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Jeannie Mills born 1965 paints Anaty (Bush Potato/Yam), Anemangkerr (Bush Melon), Akarley (Wild Orange) and the flower and seeds of the Anaty (BushPotato), having created her own distinct style for this in 2004.
Jeannie Mills is the daughter of well-known Utopian artist Dolly Mills and Utopia elder and acclaimed Utopia artist Greeny Purvis Petyarre.
Raised by a generation of indigenous artists who were part of the batik producing generation of the 1970s, Jeannie was exposed to the success that these artists experienced as they began to experiment with acrylic on canvas. Jeannie inherited the Yam Dreaming from her mother, and created her own distinct style using warm and beautiful colours, depicting with intricate detail the flower and seeds of the Anaty- the Bush Yam, or potato.
The Bush Yam Dreaming is shared by several other Utopia artists, including the prominent artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye. The yam is staple part of the bush tucker diet of many indigenous people from the Central Desert region. The yam has an impressive root system, spreading up to twelve metres from the stalk, and is commonly found in woodland areas nearby a water source. The plant has bright green leaves and yellow flowers, which spread over quite a wide area. The yam is harvested after rainfall months, when it is dug up from the ground and gathered. By depicting the Yam Dreaming in their paintings, indigenous artists are able to pay homage to this significant plant and encourage its continual rejuvenation.