeball, a small mammal mandible, some gold leaf flakes, bird feathers, vintage medical book illustrations, all in a shadowbox. The Mutter is one of my most favorite places—intriguing, disturbing, enchanting, quiet, distressing, inspiring, and always interesting. If you have the chance and you're in Philly for a day, do yourself a favor and check it out.

If you're interested in purchasing this piece, contact me.

Nocturne

©2014 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studio






 

Ready To Fledge

I'm in the process of making some more art lights. This little drawing is the result of some brainstorming for one of them. I was really happy with the way it turned out, so I decided to turn it into a little limited edition print. It's only 3 x 3 inches, but is printed on fine art paper by a professional printing company. I have only 50 and they are selling really well. I cut lovely museum board mats for them and backed them with acid-free foam core. Their outside dimensions are 8 x 8 inches.

They are all set to be shipped, so stop by my Etsy store and take a wee peek!

Just an FYI, C. corax is the latin genus/species for the raven—Corvus corax. Here are some cool facts about this fascinating creature.




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Adelaide Merrywhite

©2014 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studio

We're Lucky To Live In This Odd Little World

You are aware, are you not... that Halloween is but a scream away. Time to start the preparations.

The new Vintage Fictions pieces are coming to me in waves. I'm happy about this as I've felt a little uninspired lately. Well, no more, I say.


As always ©2014 Julie Miller/HaggisVitae Studio
All rights reserved.
Please ask permission before using this image.

Seraph: A Lighting Challenge

As part of a challenge for our upcoming show, Annie Giancarlo and I each took an identical vintage wooden box and created a lighting piece using whatever other materials we chose. Just finished this piece yesterday. I must say it was a joy to work on. Took a bit of trial and error and hunting for the perfect bits and pieces to add to it, but I'm pretty damn happy with the result. As you can see, when the light is off, it appears to be just a strange little girl and an eye, turn it on and she suddenly becomes a six winged being. I plan on doing many more of these in upcoming months. This one will be for sale at our show. (Annie's super cool light can be seen here.)

Just a reminder—our show will be hung this coming Saturday, March 1, 2014 and stays up the whole month.

Opening reception with good eats and live music is:

Saturday, March 8th from 6-9 pm

J.B. Kline & Son Gallery

25 Bridge Street

Lambertville, NJ  08530

609.397.7026

The Incarnations of Mr. Aspic Coalshovel

Meet Aspic Coalshovel. Born as a doodle I made while talking on the phone with artist/friend Annie Giancarlo. In her hands he became three dimensional as a wild mask creature with greenish blue skin and bright green eyes. From her mask, I then created this painting bringing Aspic full circle.

All incarnations of Aspic will be on display at J.B. Kline & Son Gallery in Lambertville, NJ for the month of March 2014. He is one of the joint projects Annie and I will be displaying along with lots of other work we each created on our own.

Please join Annie, Aspic, and me for a night of fun...

OPENING RECEPTION:

Saturday, March 8 from 6-9 pm

J.B. Kline & Son Gallery

25 Bridge Street

Lambertville NJ 08530

609.397.7026

Two Valley Girls Migrate to Lambertville NJ for a Show

Annie Giancarlo and Julie Miller... (yes, I'm talking about myself in the third person so there is more text to link to my website! :) ...have been friends, and as we say, "art sisters" for many years showing separately at numerous shows in the Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania) and beyond. Our aesthetic is very different yet somehow intersects at points.

After a night of brainstorming, wine drinking, and laughing, we both agreed it would be great fun to show together and are teaming up in this two-woman show at J.B. Kline & Son Gallery in Lambertville NJ in March 2014. We will be showing work we've created on our own, but will also have a few pieces that we devised as challenges together that have a common element, or show an image evolve into different incarnations as it is passed back and forth between us.

We wanted to celebrate this friendship that began with artwork and grew through collaboration. Annie does a lot of mixed media/assemblage pieces as well as stunning jewelry, while my work tends towards the two-dimensional and is filled with delightful darkness (as you can see by this blog!), but I will have my new shadow box pieces displayed as well. We hope this two-woman show will delight the senses and inspire future collaborations.

Join us for Lambertville's Second Saturday, March 8, as we represent the Lehigh Valley in this night of strange and whimsical art pairings, live music, great food and celebration of creativity and friendship. Tom Walz will be providing his guitar stylings to enhance the evening. Please think of stopping by to say hello and help us consume mountains of black bean hummus. Make a night of it. Other galleries and stores will stay open late for this once-a-month celebration. 

OPENING RECEPTION:

Saturday, March 8 from 6-9 pm

J.B. Kline & Son Gallery

25 Bridge Street

Lambertville NJ 08530

609.397.7026