"Well, do you want to expound upon that?"
"Ah, no."
"Do you have anything else to add?"
"Not really."
"Well … if you were an animal, what would you be?"
"A person, I guess."

PAUL MILLER ISN'T known to his classmates as the talkative type.

A lot of them don't know his interests (art, music, computers) or his middle name (Philip). Some don't know his passion (rooftops and basements). When it comes down to it, a few don't know him at all.

But when the artistic senior does have something to say, it's usually worth listening to.

Art as reality

"Running Late" by Paul Miller. M.S. Escher is Miller's favorite artist. Hand-drawn image (click to enlarge)

Next fall, Miller will attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Though his major has been declared as visual arts, he hopes to switch to a new program combining computers and art.

"I don't really know what I want to do," he says. "But I really like both art and computers, and [this program] combines the best of both."

Miller's interest in art and technology is long standing: "I've been drawing since … forever, I guess."

Though he began with with markers, his favorite medium today is digital.

Programs like Wings 3D allow three-dimensional modeling of objects, creating a much more detailed representation of a subject.

The 3D aspect particularly appeals to Paul, whose favorite artist, M.C. Escher, is well known for his experimentation with plains and perspective.

"[Escher] changes just one rule of the reality of his subject, which is really interesting," Miller notes. "It's kind of an organized destruction."

The senior's own art ranges from intricate black-and-white pencil portraits to bright computer designs so realistic as to call into question their personal realities.

Though reminiscent of Escher (and occasionally Dali-esque), his work remains deeply unique and unlike anything you're likely to see again. (For more examples of his work, see below.)

Reality as art

When he's not designing on computers, however, Miller also enjoys music. Though classically trained in piano, his interests now lie in vocal music and guitar.

"I played piano for eight years," he says, "and though it was a good musical foundation, I didn't really like it. … Now I do a lot of rock and folk acoustic stuff."

Music isn't the only thing on his mind.

"What do I enjoy doing? Well, I like roofs. Basements, too."

Though many would never guess, Miller is somewhat of an urban explorer, albeit in an unorthodox sense. Instead of sewers, he traverses the rooftops and basements of Campustown and its environs.

"The world makes more sense from above," he says. "It's not so great when I'm stuck in it, but I think I get it better when I'm prying into all its wide and narrow spaces. … Sometimes I see a place up high, and I just have to go there. It's opener there in the wide open air."

After Uni

With his Uni career about to end, Miller is taking a level-headed, almost dispassionate, approach to the next stage in his life.

"Carnegie Mellon looks all right. Any such experience depends most on completely unpredictable factors, mainly the individuals you end up around. It's not a big deal for me."

What is a big deal, however, is the place of art in his life.

"The change of setting might be healthy after 19 years here," he says. "I have no idea what my career will be. But I'm sure I'll do art the rest of my life."

When asked for one word to describe his art, he replies, "Unfinished." He continues: "I don't like most of my art, quality-wise. I have a lot of practicing to do. It's slow going."

Not that he's in any hurry.

"If through art I figure out what 'human' means before I'm 50, that would be just grand."

Selected works by Paul Miller

"Head Study" created with Wings 3D. All images by Paul Miller (click any image to enlarge and to create your own slideshow)

A copy of Wicar's "Head of a Young Man in Profile" done in MS Paint.

"Marble" made with Blender and YafRay; Light Probe from Paul Debevec.