The Painting Room with Cynthia G. Miles

06/02/2026

Friends,
Hope to see you this Saturday!

04/12/2026

🥰Loved having our friends stop by yesterday. Today will be another fantastic day in sunny Cambridge. Sun is shining and we’ll be having our open studio at 10am ☀️

03/24/2026

Thrilled to join the Artist Open Studios Tour.

03/24/2026

Welcoming artists touring the beautiful Eastern Shore. Stop by the Painting Room in Cambridge, MD from 10a-5pm and paint with me.

SAVE THE DATES!

Studios are opening. Doors are swinging wide.
And creativity is taking center stage.

Mark your calendar for 2026 STUDIO TOUR on April 11 & 12 — and get ready to explore the vibrant arts community across the region.

Meet local artists, step inside their studios, see works in progress, and discover the stories behind the art.

This is your chance to experience the creative energy of Maryland up close—where the work is made and inspiration lives.

Real Art. Real People. Real Stories.

🗓 April 11 & 12
✨ 2026 AOS Studio Tour

Save the date and start planning your art adventure at ArtistOpenStudios.com

11/27/2025

🎄 Paintings for Holly Days – This Saturday!
🖼️ Featuring Originals by Cynthia Miles

As we prepare for the Holly Days Holiday Market on Saturday, I wanted to share the stories behind two of Cynthia’s newest pieces — each one rooted deeply in the heart of Cambridge and the heritage of the Eastern Shore.

⸻

Philips Packing House

Inspiration:
“Renovations of a once large packing house that supported a great population of Cambridge are still a welcome sight. My childhood visits in the “can truck,” with my grandfather were always a treat. Our family cannery Defender Packing Co - Trappe, relied on the delivery by rail of thousands of cases of cans and their tops to this central destination. Someone from most smaller canneries, made the trip to download a supply of cans and tops and carry back to their canneries.
The red cab over our can truck had a deck above so cases filled the truckbed as well as over our heads. The jingle and jangle of the tin cans and lids created unique music as we drove with the windows down and without AC. I loved the seasonal flowers welcoming antique lovers to the shop now in the east side of the building.”

⸻

Cambridge Creek Drawbridge

Inspiration:
“From the other side of the Choptank River – a trip for shopping in downtown Cambridge always delighted me as a child with the drawbridge over Cambridge Harbor Creek – a chance to stop and watch with amazement as the road rose up before us swaying open to allow workboats passage through!
Now, shops, restaurants, condos have ring-side views of that marvel – a drawbridge still welcoming to downtown Cambridge.”

⸻

🛍️ Both paintings (and more!) will be available THIS SATURDAY at the Holly Days Holiday Market.
Come enjoy local art, holiday fun, and the warmth of our community as we celebrate the places and memories that make Cambridge special.

✨ We hope to see you there!

10/07/2025

Stories from the Easton Skateboard Park

These two paintings were inspired by a quiet, beautiful moment I witnessed one afternoon.

A teenage boy stood at the edge of the ramp, nervous and unsure, trying to learn how to drop in. Around him, younger skaters zipped by with confidence. Then, a stranger (another skater) noticed his struggle. He stopped what he was doing, held out his hands, and spent hours helping the boy learn.

It was simple. Human. Kind.
Moments like that are rare these days... strangers helping just because they can.

These paintings capture that spirit of courage, connection, and generosity that still exists in our communities if we take the time to look for it.

🖼 "Easton Skateboard Park" and "Helpful Stranger at Skateboard Park"- two pieces that celebrate everyday compassion and the beauty of learning together.

09/29/2025

🌟 A special thank you to Jessica Dutra and I Love Dorchester Heritage & Tourism for highlighting Cynthia’s art! 🌟

Painting at the Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race and making friends! Choptank River

09/25/2025

🎨✨ Yesterday’s Wednesday Morning Artists demonstration was pure fun and inspiration! ✨🎨

Sixteen of us gathered for Cynthia’s faux finish demonstration, and from the very start, we were hooked. We kicked things off with a lively game testing our knowledge of the quirky tools used to create faux finishes (who knew a simple sponge or comb could be so powerful?). The laughter was constant, and the learning was real.

Cynthia opened her world to us, sharing highlights of her life’s work:
🪞 Faux marble fireplaces so convincing they belong in grand estates
🐾 Faux carpets painted onto wooden floors, complete with warm touches like paw prints and even little biscuits
🗿 Statues, textures, and restorations so authentic that some projects couldn’t be told apart from the original

She didn’t just show us techniques—she taught us how to control the tools, blending artistry with precision. Along the way, Cynthia’s stories made the craft come alive: a two-year project that helped an ill woman live long enough to see her dream home finished, and restorations so flawless they fooled even the experts.

💡 Did you know? Some marbles that once adorned palaces and cathedrals simply can’t be found anymore. Others, like the warm veining of faux tortoise, are rare and irreplaceable. The only way to bring those patterns and colors into your home today is through the skill of a faux finisher—someone like Cynthia who can recreate the beauty of what no longer exists in nature.

The best part? Every participant was laughing, engaged, and eager to try their hand. The room buzzed with energy and curiosity.

If yesterday’s taste of faux finishing sparked your imagination, you don’t have to stop there—Cynthia offers one-on-one lessons in The Painting Room for anyone ready to dive deeper into the art of illusion.

Because sometimes, the magic isn’t just in what you see… it’s in learning how to create it. ✨