Steak Dinner

Hi everyone,

  I'm a sleepy zombie this morning.  Argh!  I didn't get very much sleep the night before, and then I woke up last night after having fallen asleep for only an hour last night.  I then stayed awake till 5:30 am.  I was in a total information absorption mode.  Reading and looking on different links on Social Media.
  I have to keep this short, since I need to 'hit the road Jack' in about twenty minutes.
I'm teaching private music lessons from 1 - 6 pm, then my boyfriend arrives at my house.  We cook the most awesome steak dinners together you can imagine.  Okay, I'll post a picture.  All I can say is yum, and we have so much fun doing it.
  If I don't pass out tomorrow early, I'll try to get back to my blog to write some more.
I'm turning in my art for the Edmonds Art Festival - again my drawing was juried into the Juried Gallery part of the festival.  It is the 15th time I've been juried into the festival. I've sold a few pieces, and I've had about 30 pieces juried into the festival.
I added my new beautiful 'Rain Paintings' to my art site: www.lauriemillermodernart.com
All of my art is for sale - and this summer only 10% all art.
My art is awesome - get it while you can!
 xoxox

Rain Painting

Hi everyone,

Well, it has only been two days since my last posting- "Yahoo!"  I guess it is an improvement over the previous two year gap - lol.
  Here is my grammatical and writing errors disclaimer - I'm not a morning person - and it is 6:30 am!
Also, I'm legally blind (for real - you should try my glasses on!) and it is difficult to see the screen.
My darn cat woke me up - "Meow, meow, meeee - ow!"  Argh!  When will she ever learn how to feed herself? Where did all of the mice go?
  I'm feeling so much better today.  I have been fighting an intestinal bug for over a month now. It was really wiping my energy level out. I know I should probably go see a doctor, but ignorance is bliss.  I'm focused on healing myself for now.  I know I digress, but my brain does that.  I sometimes think in ten different directions at once.  Okay, not sometimes, all the time.  I have wonderful conversations with myself.  I was thinking yesterday that I feel successful in my spiritual evolution because I have arrived at a place in my life where I enjoy my own company.  Oh so anti-social of me, but true.  I love spending my time being positive, happy, and creative.

I'm sharing one of my beautiful 'Rain Paintings' from a new series I created in April.
I will soon describe in depth more about creating this series, but I'm getting sleepy!
xoxox

I'm Back!

Hi everyone,

 Well, it has been two years since I posted on my blog!

  Anyway, I don't want to get into all of the tiny details, but mainly I was emotionally drained due to the passing of my bass student Ruby, who had turned 18 years old a few weeks before.
I also have been working seven days straight for the past ten years with only one vacation, and about maybe one to three days off (usually because I was too sick to teach) per year (due to unexpected and unprepared for tragedies with no family help - and I was a single mom with my son still in school).
  I try to stay positive, but it sure gets depressing when creativity pours out from my very soul and I previously lived, studied, and breathed my passions for numerous years.   I can create music, art, poetry, whatever at the drop of a hat, and I'm hoping to become better at selling my artistic endeavors so I that I no longer spend hours a week not living my passions.  My health hasn't been the greatest the past few years either, and when I come home from teaching it takes every last scrap of effort that I have to take care of myself, my cat, and my home.
   Don't worry I generally have a positive outlook, and I keep buying lottery tickets, no, I mean I have an attitude of gratitude for what I do have in life.
  Also, I have been fighting back through my physical pain and fatigue, and I have been creating once again.  I'm very happy with the outcome so far.  I have created a few new drawings and paintings, and a series of 'Rain Paintings' (which my son and I are creating a documentary film for).
My art web site: Laurie Miller Modern Art
   Another big also,  new music recordings.  I really love my new tracks!  Sean Walker engineered and helped produce my new music, and he has done an outstanding job.  The songs have energy, they sound powerful, and they received 100% positive feedback from other attendees and big wigs at the ASCAP EXPO in Los Angeles in April of this year.  As soon as I finish my student's music recital at the end of June, I plan of finishing the new CD - and then massive promotion will occur.    The songs are awesome!  One person associated with a label said my new version of my 'I Like You' song is a Hit song.  Yeah!  My new music web site (still updating, thank you for your patience): Laurie Miller Music
 
  With this new posting I plan on sharing at least a new piece of art, music, poem, or some outpouring of creativity from me everyday.  We shall see?

Today I'm sharing a drawing I created December 25th 2013 called, 'The Christmas Dance'.  It will be shown in the Edmonds Juried Art Gallery, June 13th - 15th.  I do have a BFA in Design from CCA ( a top art school in California), and I did work at Landor (at the time the world's largest design firm) where I was doing computer graphics.  I have also have an extensive fine art resume - solo and group showings listed on my art web site.
  Hopefully I will be back again to post sooner than two years.  xoxo

New Song - 'Give Up Me'

                                                             Hi everyone,

My blog postings have decreased from almost daily for a year to once a month.  Hopefully I will get back to posting more frequently.  Last month was a busy one.  I finally have my in-home studio up and running.  Here is the first song, 'Give Up Me' I tracked (vocals & guitar).  I still plan on producing a version of this song with some strings and a few other instruments added. In the middle of April I went to Los Angeles for the ASCAP Expo conference.  It was the motivating factor in getting my studio set up.   I plan on completing my new CD with my studio in July and August.  Another new song I recently tracked,  'What Does Bob Think?', placed Honorable Mention in the Song of the Year contest.  I was happy that it placed against completed (fully produced) tracks, when the song is only a rough and raw 'first take' vocal and acoustic guitar tracks.  I will produce 'What Does Bob Think?' this summer too, as well as the rest of my new songs.  I will be running a fundraiser to finish my CD and a series of paintings with Kickstarter starting next month.  This month is crunch time for my teaching business.  I have 20 students preparing for Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory - The Achievement Program exams this month, and then I have my student recital to prepare for.
  Eight of my nine art entries were accepted and juried into the Edmonds Arts Festival 2012 Juried Galleries.
  Continue to say your prayers and send positive energy for my 17 year old bass student, Ruby Smith, who is fighting cancer.  She is always in my thoughts.
  I will write more soon!  Have a nice day. xxoo Laurie

April 1st - Anniversary of My Mother and Father's Passing

Hi Everyone,





 Eight years ago today my mother passed away.  It was due to my mother's love of creativity I was given the opportunity and support from her to develop my own creativity.  I am forever grateful to her.  Here is a link to  something I wrote for her right after she had passed away - http://www.lauriemillerband.com/poetry.htm.  My father passed away on April 4th, 1980.  I didn't really get to know my father very well, but I remember him being kind, hard working, driven, and disciplined.  He was only 49 years old when he passed away, but  he achieved an enormous amount in his lifetime.  He was inducted into the NATA - Hall of Fame.  Michael and I visited Ruby, my 17 year old bass student who is beating/fighting cancer, this week.  She still has some obstacles to get over such as a bone marrow transplant before she is okay, so all positive energy sent her way is welcome I'm sure.  Also, if you would like to make a donation you can contact her father, Theo, at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso.
   This week I'm recording my new original songs.   I'm overjoyed to get back to focusing on my originals again.  Yeah!  This summer I plan on focusing on finishing a new series of paintings too - www.lauriemillermodernart.com.
Nighty night! xxoo Laurie

Floating Bodies

Hi Everyone!  It is already the middle of March and we are still getting snow showers every other day here in the Seattle area.  I think last week was the busiest music teaching week of my entire life.  I barely had time to think.  Thinking is over rated right?  I did start writing a few new songs, and I should have an acoustic CD finished by this summer.  My studio is up and running, and I should have my first song completed by this weekend.  My abstract feather series, original Plant People, and Wine picture are still showing at The Scotch and Vine in Des Moines. If you would like to Help this artist and a great charity - 20% off all art at the show and the miniatures www.lauriemillermodernart.com. Email me at: bassnlegs@aol.com if interested in buying any art.  Art can be shipped with additional shipping and handling fees.  A portion of all sales is given to NCADV - Helping Women who have been abused by domestic violence -http://www.ncadv.org/.  
Thank you!
My son, Michael, has his beautiful photos showing at the Lynnwood Library Gallery this month:
http://www.facebook.com/michael.wittenbrink?sk=photos.

I'm still gearing up for my song, art creation, and poem a day for a year.  I need to  take a few more vitamins and eat some more Wheaties, and then I'll begin my creative journey once again.
Have a Nice Day!  xxoo Laurie

Whitney Houston - Rest in Peace

Hi Everyone!  I know I've been a little behind with my blog postings of late. I had eye surgery last month, so I'll attribute my absence to that. I had a new lens put in my left eye.  I can see again!  I guess my art might change a little?  Also, I'm back into the swing of working seven days a week.  Oh when am I going to win that darn lottery so that I can once again focus my time on my creativity rather than paying the bills. Okay, attitude of gratitude at least I'm not living on the streets.  I'm also happy that I'm not chained to playing bar gigs for now.
I don't mind the first two hours (at least when I'm playing with good musicians, and I can solo and/or I can sing a few songs), but the last two hours are so intolerably boring.  There is just so much spit I can wipe off my face from the conversations with drunks.
   I held my artist 'Meet and Greet' last month at The Scotch and Vine.  Some fabulous musicians came and played the event including; Tim Turner, Rod Cook, Ronnda Cadle, Heidi Swan, Gary, and my band mates: Carol Howe (percussion, back up singer), and Michael Wittenbrink (violin).  Thank you all for making the event a wonderful evening, and thanks to everyone who came to the event. We had a nice full house, and it was the first time I had a chance to enjoy the tantalizing food. The Big Blue Peacock drink that Drew created was also a hit.  My abstract feather series is featured till April at The Scotch and Vine.  20% off all art at the show, and I have signed art cards of any art from my site for $2.50 a card www.lauriemillermodernart.com.  A portion of all sales is donated to NCADV - Helping Women who have been abused by domestic violence - www.ncadv.org. In addition, I will be selling signed prints of my Whitney Houston picture at $10.00 plus postage fees. If anyone is interested you can email me at: bassnlegs@aol.com.  Thank you for your support!  It is much appreciated.  I have written a few new songs (music and lyrics).  I shall be sharing them soon.  In the meantime, I wrote the song Whitney R.I.P. (featured on this blog posting) on my guitar the other night.  It is a simple melody, but I wanted to write something.  I also created the art dedicated to Whitney last week. I will try my best to post more frequently.
Nighty night. xxoo Laurie