Hello Art Attack hiring decision maker(s),
I’d like to express my enthusiastic interest in this position.
My experience with Styrofoam is minimal but I have quite a bit of experience working with wood, foam core, fabric and other materials, along with my interest in two-dimensional drawing and painting.
The small project I did in Styrofoam convinced me that to special tools were needed to effectively work with this material. The project in question was my need to carve a small Styrofoam ball. Using as sharp a knife as possible, I was still unable to get a sharp line but I believe the tools you have on hand would solve that issue. Here are some photos of the piece and a companion piece I created in my exploration of placing at two-dimensional image over a three-dimensional (in this case, a sphere) shape. The Styrofoam piece, I coated with plaster of Paris cloth, to get a more even surface.
I have also entered a number of art competitions, including one to create an installation commemorating Prince George’s Centennial (parts 1 & 2).. I also served as a team leader working with an architect on a submission to build a Holocaust Memorial in Ottawa and another
And here’s a short video detailing the creation of my Life Star sculpture using Dollar Store nightlights.
In Prince George, I completed a major outdoor installation, The Spirit of Prince George, 2015, (2014) for Timberspan Wood Products. After creating the design for the work in Illustrator, I used a variety of power tools, including a small router called a laminate trimmer, to carve the Douglas fir panels. For carving out larger areas, I had a large, acrylic plate made that allowed me to open larger areas while keeping my router stabilized on the flat plane of the wood. This is just one example of my ingenuity in finding ways to solve technical problems.
Here’s a gallery of some other wood projects.
Another example of my wood-based art is Teach Only Love.
Another major work, Death from A to Z by Adam Lanza, Dec. 14, 2012 (2013), explores the issue of gun control. I sewed much of this piece with the help of a master quiltmaker. It also illustrates my ability as a song writer and singer.
I am familiar with the vector based program, Illustrator and the photo editing program Photoshop. I believe I could transfer these skills to Corel Draw. Here’s a video and some photos from an outdoor sign I designed using Illustrator and constructed for Northside Automotive in Prince George.
Returning to Canada in 2012, after teaching mostly art for 10 years overseas, I worked with a web designer to launch my WordPress website highlighting my creative abilities in design, writing, photography, art, music and video production. I manage my website and know my way around WordPress.
Making art has been a part of my entire adult life. After studying Commercial Art in high school, I enrolled in a BFA program at the U of A, later opting to complete an Art Education degree. A gallery of some of my early work highlights the fact it often uses simple graphic designs.
My Happy Face Series illustrates my belief in a positive, inclusive world and my abilities with typography, pencil color and Illustrator.
In August 2021,I was included in Observica Prime Magazine’s 13th edition and joined Biafrin, an online platform promoting art, artists and art sales.
I believe I am an excellent candiate for this position and, accordingly, suggest we meet to discuss the contribution I could make to Art Attack in filling this role.
James Miller