The last conversation I had with my mother about old photographs, was of this one.  This is a photograph of my Grandfather and his dad and little sister Molly.  It is the only picture of Molly that I know of.  As you can see, someone wrote her name on the picture so that she would not be forgotten.
She was hit by a car when she was just a little older than she is in this photograph.

 My grandfather was holding his little sister's hand because it was a snowy day in Chicago.  Molly was wearing glasses by this time because her vision was bad.  The snow was coming down hard and Molly's glasses were covered with snow.  While Grandpa and Molly were waiting for the traffic to clear, so that they could cross the street, Molly stepped off the curb.  She was struck by a car and it pulled her hand free of her big brother's grip.  Molly broke her leg and died soon after from the complications of a blood clot.

I asked my grandfather about his sister once when he was in his nineties.  He became emotional as he told me about this experience nearly eighty years prior.  I think loosing his little sister in such a tragic way left a shadow over the rest of my grandfather's life.

As I painted this picture I thought about how excited my mother must have been to have Grandpa Fred introduce his little sister to Mom in the spirit world.  I can just hear my mother telling Molly how happy she is to finally meet her!  I am sure that my mother's love and devotion to my grandparents in this life is having a profound influence on the rest of the Augustin family on the other side of the veil.  There is no doubt that my mother has shared her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Augustin side of the family.  I can hear her excitedly telling them about her wonderful husband and children and grandchildren!  

Painting pictures of my ancestors and others who have passed away always makes me feel that the veil is very thin for me during that process.  What a wonderful blessing painting has been to me over the years. 

It would have been my parents 59th anniversary this week.  I know my mother and if she were alive she would say, "I would really like to have that painting of Molly."  So this one is for you Mom, (but I am giving it to Dad for safe keeping).  Happy anniversary Dad!  Thank you Mom and Dad for giving us a family rich with history and love.        

At Work and almost finished!

Molly, Great Grandfather Augustin and My Grandpa Fred

Molly

I lost my mother just over a year ago.  To my surprise my desire to paint just stopped.  I tried shortly after she passed away to paint a portrait of her but my hands would not let me.  So I am trying again. That meant that I had to open my blog (which I hadn't done in a year) and get started.  Wow things have changed with editing and so forth.  Above is a painting I did of my mother a while back playing the guitar.  My mother was an amazing woman.  She never stopped learning or living life!  The video is a little thing I put together for my family on the anniversary of her death.  We all loved her so much!  My mother was my biggest fan:)  The last thing she would want is for me to stop painting.  So with renewed strength I am going to start a new painting today.  Wish me luck!  The next one's for you Mom:)

I painted this from an old black and white photo of Tim and his family. I was able to adjust it so that the finished piece was of "Timmy and Dad." I love the body language of Timmy as he mimics his fathers image. As I watch my seven grandsons copy their own daddy's language, ideas and habits I realize how blessed these little boys are to have such wonderful fathers to mimic.

This commissioned piece was done for my friend Karen Shill. As I do my work sometimes I have the blessing of getting to know my clients/friends in a different light. I have always admired Karen, but as I studied the family that she is surrounded by, I grew to admire her more. She is truly a blessed woman!

Childhood Joy

Can you guess which one is Steve? He is the boy at the far left and I think it looks just like him. I can see him making that face when he worked for Carol and I as a painter. You could always tell he was taking in all that we said with a curious little grin, and that he would make whatever we asked him to do better than we could have imagined. What a privilege it was to work with such a great artist.

Steve and Mary

Sometimes as an Artist I am my biggest critic. Mary Thomas came over yesterday to pick up her painting that I did of Steve. When I opened a drawer with throw away card board to wrap her painting in, she saw one of my throw away paintings. Not everything I paint is framed and so I had forgotten that I did this painting shortly after Steve passed away. I didn't think it was wall worthy but when Mary saw it she loved it. I know she is really missing Steve and seeing this painting of the two of them made her happy.

So instead of throwing it away, I had the pleasure of giving it to her.

Best Friends

I really had a fun time doing this painting of Kellie and Ryan. I was going to give it to them for Christmas but then I had second thoughts so I didn't. It was fun and I liked the way it turned out so free and expressive. But for some reason I didn't think they would. Before I put it away after Christmas I let Kellie look at it and she loved it and called Ryan in to take a look. He loved it too so I framed it and gave it to them after Christmas. I forgot to take a photo as I often do when doing family paintings, so I had to take the picture through glass. I used charcoal and did this painting really fast and with music playing. I have found that music allows me to be more expressive as an artist. I spent December doing commissioned portraits and I needed to do something free and expressive.

Kellie and Ryan are such a loving couple and really are best friends. I hope you can tell that by this painting. That is what I tried to achieve.

I haven't photographed some of my recent paintings--they are coming:)

It is all about the Dog

This is a painting I did of my good friend Chris's family. I believe this painting has the most portraits in it. Again this was a gift for the husband. I hope he liked it and was surprised!

This painting was a challenge, but it was fun. I painted this for a client this Christmas. The subject was my clients father in law who had passed away a couple of years ago. She wanted a painting of him in front of his truck because he used his truck to go out and serve the less fortunate. The problem was that she didn't have a photo of him in front of the truck. So she had a friend pose with the truck and took a photo of him for me to paint from. I had to flip the photo, and take the head of her father in law from another photo (confusing you yet)?

Anyway when I got the drawing done, the painting was really fun. I felt the joy from this man's spirit as I painted. The painting was a gift for her husband, (I hope he liked it)!

Here is another photo that I took this evening. It is of a painting that I did about two years ago of my grandson, Douglas.

Once in a while I go into someones home and see that I have failed to record a painting. This is a painting that I did a few years ago. I took the photo of the painting at my sons home this evening when I was there visiting my newest family member. Kami and Tyler (pictured) had a beautiful baby boy three days ago. Joshua King Milliron is born!

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?