In Daddy's Arms

This is a painting that I did for my good friend Mary. Her son in law (pictured) died in an accident a few months ago, leaving behind three young children and his wife. Mary is one of the most admirable women that I know. She deals with her trials in such a dignified manner. I am blessed to belong to a book club with Mary. She has some health problems and while most of us car pool to book club, Mary has been driven to and fro by her beloved husband Steve. I am sure that the reason for this is that he wanted to make sure his wife arrived safely and got into bed early. Steve now is battling a brain tumor. Now just as he made sure that his wife was taken care of for many years, she is at his side making sure that he is taken care of. Mary and Steve are what I would call kindred spirits. When the club heard that Mary's daughter had lost her husband they all wanted to do something personal for her family. The ladies of the club, commissioned me to do this painting for Mary's family, because we all truly love and admire her. We pray for your family Mary and hope that this painting will bring you some measure of comfort. We love you.

Feed My Sheep

I have had the reference photo I used for this painting for many years just sitting in a drawer. I received it when I was doing a commissioned piece for the Toone family. This was not the photo I used at that time but I asked them if I could make a copy to use for myself at a later date. Of course they said I could but it was not until Mike (pictured) Toone was sustained as our new Stake President that I felt inspired to paint it. The feeling as he stood in that conference was palpable. The spirit was so strong as we listened to our dear friend Mike bare his testimony. On a more personal note, he was my bishop as I went through the trial of divorce. I will always be grateful that I had a bishop at that time in my life who had such great compassion. There were times when I felt like a lost sheep as I entered into the singles world in the church. Mike made sure that I continued to have great opportunities to serve in our ward and made sure that I felt loved. President Toone takes his responsibility to "Feed My Sheep" to heart and for that our stake will be blessed.

My Family is Strength

I have photos of just about every family member flexing their muscles. When looking over these photos and painting this picture I realize that my family is strength. We have individual trials but as we face them together we are strong. I find my strength within the walls of my home!

Looking Into the Past, I See the Future

There aren't to many pictures of a great, great grandfather with his great, great grandchild. I loved the look in Gove's eyes as he looked into Papa's eyes. I tried to capture the magnitude of this moment with paint and charcoal.

I did this painting last Christmas. This is my daughter in law (Kami's) parents-Earl and Susan Lulloff. They have a wonderful love story as Kami has posted on her blog. Earl went to war shortly after they married and was shot by a sniper. He was left paralized and throughout the years has had many health problems. Susan has helped nursed him for all of their marriage. They adopted five children who all adore them. Earl is very sick now with cancer and his wife and children are by his side helping take care of him.

This painting of Martin Wimmer is something that I've wanted to do for a long time. He was a young man in my ward who passed away because of a brain tumor. I learned many lessons watching this boy become a man as he fought this terrible disease. He was a great example to myself and my children of endurance, testimony and courage. What a privilege it was to know Martin and a blessing to paint this portrait of him for his family.

Another greeting card that I painted. I really enjoy making handmade cards for my friends.

This is one of my paintings that I did to use as a greeting card. My father always wanted me to go into the greeting card business. It is nice to have parents that recognized my talent as a young child . Parents have so much influence on their children.

I just finished this painting of a beautiful boy named Daxton. He passed away this summer. I was commissioned to paint the picture by my daughter to give as a gift to his parents who are good friends of hers. I chose the photo that I did because it looks like he is looking into heaven. His face is pure joy! When his parents came to approve the painting his mother told me that she was standing right in front of him and that he was looking at her. It was then that I realized why he looks like he is looking at heaven, because he is looking at his mother and she was heaven to him. I felt great joy while painting this darling little angel. I hope it brings his family comfort for generations to come.

A while back Rhonna did some digital work on my painting for a book she did for her mother. The words are some of the things Carol has learned about the importance of music in her life.

A Girl

She climbed a giant tree, wind blowing, Tree swaying

Fear gripped her yet she kept climbing.

Looking out above the trees, wind hitting her face she felt reverence.

Courage was her reward.

She jumped into a running river, current pulling,

Water choking, gasping though she swam hard to the other side.

Standing looking back dripping wet, legs shaking she felt strong

Strength was her reward.

She looked out over the cliff into the lake, sun burning,

Knees shaking, tears stinging, and yet she jumped.

Rushing water filled her ears, eyes opened she looked up.

Pulling her body toward the light she swam up out of the darkness.

Face exploding above the water she breathed deeply and she smiled.

Faith was her reward.

One morning looking back I longed for the girl who climbed the highest trees

Who swam the roughest rivers and jumped from the highest cliffs.

Where had she gone?

I looked within the mirror and saw a woman staring back.

I looked into her eyes and I saw

Courage because of all the things she’s learned to do even though she has feared.

Strength because she has learned to keep going forward through struggles and see that there is a peaceful side to reach for.

Faith because she has learned to look up when things are dark and move toward the light.

Never underestimate the power of a girl who climbs trees, swims rivers and jumps from cliffs.
Someday she may have the power to raise a family in righteousness, with courage giving strength to all who come after her, because she had the faith to always turn toward the light.

Laurie Milliron June 23, 2008

Tranquility

Dragging, pulling, tugging all my rememberings.
Body tired,
heart broken, I let go--
peace comes flooding in.
Looking forward my eyes reveal tranquility.
Peace, sweet peace and all that was required
was what He asked of me all along--
Forgive.
Oh wise and gentle Brother, never asking anything
but what would ultimately improve my being and
give to me a gift, the sweet gift of
tranquility.

Laurie Milliron April 19 2008

Check out the link to Jamie Darger's poetry site. He is a gifted poet! I love the poem "I Spy With My Dragon's Eye."

I just finished this painting for my cousin. This beautiful little one was born with a heart defect and passed away several months ago.

I painted this about a year ago just for fun.

Guatemala looked this bright to me. I got home and played around with charcoal and paint.

This is an early painting of Spain. I did it with Gouache, a water base paint that is less translucent and brighter. 89

Kristina and Her Little Angels-88

COUSIN BROTHERS -87- This is a new painting of my two oldest grandsons. They run into each others arms when they have been apart and hug and kiss each other when they say goodbye. They are so blessed to have a cousin brother.

OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM -84

To Young 83- The question I am asked most often is, "How long does it take you to finish a painting?" Well there isn't an easy answer to that question. I struggle with some paintings and they take weeks. With some I feel so inspired that I am able to complete them in a day or two. The painting of this young lady was one of those inspired moments.

Great Grandfather Gove 82- This is the most recent painting that I have finished. I painted it for my grandson Gove's third birthday. I figured he should have a picture of the great great great grandfather that he is named after.

Waiting-81- This is Doug and his grandmother waiting for a bus. I wonder if kids were more patient then. I can't imagine any of my grandchildren sitting with their hands folded just waiting.

Music

Called to Serve 1 When one of my sons was on his mission I went to lunch with a group of missionary moms. One of the mothers showed me a photo of her son and I asked her if I could paint it. I tried to paint it in a way that anyone who has had a missionary or been on a mission could relate to it. I wanted the missionary to look like every missionary. I can't tell you how many times someone has said "Oh that looks just like my son on his mission." So many scriptures came to mind while I painted it. "Suffer the little children, to come unto me," and of course "Called to Serve" and "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." The back story to the real children, is that they were taken from their Mother after this picture was taken, for neglect. These young missionaries have no idea what kind of memories they are creating in other people lives. I wonder if these children will ever be in a place to see this painting and know that they were the inspiration for the piece. I hope so!

Summer Days 2 This is the painting that I have used on my business card for the past few years. I love the subject matter! For a while I thought that I would just paint kids on old trikes and bikes because it brought back such memories for me. I tried to capture the light is his face and the lack of cares that a child should have. Cut offs, bare feet, a white tee shirt and a juicy apple all invoke the feelings so many of us had on many of those long, lazy, summer days that only children seem to live in.

Bailey Comfort 3 This is a painting of my good friend Heathers beautiful daughter. I wanted to paint it because I related to Bailey. I was a thumb sucker! It was the hardest habit I ever broke! I think I was in third grade when I finally kicked the habit. My mother painted nasty tasting stuff on my thumb for a while that I just licked of . Thats how much I wanted to suck my thumb and have all the feelings of relaxation that went with it!
It was hypnotic and after I stopped sucking my thumb (really out of fear that one of my friends would catch me) I've never drifted off to sleep in the same way.

I Can Fly 4 When my oldest son was getting ready to leave for his mission I was just starting to get up the courage to paint a person. I was feeling pretty melancholy and wanted to paint a picture of him that would represent who he was as a child. When I found this picture I knew it was the one. Tyler always had to have a cape on. I really think that he thought he could fly! I know this isn't my best work but it is my most sentimental piece. I will never forget the excitement that I had when I finished. I ran around the house jumping up and down bursting with joy. Truly for a few days I felt like I could fly. I love this painting because it signifies the beginning of my journey as a portrait artist.

My little Kidlet 5 This is a picture of my grandfather and my mother. I never knew my Papa to call anyone that he loved their real name. One of the last things he said to me was "Well hello Kidlet." He was bedridden and having trouble breathing and I knew that this would be the last time my Grandfather told me he loved me in his way. He died couple of days later.

Sassy Krissy 6 When looking for pictures that exemplified each of my children this one stood out for Kristina. She was my middle child ! She thought she worked harder, went to bed earlier, got less to eat, was punished more, and was blamed for everything... She pulled this face at least three times a day for years! She and I now work together and I am happy to say she grew out of the attitude and the face.

A boy and His Bike 7 This is a picture of my father taking off on his bike. Who didn't have a bike just like this? I did because I was given my brothers hand-me -down second hand bicycle. Remember the run and jump up method or the one foot on the pedal, skip and jump on method. Why do we stop making little things like getting on a bike, exciting when we grow up?

I found this photo in a box at my mothers house. When I finished it I asked my 90 something year old grandfather if he knew who it was. He smiled really big and said, "Well that's my brother Joe!"
This picture still brings a smile to my heart because of that experience. Three Men on a Bench 8

The Violinist This is my maternal grandmother. 9 There are two women that I will always wish I could be as talented as. My mother and grandmother! My Grandmother was a musician. Many young lives were touched by her love of music. She taught all of her own children to love music and as the orchestra leader at Mesa Junior High she must have affected many others. She was a choir director for church most of her life until her health wouldn't allow it. She went completely deaf in her last ten years. My grandfather took care of his beloved wife. I will never forget the blush on my grandfathers face when he told of the first time he saw, what would become his wife, directing the choir as a young woman. He never talked about her that he did speak with tones of admiration. I have to say that my grandmother admired my talents--- what a gift! Whenever I gave her a card she would ask, "Did you make this?" She knew I had the talent to make a card for her so she expected that of me. My grandfather and grandmother died more than a year ago, five days apart. They were my example of so many things---endurance, hard work, using your talents, enduring love, love of God and love of family. I miss you Bunner and Papa!

Best Friends This is the only photo I have of this commissioned piece. 10 Maureen, a good friend of mine asked me to paint this for her daughter Jenny's birthday. The picture is of Jenny and her little brother. Maureen said they were inseparable as children. Jenny's brother died as a young man . Her mother wanted to bring back some of the joy her two beautiful children shared through this painting. This kind of work has been very rewarding!

Bathtime 11 Don't we all have a picture just like this of our own children? I remember taking long baths with my brother and sister when we were little. Just thinking about how roomy the bath seemed helps me realize just how small children are compared to the world they live in. Have you ever gone back to the huge house you grew up in only to be surprised at how small it is? I remember soaping the tub up and sliding from end to end, letting the bubbles rise until they covered my face and staying in until my fingers and toes looked like prunes. If Calgone could bottle a bath like that, they would have mobs of people standing in line just to buy a bottle!

Shane 12 I like the light is my son's face. I mean that literally and in this painting.

This is one of the few painting I have entered into an art show. I won---go figure! 13
Alone Artists are strange people. I am sure this painting won because I purposely made the feeling dark in the painting. Happy, sweet pieces are not given the respect that I think they deserve in the art world. I try to create emotion in all of my work, but most often I want the viewer to feel inspired.

Sister Kisses 14 One of the greatest joys I have as an artist is sharing my talent with my friends and family. This is a painting of one of my best friends, Nan and her sister. I have been blessed with one sister. This painting expresses the way I feel about her. We were inseparable as children!

Beautiful Singer 15 When I was a child my mother was a professional singer. I thought she was the most beautiful woman that walked the earth. She played the twelve string guitar until her fingers bled. She was and is driven! She wore false eyelashes and go go boots when she performed---wow! My mother's alto voice rang perfectly in my ears. I can still hear her and my father singing "That's What You Get For Loving Me." My grandfather always said she had perfect pitch. She found an old guitar in the garbage and taught herself how to play like a pro. She went on to teach many, many young people how to play both the guitar and piano. My Mother is an amazing woman!

Grandpa and Dad 16

Joey 17

The Star of the Universe 18 As we go through life, if we are lucky we gain friends that we can hold on to for much of the journey. Star and I have known each other for most of our lives, and we are still holding on to a friendship that becomes more valuable as the years roll by.

Show Me Your Muscles 19 I have photos of everyone in my family at various stages of life flexing their muscles. This painting signifies strength. Strength to overcome bad habits, painful experiences, and sorrows that life brings. Strength to achieve goals and wait for blessings. Strength to hold on and know that we are important, that we are children of God. Now when I think of all those photos, it brings me joy. My family is strength .

A Boy and His Dog This painting of my dad as a boy is one of my favorites 20 At almost anytime of the day you can find my dad sitting next to his dog. My father learned to love animals from his parents. Grandma and Grandpa always had a cute little dog that was like a member of the family. My dad was an only child. My mom had three brothers and never owned a dog. My moms parents would never have let an animal into the house. So my parents were raised with very different views about dogs! Yet now in their older age both of my parents consider their dogs to be part of their family.

Kellie 21

Like Brothers 22