Rita Miller is a third generation Nevadan, born in Elko of Italian and Swedish heritage. Early on, Rita was crocheting and embroidering under the tutelage of her mother and grandmother, but it was the hand dipped candle making in kindergarten that planted the seed about making art was fun. Another favorite memory of Rita’s is a Saturday morning ritual at home of bringing out the art kit (a box stuffed full of all kinds of art making stuff) to create whatever she could think up. 

While art classes were regular for her throughout her school years, work and family took her away from making art but did not extinguish her creative energy. Whether it was gardening or becoming a tailor working for Kaufman’s Men Store in Reno, or designing and sewing wedding ensembles, Rita found an outlet for her artistic talents. About 8 years ago, Rita joined NAA after learning about the gallery through Dana Childs, a watercolor teacher with whom she was taking a class, and an artist friend, Carol Taylor, who are both NAA members.

 At the time Rita joined NAA there were only about eighty members. Now membership averages around 150. The artwork of a range of styles, media, and techniques exhibited at the NAA Gallery feeds the curious Rita always willing to jump into something new which she then goes at wholeheartedly, and the members provide a social network just as enriching. Rita works in watercolor, zentangle design, felting, and acrylic painting (just to mention a few mediums) in both representational styles as well as somewhat abstract. She credits her active involvement with the NAA as a contributing factor of her artist growth.

 Most recently, Rita is taking ceramic clay classes through the neighboring Brewery Art Center and is pushing herself to learn more about photography with a beginner’s lesson with NAA member, Heather Nicole Cudworth. Rita wanted to give back to the NAA, so she became a treasurer 5 years ago, an office she still holds. In addition, she is a vital member of the show change crew and takes responsibility for setting up refreshments for the four annual judged show receptions.