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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