Meet Merri Ziebell!
Merri is one of PPWS’ Featured Artists for the month of December 2023!
Merri has been a member of PPWS since 2014 and recently received her Signature Membership status!
Merri’s Bio:
Being raised as an Army brat, afforded lots of traveling to beautiful locals and Colorado happened to be the retirement destination dad chose. I have been in this beautiful state since 1971.
I was always creative throughout childhood, even winning some competitions. I really enjoyed graphic arts in high school which became useful when I was tasked with putting out our monthly newsletter. I worked as an accountant and continue to work in this field up to this day.
But as I focused on a career in accounting, my areas of interest became more left brained focused. I feared I had lost that creative side, or so I thought, until I saw a watercolor painting of poppies by Eric Fetch. That changed my heart and rekindled the artistic spark that I once felt when I was younger, which then blossomed into my love of watercolor.
So, I signed up for some classes, (okay, lots of classes), to learn from the best: Lorraine Watry, Eric Fetch, Randy Hale, and Martha Mans to name a few, whom I’ve learned different styles and techniques to get to where I’m at today.
Like my dad, I am always looking for that next perfect Kodak moment, which as a lover of nature, is not hard to find in our beautiful state. Nature’s beauty can touch our hearts and make our spirits soar to new heights. This is what inspires my interest in photography and what I try to convey in my watercolor paintings.
Although watercolor seems to have a mind of its own and can be challenging and unpredictable at times, its mysteriousness even guides me through to my final creation. I especially enjoy watercolor’s ability to create realistic looking textures and feel I have captured these in my paintings
Merri’s favorite things to paint:
I am always looking for that next Kodak moment when camping or hiking here in our beautiful state, and have a long list of landscape photos I want to turn into paintings.
Other mediums Merri works in:
I recently took an encaustic painting class for the first time and had so much fun with the creative process & unpredictable possibilities of the medium which is leaning towards my goal of getting loose & abstract in my landscape paintings. I’ve also worked a little with acrylics, and going to try my hand at oils.
Merri’s favorite or most admired artists:
Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Kincade, Nita Engle, Ken Call, John Salminen, Soon Warren, Larry Haught.
FAVORITE ARTSY QUOTE
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”
– Thomas Merton
Merri’s goals for the next year:
Paint more for the joy of it and the therapeutic value that brings balance to my life. Explore new mediums and enter shows.
