Sheila Miles

Bold, often-colorful shapes spill across the canvas of Sheila Miles’s work, telling stories from her life. And even though her style has evolved since she moved to Montana in 1980, the essence of the art – its imagery based on metaphor and mood – remain at its core. Miles said she expects her paintings to take her to a new place. Like a runner waiting for the endorphins to kick in, Miles paints in the moment, offering every ounce of her being to her work, eager to see where it takes her.

Miles sees similarities with automatic paintings. She and her husband go on long drives, where she can shoot hundreds of pictures of potential scenes. The photos might have imperfections, such as out-of-focus portions, that she can use to her advantage.