Sherry Meidell's Blog, page 3

A Critique From A Six Year Old (Tales from the Mountain)

While I’m waiting to get out on the mountain lift riding with the six year olds, I spend a bit of time with them at a table covered with butcher paper and crayons. I get to do a bit of drawing with them. If per chance I sketch one of them on the table like the drawing above, they look at it with a critical eye. They always have a comment on something that they feel is wrong with the drawing. This young man looked and studied the drawing and then said, “You forgot to put my eyes in.” He reached over and drew two eyes on my sketch. Here it is below. 

“There that’s better.” He shares a room with his brother. Maybe he would want to put some eye balls on the water color below.

Here is the next link for those of you who are watching the Makimg of Kiss Cuddle Tuck Videos.

A First Place for Wolf Watchers

Davis County Fine Art Exhibit is on display now at the Davis County Administration Building. I was pleased last night to find out that Wolf Watchers won first place. It’s a fine exhibit. If you have time go check out the art. You can also check out the art at the Utah Watercolor Societies Small Works Show at the Covey Arts Center in Provo. I’ve got a couple of paintings there.

Below is a painting “Out to Pasture”. Treasures can be found in pastures. Glimpses into the past. This nice truck was found up in Idaho on the back side of the Tetons.

And for those who are watching the Making of the Kiss Cuddle Tuck Videos, here is Video 9 How Many Book Dummys.

When Two Worlds Collide

I have had a seasonal job at a ski resort during the winter for the last two years. It’s a chance to get out of the studio and in some mountain air. I ride up on the lift with six year olds to make sure they are safe on the lift and drop them off to their instructor at the top.  The benefit is I get to talk to six year olds on the way up the mountain. 

Sometimes I draw pictures with them in the morning with crayons on the butcher paper covered tables before they put on their helmets and mittens and head out to the snow. On the way up the lift one of the girls who said she was from Georgia, talked to me about drawing pictures. I told her I illustrated picture books.   Do you know what an illustrator does?”

She said,”Yes. They draw the pictures in the books.”

She asked, “What books have you drawn the pictures for?

I said, “Emma Jo’s Song”. It was written by someone from Georgia.” She turned and looked up at me and stared. 

She said, “I have that book.”

I looked back at her. My skiing life had met my children’s book illustrating life on a ski lift in Park City, Utah. 

Here is the link for To Change and Not To Change Video 8 The Making of Kiss Cuddle Tuck.

A Gift of Cricket Powder, Handmade Ornament, and a Beautiful Hand Made Afghan

The ingredients for the Cricket Powder reads House Crickets. You can’t eat it if you’re allergic to crustaceans. It came with a note from Jiminy that said, “Don’t let me die in vain”. That’s what you get for Christmas if you have 5 sons. The ornament is a hand made gift from a grand daughter. So is the beautiful handmade afghan which another grand daughter finished up while at my house and whenever I came accidentally into the same room, she would bend over at the waste to hide the unfinished gift.

Each gift I received and gave this year came with love. I put the ornament on the tree. It fit right in. I’ve wrapped myself in the warmth of the afghan and I haven’t eaten the cricket powder but what a perfect item to put in a baked good for a certain son.

Here is a commissioned piece all framed up and ready to go to its new home.

‘Link to “Kiss Cuddle Tuck” on Amazon. Link for Shepherd Those Children Video 7

Merry Christmas

“And thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

A husband’s trust in an angel’s message. A mother’s trust in God. God’s trust in His Son. A child’s trust in a mother. Our trust in a Savior who loves us and sets an example for us on how to live and how to love others as He did. A birth that changed every thing. A birth that can change us. What better night to celebrate goodness and kindness. To get with loved ones and share what we have with others. A night to treasure our relationships. 

As Mary pondered all these things in her heart, we have much to ponder. Ponder ways we can follow Him more fully. Ponder ways to serve others and our precious families. Ponder how to draw closer to Him. Merry Christmas to all of you or what ever other holiday that brings you closer to your God. 

Painting Little People

Human beings see people. Our brains are geared to it. One of the fun things to do as a watercolor artist is to paint simple shapes that the eye reads as people.

They are also fun to look at, simple shapes that read as people. In the painting above, it doesn’t take many shapes to read as legs, hats and bags. And then the shadows on the ground tie the figures together. With the body language you can read different personalities. Give these a try in your spare time. Or if you are sitting where crowds of people congregate you can practice these quick watercolor sketches. A hint from Jon Salminen: paint the torso first, then the legs and the head last.

If you’re watching the Makimg of Kiss Cuddle Tuck Videos, here is video number 6.

Painting the Past

You have time to really get to know a photo by painting it. Taking the time to really observe by looking at details and the position of the horses heads makes the photo come to life. When it’s tied to your grandfather that you never knew, it draws you closer to him. You wonder the experiences he had with the plow and the land, his boot steps in the newly turned crust. The sound of leather thrown on quivering backs of pure muscled horse. Horseshoes left in the dirt to be found years later and treasured in an Artist studio. Painting the past brings the past to life and bridges the gap to tie you to those who have left footsteps before you. 

Here is the link to video 5 of the making of Kiss Cuddle Tuck. Why would I wait til most of the book illustrations were figured out before I did page 2 and 3.

Adding 7 1/2 Years

Art has great benefits for all ages. It helps you observe things around you in a way that others can not or choose not to take the time to see. It helps you to organize things on the page or in a painting. And now Jane Fonda says it can help create a positive attitude about life. Or was it the art classes that create a positive attitude about life. What I know is that the classes I’ve taught have enriched my life. The students have become life long friends of mine and the other people in the class. It has also been great fun to watch them improve in ability as they mostly have fun working on their art.

So take an art class or join the Utah Watercolor Society. They can both bring challenges, new friendships, and who knows, 7 1/2 years of additional life in this beautiful world.

Here is video 4 in The Making of Kiss Cuddle Tuck. It may take 5 minutes out of your 7 1/2 years of additional life.

Grateful

Here’s my booth on opening night. I want to thank all the people who came over to say “Hi” at Bountiful Davis Art Center. It was a great night and a chance to talk to and see many friends and family. Some left with books and prints. You can go over and check things out until December 22nd.

At this Thanksgiving time, I’m most grateful for the people in my life. They fill my life with joy and laughter and stories to tell. I’m grateful for my eyes and that I can see the beauties of this world. I’m grateful for pencils and pens and sketchbooks and that spark of an idea that comes into my head and is the first stirrings of a book.

Here is video 3 in the Making of Kiss Cuddle Tuck.

Splash and Roll – The Makimg of Kiss Cuddle Tuck video 3

Holiday Market at the Bountiful Davis Art Center

The opening night for the Bountiful Davis Art Center Holiday Show will be this Friday November 22, 2024, 5 – 8 pm. The market runs through December 21st. Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday Noon to 5 pm.

If you would like to come and say hi, my area will be in the corner in the little off room to the left of the main gallery unless you are coming out of the main gallery and then it will be off to your right. I’m hoping to have some of my picture books there so you can check out “Kiss, Cuddle, Tuck”. I’ll have some of my prints and a few originals. See you there.

Here is the link for The Making of Kiss Cuddle Tuck 2, Nuzzle that Foal.