About the Artist

About the Artist

Hi, my name is Sandy Miller, and I am a Louisiana Cajun pen and ink artist. I was born and raised in the deep south. My husband, Ronald and I have two children, and we live right in the heart of where some of the oldest Mardi Gras traditions still take place.

My family is very active in trying to keep these traditions alive. My husband is the captain of the Tee Mamou-Iota Children's Mardi Gras, and both of my children are active Mardi Gras runners.

I was first introduced to this very old tradition about 25 years ago. Although hearing stories of the way this area celebrated Mardi Gras from my parents and grandparents (who are from this area), I did not actually see it for myself until I was about 17. We were raised about 30 miles away from this small farming community. My parents eventually moved back to this area and that is how I met Ronald. He was and had been running Mardi Gras from a young age and ran for years. It was at this time that I grew to love and learn about this tradtion. I became so involved in excitement that happens in the preparation of this age-old event.

Costumes are worked on for weeks, as are the masks and capuchons (cone hats). I quickly learned how to put these costumes together. It's a good thing that I did because I now have two children and Mardi Gras has become a big part of their lives. It's in their blood. They start dancing when that Mardi Gras French song starts playing.

My art depicts the celebration of Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. It shows the fun and witty ways of the Mardi Gras. I offer black and white, and colored reproductions of my work. I decided to offer color because of so many requests that I have had at our town festival. I hope that you enjoy the art, and if you ever get a chance to visit our Mardi Gras festival in our little town of Iota, Louisiana, you will be in for the experience of a lifetime.