Frank Mills

What can I say about me other than I am having a love affair with photography, an affair that began as a small child living in Baltimore. Like every affair, there were bumps along the road, sometimes the passion wasn't quite as strong, sometimes the love was even left behind-- but only for a short time. Back in the early 2000s, I started consulting in the urban arena. That led to a renewed passion for the image.

My subject matter these days is mostly Texas-- Trying to capture the ineffability of her people, places, spaces, and discarded treasures. Along with Texas, I periodically create images that some might call deviant or avant garde. I view it all as fine art. I do need to keep those creative juices going.

A good portion of my work is what I call "watercolor photography," using a digital developing process that emulates film processing, but gives an appearance of a watercolor painting. Almost all of my finished work is printed in archival quality watercolor paper. Rarely do I print on canvas or photo-paper. The major exception is that sometimes I print my images of rusty old cars and trucks on metal. My deviant photography prints are often printed on whatever fits the work and catches my fancy.

My formal education extends to working on a doctorate, but none of that had anything to do with learning to be a photographer. That, as I have said, is self-taught through trial and error and lots of experimentation. That said, I was fortunate to have parents interested in art, a dad who took time to teach me the basics of photography, and a dark room in the basement as a child. Once they even sent off to camp armed with an old box camera and several rolls of b/w film and the instruction that I must take advantage of the camp camera craft class. Which I did.

“Imagine 2017” - Texas State University, Round Rock, TX, Round Rock Arts Association - Group Exhibit

“Old Brushy” - Papi’s Gallery, Round Rock, TX - watercolor paper, canvas, photo paper, metal, - Solo (2017)

“Brushy Creek” (watercolor paper) - Healing Art Gallery, St. David’s Hospital, Georgetown, TX, Williamson County Art Guild - Group Exhibit (2018)

"Waterfall" (watercolor paper) - Jester Annex Gallery, Round Rock, TX, Williamson County Art Guild - Group Exhibit (2018)

“Preserving Memories” - Williamson County Museum, Georgetown, TX - watercolor paper, canvas, photo paper - Solo (2018)

(Untitled) - Copper Shade Tree Gallery, Round Top, TX - 5 images: canvas, watercolor paper & metal (2019, current)

"Chisholm Trail" - Williamson County Museum at Round Rock (TX) - watercolor paper & canvas (Sept -Dec, 2019)