Terri L. West Contemporary Abstract Impressionist artist
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Terri L. WestI am still finding out. But now I am thoroughly enjoying the process.After years of working as a nurse and raising a family, I took my life time love affair of art to the next logical step… creating my own visions of my world on canvas with oil and acrylic paint. Working as a nurse in nursing homes, hospital cancer wards, cardiac progressive care floors, a dialysis unit and with patients with AIDS, leprosy, TB, Alcoholics, prisoners provided me with a unique life experience of death, dying and suffering. I left the professional nursing to do a very private duty - to take care of my friend, my step mother, who suffered early onstage Alzheimer’s. It was a long goodbye that took too long to grieve.
Besides a nurse, I am a wife, a mother, and a daughter. I was a child once upon a time – and way back then, I did draw portraits of my friends and of my pets. I drew landscapes when I lived in Hawaii while growing up. When we moved to Miami, Florida in 1976, I took up a paint brush in high school.
But for some people, life changes their course onto a different path. I believe that is why I am me. If I did not have all the life experiences that I have had so far, I would not love life now so very much and life to me is art.
OALA interview
How you discover yourself in art world as an artist and what is art to you?
- I painted in High school and drew portraits of my friends and pets. I stopped for a long time and then I discovered it again just before the 3 hurricanes in Central Florida. Art means to me freedom, _expression of my thoughts, feelings and spirituality.
Have you been to a formal school to study arts?
- I have studied at Crealde School of Art. I have also taken workshops under professional artists. I am primarily self taught.
What is your favorite medium and how the process relates to you?
- Right now I am working with acrylics and mixed media techniques. This process relates to me because each layer is a discovery. I can’t ever tell you how long it will take to finish a painting this way… They complete themselves.
Have you been working on art series project?
- I have finished two in what is turning out to be an unusual series. I have not named the series yet but the two paintings are “Golgotha Falling” and “Guarding the Tree of Life” They are religious in nature and were quite unplanned.
What would you like fellow artist and collector to know about your work?
- I am here to stay. I am a collector of other artist’s works too. Art is fascinating!
As a living artist, tell us why should art collectors & art buyers to
Purchase directly from the living artist store gallery and where can they reach you.
- All you need to do is to go into an expensive gallery to find out why it might be better to buy directly from the artist. I would say that if you maintain a collector relationship with artists -- generally you get much better treatment and frequently are notified first of new works before they hit the galleries.
- I have an online eBay store called “Epiphany Art Gallery” it is located at http://www.epiphanyartgallery.com
- Anyone can contact me through eBay or e-mail me at tlwest@cfl.rr.com
If you were to choose yourself as an insect character what will you be and why? An insect Character?
- I don’t like insects! It would have to be one that lives a long time, and is not prey for something else…;)
Tell us your goal for this year 2006
- I think my Goal for this year is to paint a heck of lot more and two hopefully complete this religious/spiritual series that I am working on.
Wow Terri, great interview! And your works are so colorful . . . a treat for the eyes.