Melissa Miller Bio

I was born in Des Moines, Iowa to a family of artists. My grandfather, Frank Miller, Sr., was an illustrator for the Kansas City Star for 40 years, when artists were sent out to sketch events rather than photographers to photograph them. He developed a loyal local following.

My parents met at the Kansas City Art Institute. Following college, my mother worked as a fashion illustrator for Harzfelds Department Store in Kansas City, my father was sent to Korea.

Upon his return from Korea, they moved to Des Moines where my father assumed position of front page editorial cartoonist for the Des Moines Register. He won a Pulitzer prize in 1963 for his anti-war work. Like his father, he developed a loyal and admiring local following. He died suddenly at the age of 57 in 1984.

My sister, Mindy Miller, is an artist living a life of creative simplicity in the splendor of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

mindy art

My mother worked with various art techniques until hitting on her passion, batik.

My husband, Mark is a Public Defender; we have a son named Avery, now 13 years old.

I worked for the Iowa Attorney General's office for 17 years as an Investigator in the Victims of Violent Crime unit before leaving to pursue my passion. I learned the art of Pique Assiette from the Book, "Making Bits and Pieces Mosaics", by Storey Publishing, written by Marlene Hurley Marshall. After developing my skill and creating some additional techniques, I was able to work at my craft on a full-time basis. I also have interests in neuropsychology, autism, and related subjects. I've studied Abraham Maslow's theories and studies extensively, as well as work done by such creativity experts as Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and John Briggs.

Whenever I need an energy boost, I go for quiet walks, or I drive around in my station-wagon listening to my odd assortment of cds.