Giving Seaford some color

Cliff Miller may be a world-class artist, but he is still a hometown boy whose roots are firmly planted in Seaford.

He has an extensive background in advertising and graphics, including a 25-year career as a book illustrator where he crafted hundreds of book covers for best-selling authors. He has painted portraits of senators, congressman, sports stars and executives of major corporations as well as a 9/11 Memorial portrait for the Union of International Operating Engineers, which hangs on permanent display in the National 9/11 Museum in New York City. Miller has also written a novel, “The Willicans — After the Deluge” and created clay models of the mythical characters from his book.

But Miller’s heart belongs to Seaford. This year, he was awarded the 2014 Patriots Award for his commitment to his community and for using his artistic talents to beautify his town. His murals can be found at every Seaford school and at the Seaford Library — a 50th anniversary gift — that celebrates reading and the people of Seaford.

In January, Miller will begin a project for the Seaford Historical Society’s museum, painting murals depicting Seaford life in the 1890s including one that features the Seaford Skip.

“It’s nice to be able to do this for my community,” Miller said. “I was put on this earth to be an artist and I’ve been lucky, so I want to give back anyway I can.”

“His generosity is unparalleled,” said Brian Conboy, Seaford schools superintendent. “His artwork is incredible and the kids love it.”

Go to any Seaford school and there is a Miller original. At the Harbor School, Miller painted an aquatic mural, 60 feet long by 14 feet high, in the lunchroom so that the children might dine “under the sea.” That mural was painted in about two weeks.

At the Manor School, the 50-by-14-foot lunchroom mural is an African scene where the children are reading books to the animals. “This was a special painting for me,” said Miller. “I went to Manor as a child. All my children went there, as well. My son, Connor, is the boy on the right holding the book.”

Then there is the 90-foot long mural on the side of Seaford Middle School. “That mural sort of evolved,” explained Miller.

It was a gift from his daughter’s graduating class — Seaford High School’s class of 2003. The district wanted a mural that depicted Seaford pride and the inclusion of a Viking. “I designed it with a simple color scheme, kind of like one of those Colonel Sanders signs,” he said with a laugh.

It took Miller three weeks to complete but “it was a challenge,” he said. “It was so big I had to use a projector onto the wall and paint it with a rolling scaffold attached to the roof.”

“It was a physical challenge,” added Conboy, who was middle school principal in 2003 when the mural was created. “I would go up there to see how he was doing. I’d bring him some snacks. I missed him when he was done.”

And while Miller usually paints with oils, the middle school mural used “plain old exterior house paint,” he said.

The painting in Seaford High School is not as lighthearted but shows “tremendous heart,” Michael DiSilvio, a long time friend and president of the Seaford Wellness Council said. It was DiSilvio who recommended Miller for the 2014 Patriot Award. The painting, created in memory of the five Seaford High School alumni who lost their lives on 9/11, depicts a Viking ship coming into Seaford Harbor. “He is such an outstanding artist, a lovable human being, who gives so much of himself for Seaford,” said DiSilvio. “This painting is just one example of that.”

The painting at the Seaford Library, unveiled in 2007, was created to show the importance of reading and role the library plays in the community. “I knew Cliff would be the best artist for the task,” said Peter Ruffner, president of the Seaford Library Board. “We wanted a painting with adults and children all reading and there is a dog in the foreground. The wording on the bottom of the painting, ‘May Thirsty Minds be Quenched in this Sea of Books,’ is perfect.”

Ruffner added that he “always liked to think that I was the model for the man standing in the left side of the painting, but the reality is I know I am not!”

In fact, that man is a neighbor of Miller’s. “That’s Mr. Campbell,” Miller said. “I like to use local people. It’s fun to include them in my work.”

Miller may have learned that technique from his teacher, artist Harold Stevenson, one of Norman Rockwell’s students who taught him traditional painting techniques. Rockwell was known for using people from his hometown in many of his Saturday Evening Post illustrations.

Miller teaches art classes at Farmingdale State College. What Miller learned from Stevenson he hopes to pass on to his students. “I did over 700 book covers by hand,” he said. “Illustration is digital now, but I think you need to learn about analog.”

He likes to help students create “an artistic tool box — all the factual stuff about the human body and the use of color and things like how to mix a palette,” Miller said. “It can put you on fire.”