By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

Oliver Miller, a junior at Rochester High School, is both an artist and writer. His ambition is to promote peace and acceptance with his artwork and artistic expression. Photo provided by Oliver Miller.

ROCHESTER — “I believe each person has aspects that they try to conceal from the world,” stated Oliver Miller, a junior at Rochester High School. “Many hold deep, tragic, painful memories that haunt them eternally. It’s really part of the human experience. I try to simply depict people and the pain they suppress, spitting it out onto canvas.” Miller’s artwork is displayed at the Fulton County Public Library February into March.

Miller was influenced greatly by his free-spirited paternal grandmother June Harvey. “Grandma knew I had artistic talent. She kept a folder of every drawing my sister and I created for her. She died about three years ago, on my birthday. She promised to always be with me. I always thought of myself as the next version of her. I truly looked up to her.”

Grandma was a free spirit. “She was a total hippie in her day. She left behind tie-dyed shirts and dresses, floppy hats and her beloved moccasins. She gifted me my first record player for my birthday in sixth grade, and a copy of Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ She and my parents heavily influenced my avid appreciation of the arts and music.”

Miller is in the marching/concert and jazz bands. He plays the flute and alto saxophone. He’s also dabbled with the guitar and composes music and lyrics. “The arts is a broad term. Whether it’s music, drama, drawing, painting or any other means of expression, I am interested in exploring it. Art is a portrayal of what we see in ourselves and others.”

When he was very young, one of his creatively-encouraging relatives gave him a journal for children. “It was my first diary. I scrawled strings of letters, shapes and peace signs inside. I recall doodling cats and spiders. Even at an early age, I learned that it was essential to express myself.”

Some of his favorite classes in high school include advanced concert band and advanced 2-D art. “People in my classes gravitate towards me. They’ll see me doodling and survey my simple artwork, saying, ‘I could never do that!’ I smile and respond, ‘Let’s draw together. I’ll show you.’ ”

Miller passionately believes the art community should be a nurturing place for all people. “I explain to people that I didn’t start out being a good artist. It took me many years and tons of practice. I never discourage people from exploring and expressing themselves in a meaningful way.”

Miller enjoys drawing people because he’s interested in portraying the absolute human experience. “The characters I depict all look differently. For example, one of my pictures shows a girl with long sleeves and no hands. I did that to show that sometimes our hands are tied because of circumstances beyond our control. We cannot always decide our outcomes. Sometimes we just need to surrender.”

A long-time logophile, Oliver writes poetry. “I started writing poetry in fifth grade. I studied particular styles others have written in to develop my own, which relies heavily on symbolism of color.” Fulton County Public Library has compiled a booklet of Miller’s artwork and poetry.

This brilliant free spirit, the child of Dustin Miller and Felicia Renaud, is looking forward to attending School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “My future ambition is to promote peace and acceptance with my artwork and artistic expression.”