My name is Jami Millon and I am a 4 and a half year oligodendroglioma survivor.  Due to the location of my tumor, I lost a lot of strength and function in my right (drawing) hand.  I have been working with a local cancer organization for several years to get some function restored. The bird reminds me that even with brain cancer, I can soar and accomplish things with time and patience. This piece was done on watercolor paper with pigmented ink and watercolors.

I am a survivor of both breast cancer and recently ovarian cancer. 

I painted this collage or acrylic mixed media piece after my first cancer and after my husband lost his battle with prostate cancer as we had cancer at the same time .  I was blessed with a friend who later came to be my beau. He has been by my side through everything. He has seen me widowed and living alone for the first time in my life, managing day to day, and at first worrying about scans,  doctor's appointments, chemotherapy,  and reoccurrence of cancer.  

I have at times been overwhelmed with myself trying to do everything. Now, researching for answers and reassurance, and overthinking everything. He wrote me the note in the painting and I had put it on my refrigerator so that it would remind me "One Day at a Time."  

I decided to put it in a piece of my work as I paint to relax and focus on something other than the creeping thoughts. I added "relax and restore" from some piece that I saw on my newspaper recycle pile while I was painting. I see the piece everyday and it reminds me to slow down, breathe,  don't overthink everything, pace myself and that no matter what happens....all will be well! 

Each day is a gift. The simple things in life are gifts  Love and friendship are gifts.  
 

One Day at a Time

Mediums: Mixed Media including acrylic paint, cardboard, burlap, feathers, embellishments and pen & ink
 
“Fearless” is mixed media composed of a combination of the very different mediums and styles of both my dad and myself resulting in a visually interesting assemblage art piece. This piece features my dad’s stunning leopard pen & ink stipple drawing incorporated into rugged textures and earthly elements. 

It’s an extremely personal piece for me. It represents determination, courage and love. My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer and in the last months of his life, I promised him that I would show his art to the world. He never had the opportunity to do that. He was way too talented for his work to go unnoticed and unappreciated. 

My dad inspired me to become the best artist and daughter that I could be. My mom also died of cancer just 11 months prior to my dad. They were together for 60 years. This piece gave me strength to deal with their deaths. It made me stronger and gave me a purpose go on so I could create more art to inspire people going through a difficult time of loss.
 

Watercolor Birds

By Jami Millon

October 19th, 2022

Latest News