Today, I'm thrilled to share this conversation with one of my favorite artists working today- Cowboy Killer, aka JM Miller. His style is photographic surrealism, and evokes such emotion in each and every creation. Let's dive in.

First off, can you introduce yourself to our community? Your name, where you are based and the mediums and styles you work in?

I’m JM Miller, I am a mixed media artist and photographer from the American Midwest. I started my art education as a painter but now do lens based composites with some digital art. I would call myself a photography surrealist.

I really can see the painterly influence in the work you make. It’s such a satisfying blend of styles, and evokes a Rockwell / Hopper-esque sensation. Like little vignettes of American life. What sparked the shift to incorporating lens based techniques? I’m curious...

Well to be honest I think I got burnt out with painting, and I was traveling a lot so having a camera by my side just made sense. I fell in love with how new the medium of photography was and it felt like something I could push the boundaries of. I always liked reading about how Hockney reinvented landscape, or how Max Ernst and other surrealists pushed what could be done on canvas and wanted to see if I could be part of one of those great movements via photography.

Love that description, truly. Can you tell us a bit about the creative process? Do you think of a concept, and go bring it into reality? Or do you go out with the camera and make photographs, which then evoke stories and concepts you bring to life?

I’d say it’s about 70% planned and 30% in the moment. Im often drawing my pieces weeks before I pick up a camera because I like to come in with a plan and a meaning, but sometimes things go their own way and I try not to get in the way of what comes naturally. I tend to approach every piece first as an expression of what I’m trying to say, and from there a series of variables that I either can and can’t control.

From there I try to make artistic decisions that make sense to me for what I want the piece to say. This gives me a ton of control of story telling by realistically understanding how much of each part of the frame I can and should control, and what parts I should let unfold naturally.

Love that, I can see how the flexibility to be open to new ideas can lead to breakthrough moments. You have a work releasing this week as part of the Click Create project. Can you describe this piece to us? Its truly fantastic.

Of course. For ClickCreate I wanted to create something that relied heavily on story telling. It’s a piece about leaving the past behind, and the wave of feelings that come with change and progress. I wanted to use everything from body language to the colors in the sky to give the atmosphere of the closing of a chapter.

Beautiful. And I think the message comes through loud and clear. One of the reasons I appreciate you as an artist so much is that you really wear your heart on your sleeve, and a lot of that experience and emotion gets translated into your artworks. I find it very moving, and as someone who has had my own struggles along the way, I relate to that process of transmutation.

Can you share a bit about how art has helped you along your path as a human being in this world?

I think art was a big support system for how I got through a lot of the things. Mostly, it allowed me to reflect upon myself and truly assess my life choices. That caused me both a lot of pain but also pushed me toward growth. It hasn’t necessarily made me a better person, but it has given me the self reflection and tools to make myself a better person in all aspects of my life. Art is powerful if you know how to use it.

Really well put... that resonates with me a lot. Thank you for sharing that perspective with us. Lastly, do you have any words of advice for a creative person who is earlier on their path?

My advice would be to be patient and try a little of everything. Creativity can be used in so many different ways so don’t limit yourself to one medium or way of doing things.

Wonderful advice, and thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us today. I'm looking forward to the drop, and to continue to watch your artistry evolve. To the reader, connect with Cowboy Killer via his Twitter account.