 Alexander Millar BiographyArtist Alexander Millar was born in 1960 into the small mining community of Springside a few miles outside the town of Kilmarnock on the west coast of Scotland. Life within the small Scottish village was very traditional and although Alexander Millar grew up in the 60’s era, he claims it felt more like the 40’s. His formative years were spent in the company of old men dressed in dark suits smoking woodbines partnered with large missile-shaped women decked out in headscarves and pinnies. Alexander Millar's father worked for British Rail and he got great pleasure from simply sitting in the atmospheric steam filled stations which even today he finds are the most romantic, nostalgic places to be. Many of his most romantic paintings are set within that very atmosphere. Millar states: "I guess I’m just a big old fashioned nostalgic romantic at heart! It therefore comes as no surprise to many that my favourite film is ‘The Quiet Man’."
Alexander Millar left school in 1976 and eventually fled Springside to set himself up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This jump from 'sleepy peacefulness' to hustle and bustle was like going from the frying pan straight into the fire, according to the artist. Millar found Newcastle had, and still has, its fair share of characters locally known as ‘Gadgies’ which fed him much inspiration later on in life when he finally discovered his 'destiny' as an artist. After a number of different jobs, Alexander Millar settled down in 1988 to become a professional artist. He is completely self-taught and after many years of developing his own style in art, he turned to images remembered from his childhood and used the local Tyneside ‘Gadgies’ as models in his paintings.
The past couple of years have been especially exciting for Alexander Millar, as his work has taken on a life of its own. Sales have gone through the roof and everyone seems to be taking notice of these solitary figures he creates. Millar is "continually surprised to see the effects <Actinic:Variable Name = 'his'/> paintings have on people, on many occasions [he's] had women moved to tears absorbed by a painting that evokes memories of their father or grandfather".
After a number of sell out exhibitions one of Alexander Millar's paintings was entered in the Daily Mail’s ‘Not the Turner Prize’. Ten thousand works were entered and his painting was chosen as one of the finalists which were exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London.
In producing a piece of art, Alexander Millar first chooses a figure from his many sketches and photographs. This is then transferred to his canvas and blocked as a dark silhouette. Each layer of paint is then added gradually to separate tones; the figure is almost complete before the background colour is added.
Having lived in the northern half of Britain all his life, Alexander Millar tries to capture the subtle light that is particular to that part of the country. The under painting is predominantly blue and then each subsequent layer added is a touch warmer than the last and lifts the painting giving the misty, 'almost ghostlike' quality to the background. When this is complete the dark figure 'leaps out of the canvas'. To finish off and give the figure movement, Millar leaves the painting for approximately a week and then he takes away some of the background colour, feathers the legs and softens any harsh edges. He leaves the painting in view for a few days in order to see if any adjustments are needed, which usually become apparent to his over this time period.
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 Alexander Millar Museum ExhibitionArtist Alexander Millar will be showcasing an exhibition of his most recent commisions in the Great North Museum: Hancock, between 26th March - 8th May 2011. Millar's exhibition entitled 'Working Man' will include a collection of his newest original paintings as well as a few of his most memorable originals from his artistic career.
‘Working Man’, by Alexander Millar aims to celebrate the people that have built the North East, the exhibition is to connect the people of Newcastle with the men and women that built the city, not only via industry, but the virtues, morals and spirit of the region.
‘Working Man’ brings the region’s industrial history and stoic society to light, as seen through the eyes of one of the country’s most significant contemporary artists Alexander Millar. Using the ‘gadgie’ character to portray the working man, Millar finds a philosophy, a warmth and a humour in the every day. The ‘gadgie’ symbolises all that is great about the people of the North East, he is the steel worker, the ship worker, the miner of region, this exhibition celebrates the history, society and foundations of the region, giving opportunities for the young and old of the north east to be proud of their forefathers. This exhibition is truly at the heart and soul of the city.
The way in which Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North pays homage to the ship building heritage of the region, Alexander Millar’s work looks at the people of manufacturing industries, their lives, the ups and downs, their humour, the almost sarcastic joie de vivre. The honesty of these works are what makes a city take an artist to their hearts. Alexander Millar is truly an artist of the people, removing the barriers and perceived pretensions, making art accessible to the masses, for example depicting the unifying experience that is attending a football match, or taking joy from a simple bicycle ride.
Like L.S. Lowry before him, Millar finds his subject matter in the everyday; both shunning the glamour and mystique of the city, for something more real, more honest. Both L.S Lowry and Alexander Millar are masters of making the ordinary, extraordinary.
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