In the Studio with Artist Mollye Miller
Today, we’re going In the Studio with artist Mollye Miller. Mollye’s artwork is currently on display in the Chesapeake Arts Center’s Power to…the Art of Protest Gallery exhibit.
Baltimore photographer, Mollye Miller, is a storyteller. Her work encapsulates the emotions and reality of life; joyful, sad, uplifting and everything in between. Though she shoots many types of events, her documentary-style of photography is authentic and honest, capturing beauty and truth at its core. Mollye’s approach as a photographer is not to set a scene, but rather to watch and take-in. She prefers to witness her clients and photograph them in their natural, most realistic setting, allowing her to capture their true character. When Mollye is not creating, she is spending time with her furry pal and step-children, running, listening to funny podcasts or enjoying a mug of dark roast.
Here’s Mollye talking about her art, process and experience...
What style, genre or medium of art excites you the most?
Street photography. Simple. Truthful. Trustful. Boldly contrasted and drunk with emotion.
Do you consider yourself an artist? Why or why not?
Absolutely. It took me a while to own that term but yes I’m an artist: I create things that didn’t exist before and mean a lot to me.
How do you find inspiration?
WALKING. Everyday beauty. And boredom. Mostly I want to run toward the thing that’s drawing attention, concern and emotion story-making. And if none of that is happening within reach for me, I’m drawn toward places that seem depressing but hide a lot of secret beauty and insight into how we live (and possibly ways we could live better).
What emotion(s) fuel your work?
Joy. Dread. Excitement. Fear. Humor. Boredom. Those are the top 6. For better or worse, they’re always there.
What does your artwork represent?
Us.
When did you start creating art? Was there an event that led you to this?
First writing, then photography. Anything emotionally rigorous. Anything that lets me learn more about and participate more in being fully human and present and grateful and ambitious.
How often do you create art?
Everyday if at all possible which it usually is.
When do you art? (before coffee, after bed, when inspiration strikes…)
Anytime after coffee.
What is your studio/creative space like? Or what is your favorite place to create in?
Any space is my space. I’m sure I’d love my own office or a really special messy studio but for now it’s my desk in the middle of the house. I like mess. But I also like a “pretty” spot. I need to be able to feel comfortable enough to forget I’m someplace at all.
Do you work on one piece of art at a time, or multiple?
Multiple. Almost always. Focus on one thing is hard. It’d be cool to try that some time…
What’s in a name; how do you title your artworks?
Really simple. I like to name it what it is, nothing more or less.
What’s your go-to song or album that you listen to while you create?
I can’t listen to music when doing much…. I feel “too much” and it’s distracting. But if anything it’d be hip-hop. I’m working on listening to more music in 2022 because I lovvvvvve music and want it to be part of my creating time, even when writing.
What city have you always wanted to create art in?
Berlin. And also not a city but a remote island. And also not a remote island but a very arctic faraway forest place like Lapland, Scandinavia. Or not arctic but near-arctic at times - a small village in Russia on the Volga river, like Myshkin, where all there is for miles (or kilometers) is ancient cold and old buildings and customs and chimneys and people I don’t know speaking a language I won’t ever fully learn.
If you could be anything besides an artist, what would you be, and why?
National Geographic Explorer. I haven’t given up that dream, though ;)
How does art impact our society?
It gives back. As an individual working toward a positive impact, I am currently working on a program where when a client books a documentary family session with me I will commit to a long-term documentary photo essay project for a family who would not otherwise afford or imagine the possibility of having professional photography. Meaning, my clients (and I) are giving forward to another family with a uniquely complex and/or fragile situation or condition, a story that needs to be told and shared through still images.
For more information on Mollye and her photography, check her out on instagram @mollyemillerphotography or on her website https://www.mollyemiller.com/.
Hal Gomer Gallery Hours:
Monday-Thursday 10:00am-6:00pm
Saturday 10am-1pm ( starting on January 15, 2022)
*Visitors are required to call ahead to reserve a time to view the exhibit. Please call CAC’s main office at 410-636-6597 during our business hours Monday - Thursday, 10:00 am-6:00pm to reserve a date and time. Visitors will be checked in upon arrival and masks are required to enter the gallery and CAC building.