SUE MILLER

When does a painting start? This one began on a walk through the forest, breathing in that fresh, pine-scented air and feeling the soft, springy carpet of needles underfoot. No plan, just being in it. Then the trees opened up and gave way to the lake. The light on the water. The quiet stillness. I knew I wanted to paint it. That’s where a painting starts. Not in the studio, but right there in that feeling. Lakebound, 30 x 40 inches, oil/canvas

Exhale, 30 x 48 inches, oil on canvas. This painting was inspired by an evening paddle to watch the sunset. This narrow rocky point stretched into the lake, shaped by time and weather. A silhouetted line of windswept pines have learned how to bend without breaking. They stand strong against the evening sky, each branch catching the last light of the day. As the sun slipped lower, settling just behind the trees, beams of warm light filter through the needles, casting long, gol

Just dropped off new paintings at Cloud Gallery in Orillia! This gallery is filled with such incredible Canadian art. If you’ve been thinking about adding something new to your collection, this is a great time to take a look. Stop in and see them in person or check them out online. Which one is your favourite?

Within , 36 x 48 inches, oil/canvas. This piece comes from a place of stillness. The warmth of the light against the coolness of the trees in shadow creates a lovely contrast. This is a moment to pause, to breathe, and to reconnect with a calm that isn’t somewhere out there, but already within us.

Calm , 12 x 12 inches, oil/canvas Calm began as a quiet moment, a glowing sky settling over the lake, everything soft and still. It is one of those scenes that does not ask for attention but holds you there anyway. ​ This painting is a study for a larger piece to come. Here, I was working through how far I could simplify the landscape while still holding onto that feeling. The light does most of the work, carrying the mood across the water and pulling the viewer in. ​ There i

When the sun is on the horizon setting off that spectacular glow…it makes everything feel so alive. “Ember” is a small piece with a big presence. Golden light, calm water, and soft swirling clouds all came together for this peaceful moment. It’s the kind of painting that gently brightens any room.

With warmer days on the way, I can’t wait to get back out there and experience more moments like this one. Fresh air, warm sunshine, and peaceful water…paradise! Only This , 36 x 48 inches, oil/canvas.

Clouds getting the palette knife treatment. It’s less about perfect shapes, more about building up colour and texture and letting paint do its thing. Funny how it starts to feel alive once you stop overthinking it. Still in progress… but I’m liking where it’s headed. Clouds are in… trees are up next.

Early spring has a magic that’s easy to miss. That brief window when a few new leaves are just appearing and last year’s leaves are still holding on. The air is soft, the light warm and hazy, and the forest feels full of quiet possibility. ​ That’s what I wanted to capture. A path leading you in, inviting you to slow down and explore. Just the gentle pull of a beautiful morning and the curiosity of what might be around the next bend. Into , 36 x 24 inches, oil/canvas.

Last night, I dreamed of my mother. We talked and laughed…and she was herself again, untouched by the effects of dementia. Earlier that day I had been working on a print of this piece. I had painted the original not long after she passed, part of the grieving process and it was the second in a three-part series exploring the effects of time and memory. I poured lots of love into this piece. What a treat it was to be with her last night, even if it was just a dream.

Ever wish you could hold onto that last light of the day just a little longer? ​ Evermore, 48 x 36 inches, oil/canvas. With Evermore, I focused on the way golden hour settles in quietly. The light touches the pine just enough to warm it, while everything else softens into calm. I kept the water still so it could reflect the trees and sky without interruption… blurring that line between what you’re seeing and what you’re feeling. ​ It’s meant to slow you down. That peaceful, g

Evening Drift , 18 x 18 inches, oil/canvas. This painting came from a quiet paddle at the end of a summer day to catch the sunset. ​ As I worked on it, I let the light take over, building that warm glow so it became the heart of the piece. The stillness of the water was important too… it needed to feel calm enough that you could almost drift right into it. ​ It’s one of those paintings where I want you to feel like you could sit there for a moment and watch the day fade away.

This painting was inspired by a quiet moment on the lake when the rising sun filtered through the trees and turned the shoreline to gold. What drew me in was the contrast between the glowing warmth of the morning light and the cool movement of the blue water.​ I leaned into that balance intentionally. The warm reflections and mist along the horizon pull your eye toward the light, while the cooler blues in the foreground water create depth and calm. The goal was to let the vie

Well, I gave it a whirl … I tried to film my painting process but the lighting is bad and the angle is worse. But you can get the idea, right?

Serenade came from watching the sun slowly disappear behind a small island at the end of a beautiful day. The light stretched across the water and everything felt still. It was one of those quiet pauses where the day lets go and tomorrow feels full of promise. This painting is about that gentle in-between time when the day closes softly and hope for what’s ahead begins. Serenade , 12 x 12 inches, oil/canvas

First painting of the year and clearly… I was craving light to chase away winter. Sunlit Calm , 24 x 24 inches, oil/canvas.

This painting is about a pause to unwind. A moment when the world softens around the warm glow of finely aged whisky and the slow curl of cigar smoke. Painting the small details like the glint of amber light through cut crystal, the ash at the tip of the cigar, and the dance of smoke rising into the darkness was as enjoyable as the moment itself. Slow Bur n, 28 x 20 inches, oil/canvas.

Bala n ce , 20 x 30 i n ches, oil/ca n vas An easy way to make a real difference… Robert Pye, Executive Director of Watersheds Canada , stopped by to pick up my painting for their upcoming Nature Art Raffle, and it was great to catch up. Watersheds Canada is doing important work to protect and restore the lakes, rivers, and shorelines we all rely on. Their science based programs help keep our waterways healthy, support wildlife, and protect the natural places we love. This ra

Many of my paintings begin like this… quiet mornings on the lake, where the light and water work their magic. I recently created a painting to support Watersheds Canada and their mission to protect freshwater across Canada. Enter the Nature Art Raffle for your chance to win this painting as well as a gorgeous hand-carved wooden duck decoy by Michael A. Reader. These two prizes are valued at over $3,300 and all proceeds support freshwater protection. Get your tickets today a

Golden hour in Killarney Provincial Park...when the light turns everything to magic. The pink granite rocks glowed with warmth, and the pines stood silhouetted against the soft, fading sky. The perfect view at the end of a northern day. Easy on the Eyes , 18 x 24 inches, oil/canvas