Blog – Page 11 – Sherry Meidell

Catching up with Some Old Friends

February 25, 2021 No Comments

I was able to pick up a few paintings that had been on display at the West Bountiful City Offices while I was gone on my mission. They have been under quarantine for the past few months so nobody was able to get out and see them. I had not seen them for a year and a half. It was like meeting old friends after a long absence.

We get into the heat of painting and look at our pictures with such a critical eye. It’s nice to see them afresh and just enjoy them and take joy in the fact that you painted them and they are better than you remember. If you would like to take a look at five of these paintings, you can check out the video on my you tube channel. I found the lady above in Durango, Colorado. Here is the link: “Looking at 5 Watercolors”

#watercolor #durangocolorado #newyork #ordervilleutah #zionsnationalpark #scottsdalearizona

Best of Show and How to Handle a Critique

February 16, 2021 No Comments

So “Ohana Hands” won Best of Show at the Utah Watercolor Societies Small Works Show. It is hanging with the show at the Ogden Depot. I hope you get a chance to go up and check out the show. It hangs until February 26th. I’m throwing up a bit of confetti.

Also below is the list of things that I talked about at the Utah Watercolor Society’s Monthly Meeting. I had a great time critiquing paintings with Kristi Grussendorf. Here are some things to think about when you are getting a critique, whether it’s for your illustrating, writing or paintings.

How to handle a Critique Without losing your Cool

Whether you are a writer, illustrator or artist critiques can be beneficial for your progress and improvement. They can help you see things that you wouldn’t see otherwise. Here are a few hints.

Spend more time listening than commenting. Don’t spend so much time making excuses that you lose the benefits of the critiquers comments.
Take notes so you can go over the comments later when the emotions are not so high.
Be prepared that the comments might bring up something that you were not aware of.
Be prepared that the comments might bring up something that you were aware of but didn’t want to address.
Be prepared for more work and ideas to use on future paintings.
Do not let the critique discourage you from future painting and creating. Use it as a trampoline to bounce you positively into the next project.
Be prepared that you might not agree with the critique but they might be seeing something that is wrong with your painting that if you take the time to look carefully, will lead you to see something that needs to be fixed that might effect what they are seeing and saying.
Go over you notes later. Don’t just leave them in your sketchbook but bring them out and go over them. Learn from them.
9, Take joy in creating and don’t listen to your inner critic that can tell you the negative things about the creative process and your ability. Improvement comes from diving in and continuing to paint and create.
10. Number 10 because you don’t want to end up on number 9.

Utah Watercolor Society

Capturing the Passing Landscapes

January 28, 2021 5 Comments

I love being the passenger as our car is driving across the country. There is a never ending variety of views that whip past the car window. When I’m passing through an interesting area I’ll pull out my camera and take random shots. I never know what I have until I get a chance to download the photos and check them out on my laptop. Sometimes the area is just right. The lighting is just right. I can capture a snippet of life that lies just off the road. There is the home or farm outbuildings, the evidence of the people who live there. I love doing these 6” by 18” watercolors of life just off the road.

Here are three of those watercolors.

13F85F66-7E93-4FF1-BBA0-EDF778CE2829 — “Flat Top Mountain” 6”x18” framed watercolor on watercolor paper

C668B2E7-8087-4949-A538-5093BD4553D0 — “Storm Clouds Over Illinois Farm” 6”x18” watercolor on watercolor paper.

D6ACDFC6-F9CF-4118-8782-C8F58087D323 — “Lone Tree in a Green Pasture” 6”x18” watercolor on watercolor paper.

A Pencil and a Piece of Paper

January 13, 2021 3 Comments

Some of the most asked questions in workshops and demonstrations I teach are “What brush are you using?” “What paints are you using?” “What paper are you using?” One of the nice things about art is that with a pencil or pen and a piece of paper or sketch book you can take your art anywhere. You can pull them out and discreetly practice capturing the scene before you. You can focus on value, motion, humor. You can sketch ideas that are floating around in your head. You can work on design principles. You can work on story ideas.

32F829D0-883F-4544-9F21-FF8907B8FC27 — Thumbnails and details

Elder Gong and his wife Susan gave a devotional for young adults in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Sister Gong quoted President Nelson: “Education is the difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to.” That’s what practicing art does for me. The more I practice and immerse myself in art, the more likely I am to put the ideas in my head down on paper in some sort of a pleasing manner. Elder Gong said, “Art inspires new ways to see God’s goodness.” Those ideas and the ability to see the beauty around us has become a life-long pursuit for me.

‘Here is the link for the devotional if you want to watch it. Devotional

The Hope of Christmas

December 23, 2020 2 Comments

“While Shepaherds Watched” 10”x10” Giclee on canvas, gallery wrapped.

What emotions the shepherds must have felt that night. It was a night no different than any other. They are out doing what they’ve always done, watching their flocks. The quiet sounds of night surround them. Then the heavens light up and they are filled with fear. They were seeing things that they’d never seen before. They were told to fear not. Did the fear go away at once or did it slowly dissipate as the message from the angel filled them with wonder.

I’ve been in the middle of the Tabernacle Choir when they sang a Christmas Song, the music surrounded my whole being. did the music that night from the Heavenly Choir wrap their shepherd souls and fill them with hope.

I love Brene’ Brown’s quote on hope: “hope isn’t an emotion, it’s a way of thinking.” She talks about Hope happens when we set realistic goals, we can figure out how to achieve those goals, and we believe in ourselves enough to join the struggle.

The shepherds had hope. It motivated them to go see. What an opportunity that night to go see. It changed their lives. They left praising God.

What will your hope motivate you to do this year? Let’s bring some joy and kindness into our little corner of the world.

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Artist on a Mission – Aloha Oe

December 17, 2020 5 Comments

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So it’s time to take off our missionary badges. It’s been an interesting time. We have been able to experience the Aloha of the people working and serving at the Brigham Young University Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center. We’ve grown to love students from all over the world, from Guatemala to Mongolia, from Tonga to Japan, from New Zealand to Texas. We’ve served and grown to love the steadfastness and perseverance of other senior missionaries. I’ve learned that the Lord has need of a crazy artist along with her religion teaching husband.

We had our world shaken up when we were instantly called home during a world-wide pandemic but still able to serve remotely online. I’ve taught art classes in person and on zoom (dealing with bad internet, bad vision, new adjustments for teachers and students). I’ve felt the love of the Lord for me and people all over the world. I’ve felt His influence for good in my life and in the life of those beautiful people around me. I’ve heard prayers given and seen prayers answered. There is so much good and beauty in this world.

So we’ve finished up at home but still able to serve. May God keep you all safe and able to help those around you. It bounces back into your life with blessings more than you can number.

81DEE6D2-3DC7-45A0-BB80-72C04F30EABB — “On the Road to Emmaus” watercolor with collage and varnished surface.

Here is a link to my latest you tube video “On the Road to Emmaus”.
http://youtu.be/ub1aTnDf4wl

What will I do after my mission? Same thing I did before and during. PAINT.

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