We’re looking forward to introducing you to Arna Miller. Check out our conversation below.
Arna, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Gardening. But it’s funny, work and life are so intertwined, I can’t help but think about my yard as a creation. When I’m planting new plants I’m thinking about texture, color, layers, height – in comparison to whatever is around. And of course water and sunlight needs. And also the experience of moving through and being in each space. I have a standard size of yard for an old house, and have to work around the gigantic garage the previous owner built. I call it a ‘design challenge’. And he also left some bricks and concrete blocks in the yard, that was just dust and weeds when we moved in. So with the bricks I made a patio, and with the blocks I’m making a waterfall. On my breaks I’ll go out there and listen and look, getting informed about what needs to happen next. One thing, when I planted a couple perennials with trumpet shaped flowers, hummingbirds came, so I bought some more of those kinds. And the waterfall will have pools that I hope birds will be attracted to. It’s really wonderful to work with my hands, and be in the sun, and touch the dirt, and see the direct effect of my work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My company is Arna Miller Designs, and it’s just me. I’ve been making art, in the form of screen prints, risographs, and useful things like coasters, matchboxes, magnets, t-shirts, and selling them at arnamiller.com. My fulfillment center is in my garage. I have developed an illustrative vintage Americana style, usually with a main character in a situation. And I like to depict magical moments, or something the viewer can relate to, these small everyday moments that you don’t really consider, but it’s still magic.
I have been transitioning back to architecture though, which is what I got my undergrad degree in, and I worked in a firm for a year after graduation. And now I’m in the learning stage again, learning about healthy material options, and Passive House – high performance – building.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Well, it’s more like now, as an adult, I believe I can do anything. I know how to learn. When I was a kid I learned because I had to, I didn’t understand the freedom, power and beauty in learning, and then being able to do the thing. Being competent, looking at something I’ve made and feeling proud. Along with that, I’ve learned to not be discouraged if I have to redo something, or rather, I can be discouraged, but I’ll redo it anyways, and it’s worth it. I just had no idea how capable I was. And that probably had something to do with not being very good at the things I tried, like soccer, swimming, tennis, running, singing.
I hadn’t discovered art as a child, and I really wanted to be a journalist, but the first time I told a teacher, they discouraged me from that. It was at that thing where kids had “jobs” and spent “money”, and I applied to be the journalist for the “newspaper”, but they gave me a job as the accountant, which is furthest from my interests and skills. So I had to unlearn all that, and change my beliefs. It started when I started drawing portraits. A friend was doing it and I asked how. I wasn’t good, but I loved it, and really knew in my bones that I could improve at this. And at some point I decided to draw all the time, and take classes, and then learn screen printing, and figure drawing, and painting, and now architecture.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I’ve changed my mind about what romantic relationships are. I used to think a man could make me happy, and my life would be great when I found the right person. Like, once someone really accepts and loves me, then I will feel loved. Boy did that not work out. My first boyfriend, when I was age 16-20, secretly started doing meth and cocaine and convinced me to support the both of us, with my minimum wage job.
Then, in my late 20s/ early 30s being way too committed to a partner who was telling me I’m selfish for wanting to work on my own life and projects, instead of his, and when he’s upset it’s my fault, and when I’m upset it’s my fault. Fail.
And then, I went far in the other direction, and thought of marriage as a ‘codependent delusion’, and a man could only bring misery. Now I’m with a partner, my husband actually, where we’re working on codependency together, going to therapy, being honest about, and laughing about our trauma bond. We can listen to audiobooks about the subject together. It’s really cool, and nothing I could have ever imaged a relationship could be like. It’s a container that we can work on things together. We even started an Adult Children of Alcoholics group, where we meet with a few other people in town and go through the Reparenting Workbook. Talking about the most difficult things, but healing, and realizing we’re not alone.
For the first time I’ve felt like someone is really listening to me, and cares about me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
This one I’ll answer in terms of architecture. There is a timeless way of building. You can see it when you visit Amsterdam, for example. It’s the building materials, the buildings interacting with nature, the proportions, the human scale, and the experience, like bicycles, pedestrians, canals, house boats, winding streets, small courtyards, the vines growing up the wall. Then you compare that to the parking lots and strip malls of Any Suburb, USA, and the difference is visceral. The hot asphalt, the foam-covered-in-stucco columns, the bed of small grey rocks. One is life affirming, the other is at best boring, at worst deteriorating our mental health. It’s functional, and cheap to build, so that’s what happened. Then we save up to fly for 10 hours to visit Amsterdam. There are specific things that humans are attracted to in their environment, and things that help people feel safe and comfortable. That’s what Feng shui is all about, and Vetruvius wrote about it in his architecture books, and that’s what I mean by timeless.
Fads are pretty easy to spot, like our parent’s Tuscan kitchen, or the Gen Z squiggly colorful lines, in interior design.
Foundational shifts usually happen with changing technology. Like skyscrapers, which are not that great. There’s no real air, no real nature, no real light. And they’re not designed to foster human interaction or connection. It’s not healthy to live 40 hours per week like that. So I think as we learn more, a foundational shift will go back to more timeless buildings, and incorporate technology too, to make things even better.
Also values are changing around energy conservation, moving away from fossil fuels. And it’s not just a “green movement” it’s essential if we want to keep living on Earth.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Today I’m learning a design program for architecture, Revit. I’m moving at a snail’s pace, and can barely imagine a future where I’m actually designing real buildings. In 10 years I’ll be 52, and a licensed architect, and ideally contributing to a better world. Now, and for the past 3 or so years, I’ve been learning – 3D modeling, Passive House, healthy materials, some other computer programs, straw bale, adobe bricks, prefab wall panels, and with my own house remodel – wiring electricity, refinishing a floor, drywall, even plumbing! But being in this learning phase, and not seeing much real world return on investment, can get discouraging. I’ve gone through weeks of just giving up. Working on something else. But I keep going, I’ve built up the tools in my wood shop. And like learning art, it’s the joy of the process that keeps me going, keeps me interested. And we’ll see in 7-10 years, or so, what buildings I can help create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arnamiller.com
- Instagram: @arnamiller
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arna-miller-4335971b5
Image Credits
Arna Miller
