Marnie Miller

I grew up in the smallest of Texas small towns. The total population was 844 in 1971 and isn't much more than that now. A tiny little black eyed girl who loved the outdoors, horses, goats and swimming in the creek. We lived miles from the nearest house, so entertaining myself was a must. My older brother and I were both outgoing, creative spirits from birth and basically inseparable. When I was 5, my brother was attacked by a wild cat behind our barn. As a result, he spent many months in the hospital and missed an entire year of school. During his illness, I spent countless hours on the edge of his bed creating together. We did pencil drawings, folded paper, stick art, modeling clay and much more. Little did we know, it was the beginning of a lifelong creative talent and memories to rival the greatest novel. My brother, Jeff, made a full recovery is now a 6'5" healthy husband and father. The greatest of both and a true success story. Me??? I'm the artsy, spirited, opinionated little black eyed girl DETERMINED to never grow up. As Bob Ross has stated a million times, a "happy little accident" can be a wonderful thing. That's how my creative soul came into being... A happy little accident.

Although I've had no real formal art training, I've spent decades in study. I worked under world renowned portrait artist, Jan Williamson. She taught me so much about composition, color and letting go. I was always very calculated and tight before she started to mold me. Jan trained in Paris, New York and Texas and has fabulous realistic work displayed in galleries all over the world. She is most known for her portrait of President Reagan which hangs in the White House today. Creativity isn't something I learned. I was born with a raging creative spirit that cant be contained, only directed (to some degree). I have learned techniques, styles and mediums.... but it seems more like art found me, I didn't find it.