Obituary for Judith Ann Stancil (Stewart)
“There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness.”
Robert Henri, The Art Spirit As quoted in An Artist’s Way of Seeing by Mary Whyte
Why do I want to paint? Why does anyone want to paint? This is a question I’ve asked myself over and over? For me it goes beyond capturing a moment in time that can never again be duplicated – the way the light falls at a particular moment, shades of color that suddenly call out to me as if they are just now, in this moment, being created, the challenge of capturing a hidden emotion in a seasoned face, remembering…
It’s all these things, of course, and each is to be cherished. But in the end, it’s like coming home to what’s waiting inside – a new relationship waiting to be unveiled in stillness and quietness – a communion, if you will, with a higher source. And it’s there for everyone, waiting patiently for each of us to say “Hello again.”
Judith Stancil
Judith Ann Stewart Stancil, 78, of Weaverville died Tuesday April 26, 2022.
She was born in Polkton, NC on December 2, 1943 to the late Max and Sara Caudle Stewart.
Judith’s journey in art began as a child growing up on a farm in Union County, North Carolina. She attended school in Marshville and later Forest Hills High School. When she was twelve years old, Mrs. Alice Caudle Birmingham, business teacher at the high school and Judith’s aunt, recommended that she, along with Frank Faulkner, take Saturday afternoon art classes with Mrs. Dorothy Preslar, who lived between Marshville and Pageland. Thus began Judith’s official art instruction. Her instruction continued after graduation, marriage, and the birth of her three sons. While her sons were still young and while living in Charlotte, she took art classes with Mary Ellen Little. After moving to Columbia, South Carolina, she took a class in fiber arts while attending USC; then after a move with her family to Richmond, Virginia, she took drawing classes at Virginia Commonwealth University; then again, after a move to Winston-Salem, NC, Judith enrolled in the Interior Design Program at Salem College where she took courses in art history, interior design, and color theory. As a part of her program, she also did an internship with art appraiser, Laurie Triplette. After receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, Judith received an Associate Degree in Interior Design with a minor in Historic Preservation at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, NC. After working as Decorator for Sears in Charlotte, Judith moved from Winston-Salem to her grandmother’s cottage in Marshville. It was after moving to Marshville that she began group watercolor classes with Nancy Couick in Charlotte. In 2008, on the advice of her brother, David Stewart, an artist who has attended the Art Student’s League in New York, she enrolled at the Carolinas Art Student League, founded by Ben Long, in Asheville, NC. The school offered a strong emphasis on classical drawing, cast drawing, and figure drawing. Traveling to England, Scotland, and Italy to visit museums and study paintings. Judith continued taking classes and workshops when possible. She lived in Weaverville with her pet Corgi, Henri, and painted in her home studio under the name of J. A. Stewart and was a member of Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina.
She is survived by her sons, Cary Stancil (Lisa), Stewart Stancil (Tin), Stephen Stancil (Tracy); grandchildren, Shaw, Gray, Max, Elinor, Sara, Mary, Harry, and Katy; and her brother, David Stewart.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 2:00-5:00 at her home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org
Robert Henri, The Art Spirit As quoted in An Artist’s Way of Seeing by Mary Whyte
Why do I want to paint? Why does anyone want to paint? This is a question I’ve asked myself over and over? For me it goes beyond capturing a moment in time that can never again be duplicated – the way the light falls at a particular moment, shades of color that suddenly call out to me as if they are just now, in this moment, being created, the challenge of capturing a hidden emotion in a seasoned face, remembering…
It’s all these things, of course, and each is to be cherished. But in the end, it’s like coming home to what’s waiting inside – a new relationship waiting to be unveiled in stillness and quietness – a communion, if you will, with a higher source. And it’s there for everyone, waiting patiently for each of us to say “Hello again.”
Judith Stancil
Judith Ann Stewart Stancil, 78, of Weaverville died Tuesday April 26, 2022.
She was born in Polkton, NC on December 2, 1943 to the late Max and Sara Caudle Stewart.
Judith’s journey in art began as a child growing up on a farm in Union County, North Carolina. She attended school in Marshville and later Forest Hills High School. When she was twelve years old, Mrs. Alice Caudle Birmingham, business teacher at the high school and Judith’s aunt, recommended that she, along with Frank Faulkner, take Saturday afternoon art classes with Mrs. Dorothy Preslar, who lived between Marshville and Pageland. Thus began Judith’s official art instruction. Her instruction continued after graduation, marriage, and the birth of her three sons. While her sons were still young and while living in Charlotte, she took art classes with Mary Ellen Little. After moving to Columbia, South Carolina, she took a class in fiber arts while attending USC; then after a move with her family to Richmond, Virginia, she took drawing classes at Virginia Commonwealth University; then again, after a move to Winston-Salem, NC, Judith enrolled in the Interior Design Program at Salem College where she took courses in art history, interior design, and color theory. As a part of her program, she also did an internship with art appraiser, Laurie Triplette. After receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, Judith received an Associate Degree in Interior Design with a minor in Historic Preservation at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, NC. After working as Decorator for Sears in Charlotte, Judith moved from Winston-Salem to her grandmother’s cottage in Marshville. It was after moving to Marshville that she began group watercolor classes with Nancy Couick in Charlotte. In 2008, on the advice of her brother, David Stewart, an artist who has attended the Art Student’s League in New York, she enrolled at the Carolinas Art Student League, founded by Ben Long, in Asheville, NC. The school offered a strong emphasis on classical drawing, cast drawing, and figure drawing. Traveling to England, Scotland, and Italy to visit museums and study paintings. Judith continued taking classes and workshops when possible. She lived in Weaverville with her pet Corgi, Henri, and painted in her home studio under the name of J. A. Stewart and was a member of Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina.
She is survived by her sons, Cary Stancil (Lisa), Stewart Stancil (Tin), Stephen Stancil (Tracy); grandchildren, Shaw, Gray, Max, Elinor, Sara, Mary, Harry, and Katy; and her brother, David Stewart.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 2:00-5:00 at her home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org