Born in Minneapolis in 1952, Bruce Miller showed signs of artistic talent at an early age.  Given a set of acrylic paints for seventh grade art class, he painted exclusively with acrylics until 2000, when he began painting exclusively with oils.
   
After high school, Bruce majored in art at St. Cloud State University and expanded his horizons as a world traveler.  He returned to Minnesota to seriously pursue his art career in 1975.  Miller experimented with a variety of genres including portraits, landscape, abstract and surrealism.  Being an avid outdoorsman and Eagle Scout, in 1981 he began painting wildlife.

In 1988 he won his first national contest, Artist of the Year for the Michigan Wildlife Art Festival and since then he has become one of the most decorated artists in the country.  Having won numerous conservation stamps, his crowning achievements to date are winning the 1993 Federal Duck Stamp and the 1999 Ducks Unlimited International Artist of the Year competition.  His work also has won critical acclaim, being selected for the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Birds in Art exhibition.  In 2002 Miller was selected as the Elk Foundation Artist of the Year.  This award complements Bruce’s nine year relationship with the Elk Foundation, in which his work has raised thousands of dollars for conservation through local banquets and the national convention.  His painting “High Country Bugler” was featured on the cover of the Bugle Magazine January-February 2002.

Continuing to strive for excellence, Miller continues his studies.  In 2001 he has been studying Russian and American Impressionism.  His new work shows the influence of this wonderful type of expression.  He is also painting pure landscapes, still life and figurative work.

Miller lives with wife, Deb, and their two children Maycelle and Matthew, in Minnesota.  Fly-fishing and bird hunting are his passions, occupying much of his free time and providing inspiration for his art.

Submitted by Judy Grewe in June of 2006.