Sherry Meidell's Blog, page 15

Artist on a Mission -The Power of Prayer and Fasting

From my sketchbook

 

So after a two week voluntary quarantining in the cupboard under the stairs, I’m back up the stairs and in my studio. It has been nice to sit at the familiar art table and look out the windows at the mountains. It would be nice to have those familiar things around me such as family sitting down together to eat dinner and hugs from loved ones, friends opening the front door and yelling a greeting and walking in.

So the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has asked again for a day of fasting and prayer tomorrow, April 10. So along with social distancing and trying not to go to the store to buy non-essential items like barbecued potato chips, black licorice, or a Mars Bar, (I did forage around in my art room and found an old See’s Caramel sucker which had the wrapper stuck to it and took great diligence to get it all off  before I plopped it in my mouth), I’ll be fasting tomorrow and praying for blessings to be upon those who are on the front lines and that this pandemic might be brought under control. I would like to invite you all to join in. There is power in prayer and there is power in uniting in prayer and fasting. We are all children of God and this is a crisis that we have all been dealing with all over the world. I pray that the Lord will bless us with patience and long suffering and relief. God bless us, everyone.

Back in the studio.

 

ComeUntoChrist.org

Artist on a Mission – A Bicentennial Celebration

“Mother, I Have Learned for Myself” oil on board 10”x10”

I am so excited to be participating in the Alliance of Covenant Artists Spring 2020 Bicentennial Exhibition. It is a celebration in art of the first vision which occurred 200 years ago this spring. The first vision was the heavens opening up and laying the foundation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith as a young 14 year old boy read in James 1:5 “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God”. We are surrounded by people in our life who influence us and support us. We can talk to them of things that are important to us. We can count on their love and support. I thought of Joseph’s mother and her love and concern for her son and his search for divine guidance. We all need loving support in our lives. And people during this Covid-19 pandemic are finding great ways to support and reach out to others while still keeping safe. There are collages of James 1:5 in English, Korean and Spanish to symbolize the influence this vision has had on the world.

The exhibition was going to take place at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City during General Conference. But now it will be online and if all goes well with this beautiful world, the exhibit will be in real life at the Washington DC Temple visitors center.

You can find this painting and others at the link below. There are two galleries: First Vision Gallery One and Faithful Saints Gallery Two. Mine will be in the first gallery. Scroll down to Commendation Certificates. Enjoy the exhibit as you sit in your pajamas and sip some hot chocolate.

ALLIANCE OF COVENANT ARTISTS SPRING BICENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

Artist on a Mission – Self Quarantine Day 4

Self Quarantining in the basement.

The senior missionaries in Hawaii were called home because of the Corona Virus. We did not have a lot of time to pack up and clean up. We traveled through airports with people wearing surgical face masks. We arrived at the Salt Lake Airport with luggage heavier than it should be. We walked outside from Hawaii sunshine and pleasant temperature into cold wind in your face and a bleak winter grayness in the sky.  

We climbed into a truck that had been delivered by a son who ran back to get into his family car filled with his wife and kids. We drove our friends who were also leaving their mission in Hawaii and flying with us, up to their home in Providence. 

We drove home and walked into our basement where we are self quarantining for two weeks. The son and daughter-in=law upstairs with our three grandkids had set up the basement for our comfort. We have more room in the basement than we did in Hawaii and grandkids to talk to through the window. 

The view from our window yeaterday

We are still on our mission and doing classes online remotely for BYU Hawaii. Our hearts and prayers are with the students at the University, and the people that we have grown to love in Hawaii. We are going to join in the worldwide fast that President Neisen has asked for. We are praying for all the people that inhabit this beautiful world.  

I have put up a video on You Tube of a watercolor painting demo. It is for my watercolor students at BYU Hawaii but you welcome to have a look and try the painting. Hunker down and stay safe. 

Here is the link to the You tube Video and the picture that I used for the demo. Enjoy 

Here is the link to President Nelson’s call for a worldwide fast. 

 

Group of people at Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco last year.

Artist on a Mission – Leaving before were done

Jasmine

No amount of words can express what is happening in my heart. We have grown to love the students here from all over the world. We have learned of the great strength and kindness that they possess. We have been inspired by the depth of spirit of the People who live and work in Laie, and Hauula and Kahuku. Their testimonies speak of faith and love of others and their ancestors and family. We have loved the young sister missionaries and their resilience and smiles. We have loved the professors who teach and work at the university. We have loved the other senior missionaries that have strengthened our faith and brightened our time here, people that I got to know for a short time but who will be carved into my heart forever. I will miss the drum beats and singing from the students at the Polynesian Cultural Center. And the random fire crackers that go off in the neighborhood.

I love my Heavenly Father. I have felt His blessings in my life. I feel his love and help as we head back to Utah. God bless us all and help us as we try to help and love and strengthen others during this unsure time in the world’s history.

Elsa

 

Julie

Gifts from dear friends.

 

 

Artist on a Mission – Good Company

St. George Art Museum Newsletter

“Wind Blown Sand” was in good company at the St. George Art Museum. It shared some space with “Monolith” by Maynard Dixon 1909. The abovet article is from the St. George Art Museum Newsletter. 

One day my husband and I were stuck in traffic heading into San Francisco. Traffic was crawling and our car was barely moving. But it was a great opportunity to snap some pictures for future paintings. The gentleman in the watercolor below was vacuuming his car at a local car wash. He made a great demo for the watercolor class over here at BYU Hawaii. 

“Flannel and Beret” Watercolor by Sherry Meidell

 

My friend Sister Kimura posted this comment on prayer  from me on Face Book  I thought I would share it here also

 

100 Year Anniversary of the Hawaii Temple

 

What prayer has meant in my life?

Prayer has been a part of my life since I was little. I’ve always prayed to a loving Heavenly Father who listens to my prayers. He has been there to guide and comfort me from my first memories until now. I can kneel to Him in times of great stress and plead for His blessings to be with my loved ones. I can ask for His guidance when I wonder which direction to go. I can ask His forgiveness when I do something wrong and need to repent. I can look out the window in the morning and thank Him for the beauty I see everyday. This morning I thanked Him for the wind blowing through the palm trees and the beautiful orange that kissed the edge of the clouds. When I’m far from those I love, I can ask Him to watch over them and send blessings their way.

Sister Kimura is part of a group of young sister missionaries that serve up here at the visitors center. If you have questions about prayer, you can go to ComeuntoChrist.org and get some answers from these young missionaries.

 

 

Link to St. George Art Museum

 

Artist on a Mission – Celebration

So my friend Faye Gibbons, the author of many fine books including “Emma Jo’s Song” which I had the privilege of illustrating, is going to receive a great honor. She is being inducted into the Alabama Writer Hall of Fame. If I was home, I would be heading out to Alabama to join in the celebration.



When I got the manuscript for “Emma Jo’s Song” and read it for the first time, pictures jumped into my head. It was a delight to illustrate the story.

Part of the fun was doing the research for the book. Illustrating picture books becomes quite an adventure. It can take you into worlds you have never been before.

Congratulations to Faye Gibbons

 

Alabama Writers Hall of Fame

Artist on a Mission – Getting There

If you are crossing the road here at Brigham Young University Hawaii, you have to keep your eyes open for more than passing cars. Here are some different ways that the students get around. 

The motorized skateboard and passenger in tow.

The cruiser bike with surf board carrier attached.

The scooter

The parking lot..

 

There are a lot of ways to get around but it’s good to know where you’re going so you’ll end up in the right place. Directions are not East and West, they are Makai (ocean) and Mauka (Mountain). I like both directions.

Here is the one of the BYU-Hawaii devotional messages given by Russell and Lola Osguthorpe January 28th, 2020 on “Finding Your Way Back Home”.

 

 

Artist on a Mission – Sisters

“Sisters” 15” x 22” watercolor on paper

So there’s the sister I shared a room with, and an iron-barred double bed. I would tap to the middle bar, then bring my arm down like a hatchet to make sure she was not on my side of the bed. A bedroom can be tight quarters for two sisters, and there is much to learn from sharing a room. We fought until the day we became dear friends.

There are the Senior Sister Missionaries here that come and go. They touch your life for a brief moment. They help lighten your load and you stand amazed at their talents and kindness. They teach you to decorate your table with seasonal cutouts like a kindergarten teacher. They bring their talents to share with others.

There are the young sister missionaries that serve at the visitor center and are so full of good, righteous, youthful energy. They greet you daily as they run up and down the stairs by our apartment. They wonder if we know how to get into a coconut. We do not.  

So here’s two sisters who have the world ahead of them. They shared some moments at the Luau Show. I tried to capture their energy and connection to each other in this watercolor. 

 

The Laie Temple Visitors Center

Artist on a Mission – The Newest Arrival

The Newest Arrival

This is as close as I can get to squeezing those cute little cheeks. I’ll have to settle for a pencil and paper to try and hold him close and a prayer for his safe keeping and blessings upon his parents.

We have a new year ahead of us. Full of endless possibilities. An entire year, but we live it day by day. The things we choose to do with each day will make up our year. The little hours will make up our lives. I find great joy in creating art. I’m going to find time each day to create a little art, to see the blessings around me and try to capture them on paper and share them with you. Happy New Year.

Artist on a Mission – The Reindeer Keeper

The Reindeer Keeper

I’m speaking to a lot of Mongolian students who are learning and practicing their English. They are the inspiration for this years Christmas card.

May you all have a beautiful Christmas and a happy New Year. I’m thinking about the birth of Jesus Christ in that stable in Bethlehem so long ago and the joy and hope he brought and brings to us all. Spread a little light and kindness to those around you.

Here is a great video about the birth of Christ.