David O. Miller

For more information or to book a program please give me a call at 631-266-6875.

The above is sample copy used by many libraries to announce one of my very popular young adult drawing workshops. In developing my various workshops I always try to maintain a high level of enthusiasm towards the subject the program calls for. In all cases basic drawing skills are stressed as well as the shear fun of drawing. I hope to encourage young artist's to continue to develop their drawing skills, teach them something about the subject of the workshop and to have fun - all at the same time.

The workshops are open to grades 6 - 12 and run 1 1/2 - 2 hours long. Paper and pencils to be supplied by the student or the library. The fee for the session is $175.

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Programs:

Draw Manga - Anime!
One of my most popular workshops! This workshop stresses basic drawing skills while the class draws and learns about this very popular style of art.

Draw Science Fiction Aliens.
One of my more popular workshops! The subject for the sample text at the top of the page.

J. R. R. Tolkien Drawing Workshop
Draw some of your favorite characters from "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". Draw characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's classic books and from the films!

Cartooning Workshop
Learn to draw some of your favorite cartoon characters from the newspaper comic strips. Students bring a comic strip with them to class and we disscuss and draw the character(s) from that comic.

Harry Potter Drawing Workshop
Draw some of your favorite characters from the Harry Potter series. What if the new movies had been cartoons rather than live action? How would you draw the characters? A very popular program!

Star Wars Drawing Workshop
Draw some of your favorite characters from all of the Star Wars movies.

Famous Monsters from Literature
Around halloween I like to do themed workshops which introduce young adults to the original source material that many famous monsters are based on. We read the descriptive passages from the original novels and then draw the monsters as the author describes it. Mary Shelly's Frankenstein Monster is a good example.

Website Design Workshop
Learn to design and create a website. This program was originally presented at the Northport Public Library where we redesigned the actual young adult web site based on input from the students attending the class. The workshop was three sessions long and took some organization on the part of the library staff to put it on. A very rewarding experience.

New this year! - 200?
(To be announced)
Draw ??????????
I am constantly working with libraries to develop specific programs for them based on what their patrons have asked for. If you have an idea for a workshop please do not hesitate to call!

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Press Release for David O. Miller

Here is a sample article reprinted from the Oceanside/Island Park Herald - June, 1994. While it's a little dated it's still a good article that tells a little more about me and the workshops.

Science fiction is reality for Long Island artist.
By Jennifer White

For illustrator David O. Miller, an East Northport resident, fantasy is reality.

Sitting in his studio, a creative command-center densely packed by bookcases filled with books, armies of Star Trek figurines and other toys, Mr. Miller pulls out page after page of his artwork, including wizards, ogres, ghouls, space creatures and spaceships

This Kentucky-born science fiction and fantasy enthusiast was employed at a Louisville advertising agency when his dream of a job came true in June 1987: he was hired as the art director of the U.S. Space Camp at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, and worked directly with astronauts like Alan Sheppard while introducing children to science through the space camp. “I was working in advertising for six years, but it was not my first love,” Miller explained. “I always read science fiction, and was always drawing. I grew up with the space program, I had sat glued to the television. Landing a man on the moon was a fantasy that came true when I was growing up.

Fantasy? Science? Is there really a connection? Miller says yes. “It’s a common misconception that those that love science fiction are all wacky or weird. But so many of the scientists who work at NASA share a love of science fiction and fantasy.

“Science fiction is all about predicting where we could go, and what we can do. For example, Gene Roddenbury (the creator of Star Trek) had a very positive attitude about our future saying, ‘When we get to that advanced stage, there will be no want, no hunger, no racism.’”

Mr. Miller met his wife, Julie, from Rockville Centre, at a science fiction convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the couple relocated to Long Island, where Mr. Miller is a full-time freelance artist.

Regarding all of the books and toys he collects, Miller says not only are they fun (“If you like to collect, why not toys? Why would anyone want say plates with pictures on them?”). But they serve a practical purpose as well.

“If I have an assignment to paint a lighthouse,” Miller says, “It would be easy to do. Not only do I know what a lighthouse looks like, they also exist, so I can research them or drive out and see one.”

“But my commissioned assignments are often to create creatures and vehicles that an author dreamed up. These things do not exist, and when I draw them, it is important to know and understand what people are familiar with and how things work, so they can relate to my creation. For example, the artists who created the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park had to understand how muscles and bones move and work together. If you create something that’s not somewhat based on reality, people will say, ‘That’s fake, it just doesn’t look right.’”

Mr. Miller plans to show how reality affects fantasy at the Oceanside Libraries Meet the Artist event for students entering grades 7-12.
“I’ve been adjusting to living in the north for several years now and I’ve just about lost my southern accent,” says Mr. Miller. “It’s time that I give something to the community, and let people know who I am.”

Mr. Miller will be showing a slide show of his work and inviting participants to create their own science fiction creature. Pencil and paper must be brought by those attending.

“I’m going to teach the kids, ‘Anyone can draw something wacky. Lets put our heads together and try to draw a creature based on science. Let’s think about the environment it evolved in. Is it a place of high or low gravity? What does our alien creature eat?’”

“All these things affect what a character looks like,” Miller says, explaining how he makes his dreams come true.