Laurie Miller's Artistic Life

Flip Flop Boot Camp

2012-01-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Okay, so I'm a little late. Better late than never! I met my sister, Kristie, in Vegas for a winter vacation on December 26th. We created our own low key boot camp - flip flop style, a lot of laying by the pool and swimming. It was so nice to see the sun again. When I came back to Seattle it was strange being engulfed in a sea of gray. We rang in the New Year at the Tao nightclub at the Venetian with Kim Kardashian counting in the New Year. I had a blast dancing on the ledges while my sister sat on a bench because she wasn't use to wearing high heels. I think I gave her a five hour foot rub when we walked all the way back to our timeshare.
I currently have two art exhibitions on display. My Surreal art is shown until Feb. 10th at the Lynnwood Library Gallery. 20% sale on all art at this show until Feb. 10th. Art can be shipped with shipping and handling fees added. Miniatures are very affordable, and all art is collectible. If interested, email me at: bassnlegs@aol.com . The other show is at The Scotch and Vine in Des Moines. This exhibit features my abstract feather art work, including the 'Light in the Woods' piece pictured on this page - www.lauriemillermodernart.com . We are aiming for Feb. 19th to have an art opening party. I will be playing a set of my original songs, and hopefully other local musicians will also play. After I verify the date and time, I will post the exact details. I'm still gearing up to complete my year long daily posting of music/art/poem. I will start soon, I'm finishing a few details for the recording aspect.
Have a nice day! xxoo Laurie

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope that everyone is safe, happy, and healthy. I played a gig last night, Christmas Eve at the 13 Coins in Sea Tac. It was a fun gig with Tim Turner on guitar and Billy Spaulding playing drums. Tim dressed up as Santa half way through the gig. Last weekend I played with Scott Rosburg (guitar/vocals) and Rick Spano on drums. I'll soon be enjoying Christmas dinner, my son and his fiance (Stephanie) are cooking it for me (lucky me). Mmmm, it smells great! I painted this at 3 or 4 am, a quick acrylic painting of a poinsettia last night. I have 'I'm Dreaming of a 'White Christmas' linked to the title and here. Always a favorite Christmas song of mine. I get to see my sister tomorrow in Vegas. Yeah!
I'm off to eat and to see if Santa brought me anything? xxoo Laurie

Chair and Vase

2011-12-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

  Yes, I'm still alive, and I'm covered in a new coat of mold. It is lime green this time. This is my first break, only one student to teach today, in a couple of months. I have been busy doing positive thing, even if I haven't had any time to paint (wah, wah). I painted last night though. I forced myself to get started. To shift my brain back to the right side. It was 3 am when I started, and it is a quick acrylic painting of a vase of flowers and a chair. I will be updating my art site with my miniatures and paintings from the previous few months by next week - www.lauriemillermodernart.com .
   First, I played a GoGirls Festival at Eddie's Trackside in Monroe. Michael, my son, played violin with me, and Carol played percussion. It is soul full filling to play my original songs again. Writing music, painting, writing, creating in any form brings me joy. I'm in the moment, and I feel like I'm living my destiny.

Anyway, the GoGirls Festival was a wonderful event, and I met some wonderful talent: Ronnda Cadle, Heidi Swan, Jean Mann, and Christine Havrilla.
  Next, I played a fundraiser at The Vera Project for Ruby Smith, my 17 year old bass student who is beating cancer. Here is a link to her journal.
  Finally, I held my fourth annual Christmas recital for my music students. It was a wonderful event as always. Their energy is so positive and they are all so talented.
  I'm #4 on the Rock charts in Seattle on Reverbnation now. How exciting! There is some great music on the Reverbnation site if you get a chance to check it out. Here is my link: http://www.reverbnation.com/lauriemiller.
  I'm still updating my Facebook Fanpage. If you want to 'Like' it great. Let me know by sending me a message or email and I'll 'Like' your page back: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Miller/6369592998.
   Thanks so much for reading, looking, and listening. Have a nice day! Laurie

Stormy Seas

2011-11-06T11:58:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone, I'm going to post my famous 'quickie' today, because I have to leave to teach music in five minutes. I wanted to let everyone know I'm still alive! "I'm still breathing!" Busy, busy, busy with a ton of left brain decisions to make. I did paint this quickie small acrylic painting this weekend, and I've been working on new lyrics for a couple of new songs and the B section for an instrumental piece. I'll be updating my art site - www.lauriemillermodernart.com soon within the next two weeks, since I have about 20 new miniatures to add. I'll post more this week. Have a nice day! xxoo Laurie

My Father's Birthday and Steve Jobs Dies

2011-10-07T00:57:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I'm back again. Wednesday, October 5th, would have been my father's birthday. Unfortunately he passed away of a sudden heart attack when he was only 49 years old. He was an amazing man, and I remember moving to Palo Alto twice, two years apart, so that my father could work on his Ph.D in Sports Medicine at Stanford. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame. He had also been a trainer for the USA team Winter Olympics, and he was the president of NAIRS which was located at Penn State. I wrote this song on Wednesday in memory of him - My Father's Song. Unfortunately on Wednesday, Steve Jobs died. What an amazing creative genius Steve Jobs was! What a loss!
Ruby, my bass student is always in my thoughts, and you can read about her journey to heal from cancer at her online journal link Caring Bridge/Ruby Smith.
I'm really enjoying getting back to writing songs again. The song I've linked to this post is written for piano/violin, but I haven't found a good violin midi sound yet. My son played it on his violin for me, and it sounded great. I will soon have my instrument inputs set up so I will have a real violin sound recorded.
I painted the acrylic painting 'Hat and Coat' last night too. I'm getting excited to focus time on my painting too.
I'm sure that I'm in need of some sleep,
so nighty night. xxoo

American Boy

2011-09-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! A quick post to show the variations I made to the acrylic painting for Susan Bellone's 'American Boy' album cover.

If you want, leave a comment and let me know which layout you like the best.

My art is still displayed at the Puyallup Fair till Sunday Sept. 25th. Here is a link to my art web site - Laurie Miller Modern Art.

It is a very warm day here in the Seattle area. I'll soon share a new song and picture that I'm working on.

Have a nice day! Laurie

Yellow Wind

2011-09-22T00:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I'm readjusting to my back to school teaching schedule. Fortunately I'm not playing as many gigs, yeah. Don't get me wrong I love playing the bass and I like the musicians I play with, but when you work seven days a week 365 days a year being in a bar is the last place I want to be. It is a rather negative environment. Hopefully, I can make enough money with my creations so I can move on to a different level of presenting my music which isn't limited to bars.
   My bass student Ruby is still fighting cancer and we hope to have a fund raiser soon. I'll keep everyone posted, and in the meantime you can read Ruby's journal.
  I still have art work displayed at the Puyallup Fair. I will have to write more soon, since I'm a bit tired.
I stayed up till about 7 am painting an album cover. Once Susan picks which version she wants to use I'll share the picture in my next posting. The acrylic painting in this posting is a quicky I did this morning after the album cover called Yellow Wind.
   I'm still having fun with my keyboard recording input. I love writing a song and being able to record it immediately. Here is my latest piano piece I wrote for my son to use as backing music for his photography.

Thanks for looking, listening, and reading. Nighty night. xxoo Laurie

Gray Skies

2011-09-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! A lot has happened since I've written. First of all, sad news; my bass student, Ruby, who is only 17 years old was diagnosed with cancer. Ruby is a wonderful intelligent person with an upbeat amd kind personality. She has learned music and how to play the bass at an amazing level - here is a link of Ruby playing 'Teen Town'. You can read about Ruby's journey to recovery from cancer and make a donation at her CaringBridge site. I visited Ruby once at Seattle's Children Hospital, but since last week I've been hit with a bad virus. Hopefully I will be well enough to visit her again soon. My prayers go out to her and her parents, Kate and Theo. You can visit Theo at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe where he is a co-owner.
I painted this quick acrylic painting this morning. It reflects Hurricane Irene to me. I'm also always inspired by Project Runway - Season 9. Currently I'm working on a couple of larger paintings so, I may post WIP, or I may

wait till they are completed? I've also started to write a new piano solo song in the vein of my Inanna's Dream song. The link below is the book 'The Help' which is written by a fellow Phi Mu sister Katheryn Stockett. The book is now a movie, and I can't wait to see it. Off to finish errands, and then I have a gig tonight. Have a nice day! xxoo Laurie

Red Bars and Girl

2011-08-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, I'm ecstatic that a new season of Project Runway has begun airing. Tonight the third episode is running, however I missed the first two episodes (due to work conflicts) so I watched the saved recordings this week. I'm in love with fashion and creativity! How many of you enjoy Project Runway? My dream is to, some year, attend Fashion Week in New York. I started designing a few dresses this year..... I dropped art off at the Puyallup Arts Festival last week, and I'm waiting to hear back which pieces were juried into the show, if any? I'm still refining my art site a bit, but Michael, my son, did an awesome job of getting the basic layout completed: www.lauriemillermodernart.com
Thanks ahead of time for looking at the art site.
I'm still getting my Facebook Fan Page out there too, so if you get a chance go to the page - push 'Like'.
Also, you can check out my Reverbnation page, which I am currently #8 on the Rock charts for Seattle.
I'm teaming up with a charity (whose mission is ending domestic violence in homes) where I'm donating a percentage of my CD sales and downloads. My song 'U Really Chose' was included on four CD compilations concerning domestic violence, and I played the 2005 'Take Back the Night' Festival at the University of Santa Barbara Festival which also dealt with domestic violence awareness.
I painted this small acrylic painting last night.
It is a beautiful day outside, so I'm off to see what magic occurs today.....

Red Dress

2011-08-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends near and far,
I had a wonderful time playing at the Bellevue Arts Festival last weekend. Carol was great playing percussion, as well as Michael was great playing the electric violin. We had a stranger wanting to hire us for a private party, so we must have sounded okay.
It was very soul pleasing to play my original songs once again. Full circle. Back to where I belong. : ). Here are links to my music sites, Laurie Miller at Reverbnation, and my Facebook Fan page. Thanks for looking and listening, and adding as a friend if you chose. My son, Michael, won first place for photography at the Magnolia Arts Festival this past weekend too. You can look at his picture under this link - Run Down Gas Station. I'm including a miniature acrylic painting (I painted last night) called - Red Dress with this blog, and a link to my 'I Like You' song. I'm off to get my oil changed and teach. Have a Nice Day! xxoo Laurie

Charcoal Drawing - Bellevue Arts Festival

2011-07-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I will be playing my first acoustic original gig with Michael, my son, playing violin, and Carol on percussion in five years. It should be fun. It is a nice sunny day here in the Seattle area, so I'm ready to burn. We will be playing at the Bellevue Arts Festival Saturday (today) July 30th from 4 - 5 pm. Here are two sites where you can here my music and fan me if you like - Reverbnation - Laurie Miller Band, and my Facebook fan page - Laurie Miller band.. My son finished the layout of my art site, Laurie Miller Modern Art, and he did a great job! Off to get ready for the gig!! Have a Nice Day! xxoo Laurie

Rose with a Hand

2011-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! It is sunny and warm here in the Seattle area. It is supposed to get up to 80 degrees today. I know we are extremely lucky that we are not frying in the east coast heat wave. Stay cool sister!! Terrible news concerning the Norway shooting incident.
My thoughts go out to them. I had a fun gig playing with Hans and company last Friday. Sounded great with the new drummer, John, and Doug on sax. I'm getting geared up for the gig next Saturday at the Bellevue Arts Festival. I'll be playing an hour acoustic set of my originals featuring my son on violin and Carol on percussion. I dropped my cell phone in water on Friday, so no microwaves frying my brain for a couple of days. This is probably a good thing. I wonder what the human cell phone brain is starting to mutate into? I'm including a new miniature acrylic painting I created last night with this posting. My son and I should be done with my new temporary art site by sometime this week - www.lauriemillermodernart.com. We have about four or five more categories of art series left to complete. Onward to get some housework done before teaching. 'Have a Nice Day' - xxoo, Laurie

Green Hills

2011-07-20T23:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lauriemiller2dd
Hi everyone, time flies when you're having fun. Okay, when you are still working 24/7/365. Currently Michael is a tremendous help when it comes to getting my Facebook Fan page promoted, updating my art site, and helping to get my music out in general. He is also going to play violin with me at the Bellevue Arts Festival - Saturday, July 30th at 4 pm. Carol will be joining us on percussion. It should be fun. This will be the first original gig I've played in awhile.
Here is the link to my Facebook fanpage: Laurie Miller Facebook fanpage. To become a fan, go to the page, and PUSH the 'Like' button. Thanks for the support.
I'm also getting all of my art prices reposted to my new art web site that Michael is building for me too. www.lauriemillermodernart.com. We are still building the site, and we have four more categories to complete. We are also going to include a new category of miniature acrylic paintings - $20.00 each. The art with this posting - Green Hills is one of the miniatures for sell.
I know I have more to say, but I'm fading. I'll post sooner next time I promise. Nighty night. xxooo Laurie
My song Take My Hand is linked to this blog posting.

CD Baby Link - Store Widget

2011-07-11T22:26:00.000-07:00

Happpppy Fourth of July!!!

2011-07-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Happy Fourth of July! I had a lovely 15 hour day of working yesterday, so I'm a bit out of it. I taught music lessons all day, and then I played a gig (with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding at The Lighthouse) in the evening. Off to play a private party Fourth of July gig soon. I guess I should take a bath? I painted this quick acrylic painting this morning. Michael and I are making great progress and getting things organized around the house, so I should probably have my studio up by next week for sure (odds 10 - 1). Oh yeah, Michael and I had a wonderful trip to Mount Rainer on Friday. One thing we didn't expect though was how much snow was still there. We drove to the Paradise area to take a hike, but there was a need for snow shoes to commence on any hiking. Snow was still about 12 feet high. Gotta get going! Have a nice day!!!

Pensive Face

2011-06-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, I thought I would try to get a least one more posting to my blog before the end of June. I'm making progress getting projects completed. Finally! Yeah! My son helped me get my Facebook Fan page set up and promoted. If you get a chance, go to the Laurie Miller Fan page (I've linked it here), and push the 'Like' button. Since I did spend a fifth of my life in the studio recording songs, it feels good to finally get my songs out to the public. Thank You! xxoo We should have my studio set up by next week. I painted the painting linked to this posting this morning. I've also linked a song I recorded in the Bay Area called Nasty Weather. I'm planning on painting my large scale acrylic Modern Expressionist paintings starting next week. Hopefully I can have an art show in the fall.
I also have my music up at Reverbnation - if you get a chance, check it out. I'm off to bed early, super long day tomorrow. Nighty night, xxxxooooo Laurie

Arty Art

2011-06-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Okay, I know I've been slacking with my posts, but hey, three words: busy, busy, busy. I have two art pieces showing at the Edmonds Arts Festival this weekend, June 17 - 19. The Piano Teacher drawing, and the acrylic painting Four Flowers and Two Hands are part of the juried gallery. My art shown at the Edmonds Arts Festival is available to buy at the show. Art pieces from my new Modern Expressionism series are still hanging in the group show at Couth Buzzard Books till the end of June too. SALE! Half off my prices at the Couth Buzzard Books show, only two more weeks! Check it out if you get a chance! This past weekend was hectic with my son's graduation, my music students recital, and still teaching lessons all weekend. I'm making progress toward my goals this week. My son and I have been hiking a steep trail every morning, and I can finally fit into my size 3/4 leather pants again. Yeah! It has been a long journey getting back in shape, and overcoming the trauma that initially produced the stress hormone. Good thoughts and peace! My song 'I Like You' was played this morning on Live365 Internet Radio- Seattle ROKKX. I also have my music posted at: Reverbnation site. Off to my busy day! xxxxoo Have a Nice Day!

Reflecting Life

2011-06-09T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Okay, so it has been more than a few weeks since I've posted. I admit that I've been procrastinating with this blog posting because it deals with the death of my Uncle Bill. He was my only older blood relative left. My Uncle Bill was my mother's brother. He was the biggest influence on my life concerning playing music and pursuing the arts. My uncle had received a scholarship to Juilliard, but instead he studied mathematics graduating Phi Beta Kappa and became an actuary. He left his piano at my mother's house, and I played the piano every chance I could. I loved playing classical music, Joplin, Debussy, and writing my own music. My uncle also painted, but he never painted when people were around. We had some of his amazing paintings hanging in our house however. Thank you Uncle Bill for all your gifts you shared.
This weekend my awesome son, Michael, is graduating from college (Central Washington University) - double major - Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with Honors, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration Specialization Finance, and a Minor in Economics. Also, this weekend, on Sunday to be exact, I will present my music students recital. I'm trying to breathe a little right now. Next week I'm taking a day off no matter what! I've linked Frédéric Chopin - Prelude in E-Minor (op.28 no. 4) to this blog, because my Uncle Bill loved to play Chopin. The painting posted with this blog is a quick five minute acrylic painting I created last night. xxxoo Nighty night.

Reflecting Life
Trying to remember
A life that once was
Always remembering
To take back my life
To reflect who I really am and how I feel
Because, life will reflect back
How I feel about myself
Copyright 2011 - LAM

End of The World

2011-05-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I guess we survived Judgement day. I was looking forward to a nap. Oh well. Here is a link for anyone who is interested in the doomsday predictions: Judgement day! I had a fun gig last weekend playing with Scott Rosburg (Striker), and Rick Spano (Randy Hansen's drummer). I am a little more deaf now as a byproduct of the gig. Two pieces of my art - Piano Teacher -drawing, and Four Flowers and Two Hands acrylic painting were juried into the upcoming Edmonds Art Festival.
It is held June 17th, 18th, and 19th. There is a link under the name Edmonds Art Festival. My other Modern Expressionism art is still hanging at Couth Buzzard Books. I've decided for this month to sell my art that is hanging there for 50% off the larger pictures and 30% off the smaller pictures and print. I have cards to sell there too. I'll be updating my Laurie Miller Modern art site this week, and Betty is still working on my official new art site. I can't wait to see it. I've currently been having a lot of fun on a new music site that I joined a couple of weeks ago called Reverbnation. It has a lot of my songs from my current CDs and my Missing Children band posted there. I also was recently listed at the MySeattleNightOut site.
I'm under the Punk category for bands, which I wear well. I have some more news updates, but I'll write again - sooner next time I promise. Nighty night xxooo

Birthday drawing

2011-04-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! It is my birthday. I was really hatched from some type of now extinct egg a few million decades ago, and then yes, I was bitten by a vampire. I do live at night, and I wander the streets looking for rats. I'm posting the other drawing I started last week, but I've been a slacker and I haven't finished it yet. I really want to get back to my Modern Expressionism acrylic painting series. I have visualized some new paintings I can't wait to complete. Some of my new Modern Expressionism series and my Modern Surrealism series painting are still hanging at Couth Buzzard Books in Greenwood. If you get a chance check out the store.
If you get a chance, check out my new music site at Reverbnation.
If you want to give me a present you can buy a .99 song. : ) Thank you!
I've linked my Have a Nice Day! song to this posting.
I'll be playing with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding at the Rim Rock in Lake City Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and The Lighthouse in Des Moines on Sunday. I'm off to teach some lessons and wander the streets. Love, Laurie xxoo

Piano Teacher

2011-04-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I started this drawing - Piano Teacher- earlier this week. I was hoping to complete it (not quite) and enter it into the Edmonds Art Festival (which I did anyway - incomplete and all). Speaking of art, my art is still part of the group show at Couth Buzzard books in Greenwood. I have cards and my art on sale there. Take a look if you get a chance. I didn't have many spare hours to complete the Piano Teacher drawing, and I even drew (from 3 am - 5 am) after my Wednesday gig at the Rim Rock with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding. Bass wise I felt great at the gig, and I played a couple of solos I was happy with. I'm linking my Inanna's Dream song with this posting, since it as a solo piano piece it compliments the drawing. I recorded Inanna's Dream at a studio on an older grand piano in one take. I was still recovering from a car accident at the time I recorded this song, so at the beginning my left hand is a little weak. The song has seven movements. I hope to get a chance to record it again, and orchestrate it. I wrote the different parts at different times, usually when I was feeling intense emotions. Inanna is the Sumerian Goddess of love, war, sexual love, etc.
I'm very tired, so.... nighty night. xxoo

Utterances of Blue

2011-04-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I know I've been slacking with my blog postings, but my body has been fighting allergies and fatigue. I played gigs last week with Tim Turner on Wednesday, and Granite Reign on Friday. I'm still preparing for my original music acoustic gigs, and I plan on booking gigs soon. I'm focusing this week on finishing a couple of drawings by Friday to enter into the Edmonds Arts Festival. My modern expressionism art is still part of a group show at Couth Buzzard Books . Check it out if you get a chance. My new art web site is finally in the process of being built. Yahoo! I can't wait. I'm really enjoying reading about the Expressionist and then channeling this style. Very soothing to my soul. I'll be at the Rim Rock in Lake City with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding again on Wednesday, so come on out and dance if you get a chance. My poem today was inspired by the word 'utterance' which was provided to me by my friend Carol. I've also linked my song 'Crawling' to this posting. Have a nice sunny day! xxoo

Utterance of blue
Utterances of blue
Falling over you
Time to break free
From the likes and dislikes of others
Time to be true
To your views
Changing the utterances of blue
With a new wind blowing through

Shoe For Nose

2011-04-08T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I'm feeling a bit tired because I'm still adjusting to the mid week gig where I don't get home till 3 am and I usually fall asleep around 5 am. It is an enjoyable gig though, and I'm playing with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding at the Rim Rock in Lake City. Currently I'm recovering my energy so that I can accomplish my new goals. I'm posting in this blog a quick pen and ink drawing, a quicky poem complimenting the drawing, and a link to Erik Satie - Gymnopedie No.3 (Orchestrated by Debussy).
Nighty night. xxoo Laurie

Shoe for a Nose
Shoe for a nose
Diamonds adorning my toes
Impatient for a change
Tired of the same

Yellow Candy

2011-04-05T02:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Yesterday was a very long day, running from teaching one lesson to another and then straight to a gig at The LIghthouse in Des Moines, WA with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding. In so much as, I didn't have two seconds at home to write my poem, and I was way too brain dead at 3 am when I arrived home after my gig. Today, as in April 4th, since I haven't gone to sleep yet, is when my father passed away. I talked about him last year, but to quickly reiterate, he died at the age of 49 years young. He was an associate professor of sports medicine at Penn State and the president of the National Athletic Injuries Recording. This unrelated weird poem popped into my head this evening, and then I created this quick pastel to illustrate it. Really tired so off to bed. Nighty Night xxoo

Yellow Candy
Sucking on a piece of
yellow candy
Feeling the flavor
Coat my tongue
Wallowing in the sensation
Never wanting it to end

The Invisible Woman

2011-04-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Off to my gig. Another quick poem, and then I plan on painting and drawing all week long.

The Invisible Woman
The Invisible Woman
Standing in the middle of the street
Tears falling from her head to her feet
Wondering when this comedy will change
Bringing about relief from her pain