So how does an artist become un-pigeonholed ?
He chuckles wryly . “ I wish you would answer that for me !” But he gives an honest answer . “ What I think is , I ’ ll find another gallery . I ’ ll continue to supply the demand that comes from what I do . And then I will branch from that into another gallery with a different style . One of the things that really interests me and is fascinating to me is water , so , I want to paint a series of fishing boats . I ’ ve done four or five of them and sold them … but my galleries are not interested in them . I ’ m ‘ the Bear Guy .’”
And it ’ s not just boats . “ I want to paint landscapes more , and better . I love the landscape ; I love the outdoors ; I love what Nature provides for us . You can ’ t beat real life , and my job takes me all over the world . I used to paint a lot of Tuscany paintings , in Italy , so I went over there twice ( it ’ s my job ; I had to go ). And then Africa — I did that a couple of times as well . So to experience the world because of my job ; it doesn ’ t get any better than that !”
I ask what he ’ d say to budding artists , and he replies , “ There ’ s always a market no matter what level the artist is at , whether good or bad , there ’ s always someone who ’ s interested in purchasing it . I know some artists are afraid to put their work out there , they just feel like they ’ re not ready , and I believe they need to get their work out and show it to people , ‘ cause there ’ s two things : ( 1 ) There is somebody that likes it , and ( 2 ) You ’ ll get feedback . You ’ ll get interest , and you ’ ll understand what works and what doesn ’ t work and what will be important for your future growth .”
Terry tells me the hardest part of his most excellent job is the solitude . “ I miss people walking in the door when I had a store ; people would just stumble in . If I could have a studio , right on Sherman , with the doors open all day long — just be in there painting with my work all around — I ’ d be in total heaven , ‘ cause I just love people to see what I do . And there ’ s a mystique about what an artist does , there ’ s an envy . Some of the wealthiest CEOs of corporations in the country who buy my paintings are ‘ wannabe ’ artists . There ’ re a lot of closet artists . Art is a very special thing to people . It ’ s intriguing to people and it brings emotion and feelings and I ’ m so fortunate to be able to do it .”
It may have taken him 45 years to determine his life ’ s force , but Terry Lee paints on his feet , with a smile on his face , using big brushstrokes , and big color .
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