DeKalb artist's ornament hanging in the White House

A DeKalb artist known for his St. Lawrence River pictures on miniature paddles painted one of the many red, white and blue ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree in the Blue Room of the White House.

"I picked the Rock Island Lighthouse between Clayton and Alex Bay," John M. Miller III said. "The water and the sky are blue. The lighthouse is white, and the lighthouse keeper's building is red."

Mr. Miller's selection came through Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, Canton, which was asked by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to pick one of its artists to decorate a ball.

Mr. Miller and his sister, Lynn J., DeKalb, were in the crowd of about 500 artists and their guests at the opening reception Tuesday evening at the White House.

"Mrs. Bush came downstairs and thanked us all for making the ornaments," Mr. Miller said. "There were people 8 years to 90 years and everything in between who made the ornaments."

Mr. Miller said he spotted his ornament.

"It is down low so it is easy to see," he said. "We had pictures taken by the White House photographer in front of the tree."

First lady Laura Bush invited members of Congress to have artists in their districts contribute the 369 ornaments that decorate the 18.5-foot Fraser fir in the Blue Room. This year's theme of red, white and blue characterizes the patriotic spirit of various regions, according to the White House Web site.

Rep. John M. McHugh's office selected Plattsburgh artist Linda Parks, who used tissue paper to create a landscape representing the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain.

Mr. Miller knew in July he was going to paint one of the ornaments but wasn't allowed to tell. He received the plastic chrome ball in the mail, painted it, and had to return it by Oct. 1. In early November, he received the invitation for himself and a guest to attend the opening.

"It's been very exciting," he said. "The whole downstairs of the White House was decorated. It was breathtaking."