John Anthony Miller (Born 1949) American, Artist Workproof Miniature Intaglio Etching. Depicts a tall sailing ship barreling through a windy night under a full moon. Signed in plate with dates. Signed in pencil bottom right along with "Engraver Printer 4/84." Title written in pencil bottom middle: "The Sea Dragon." "Artist's Workproof" written in pencil bottom left. In printmaking, a proof is a preliminary version of a printed piece to check for accuracy, while a workproof (or working proof) is an intermediate print made during the creation of a plate or block, used to guide further work. The key difference is purpose: a proof is for final approval of the finished design, whereas a workproof is a developmental tool for the artist or printer to see the current state of the artwork while it is being actively worked on. 

Overall Size: 8 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. 

Sight Size: 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. 

John Anthony Miller was born on April 13th, 1949 in Olympia, Washington to a long line of medical practitioners, and spent much of his childhood studying science before obtaining his Associates at Fresno City College in 1968 and his Bachelors from California State University in 1971 with a focus on zoology and chemistry. In his final year there he happened to attend a demonstration by local artist Veraz Samuelian, and while studying physics at CSU, Los Angeles the polymath happened across texts about miniature copper etching and engraving and decided to teach himself, quickly hooked on art and abandoning his original career path. He worked on farms, in frame shops, and sold goods on the streets to make ends meet while he honed his craft, eventually opening a rare book shop in Ventura, California in the early 1980s and promoting his artwork. Today his pieces are in the collections of museums around the country, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Chicago Art Institute, and the California Carnegie Art Museum. 

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