From the Left, Eleven Years Ago

I did this series of portraits with my left hand eleven years ago, in the winter of 1997. The portraits are of me and my five children. I showed them to a local gallery owner who had exhibited my work in the past. He didn't like them - he told me that the background colors looked like "Fruit Loops." I have never had a ton of confidence about my work and I had precious little back then. I left the gallery feeling defeated and filed the portraits away in my studio in the barn for several years. In the fall of 2001 I brought the portraits to the framer - I decided that I would give them to my children for Christmas that year. Looking back, I wonder what prompted me to do this, because in August 2002 our barn burned down, taking 30 years of my art with it. I like to think that I rescued my children from that fire! Now these portraits are among my favorite pieces, Fruit Loops and all!


Left Handed Self, 1997
pastel on paper, 15" x 22"
collection of Eben and Tracey Miller

Eben, 1997
pastel on paper, 15" x 22"
collection of Eben and Tracey Miller

Andy, 1997
pastel on paper, 15" x 22"
collection of Andrew and Oceanna Miller

Kaitlyn, 1997
pastel on paper, 15" x 22"
collection of Kaitlyn Miller

Lisbeth, 1997
pastel on paper, 15" x 22"
collection of Lisbeth Miller

Alec, 1997
pastel on paper, 15" x 22'
collection of Alec Miller