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Merideth Ferrell — Silk Painting & Watercolor


Students work on silk banner with Merit Ferrell
  • Merideth "Merit" Ferrell is a watercolor-pastel artist and a silk painter and co-author with Ellen Gabehart of the book "Young at Art: Easy Art Lessons for Everyone!," which features 24 illustrated drawing, painting, and collage lessons for teachers, home-school instructors and parents to do with their students grades K-5. Merideth is co-owner of Ferrell Apparel, which sells hand-painted silk wearables, and has exhibited and sold her work in the region for many years.
  • Imagine an entire class focused and engaged, creating a single work of art at the same time! That's what happens when Silk Painting Artist, Merideth Ferrell instructs students on how to "draw" with Gutta resist, and paint with liquid silk dyes on a 2 1/2 ft. x 20 ft. long silk banner of their own design. She guides students in a brainstorming session to choose a theme, and inspires them with examples of her own and other artists' silk paintings, to draw their preliminary ideas on paper. Students then work side by side on the stretched silk, following Merit's art techniques, using compositions with foreground and background, light and dark values, with complimentary colors and knowledge of contrasts. This fun, learning process results in a 20 foot long, colorful silk banner created entirely by the students to hang in their school or community. The beauty of the young artists' images on luminous silk is awesome, and something the students will be proud of for years. Silk Painting is perfect for after-school programs of any size, and large classes.
  • Merideth also presents a Watercolor Painting residency. Children's love of animals and learning about their natural habitats is what Merideth Ferrell uses to instruct students in lessons for successful watercolor painting. She shows students how to create their own, new, colors from primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Merit teaches them to be able to paint any animal they want by using the Spatial Way of painting. She also instructs the students in understanding color values and textures.
  • "Very fun and high hearted. Kids loved it." Geoff Parks, 3rd grade Teacher, Bertha Holt Elementary.
  • "It was a joy to watch our students experimenting and painting with watercolors. They were very proud of their art." Denisa Taylor, Principal, César E. Chavez Elementary and Family School
  • "Her unique approach and stimulating art lessons capture her students' attention and curiosity, encouraging them to experiment with different materials. Most of all, her enthusiasm and positive, joyful attitude permeates her teaching environment." Ellen Gabehart, artist/instructor
  • Recent Artist Residencies include Holt (K & 3rd), Fairfield, Meadow View, Chavez, Creslane, St Paul Parish School, and after school programs at McKenzie HS and Junction City HS.