Featured Artist Terry Crump

Artist Terry Crump paints with joyful, optimistic attitude towards life and art. See more of his portfolio by visiting his website.

 

 

At age ten, I was drawing and painting with abilities that came naturally to me. My artistic goal, at that time, was to become the next Norman Rockwell.

 

 

It’s amazing how goals may change with the introduction of education and life experiences.

 

 

I attended S.U.N.Y. (State University of New York) Buffalo, and graduated with a BFA in Communications Design. From that time on, I devoted my efforts to create a career in art. I held numerous graphic design positions with companies including advertising agencies, a performing arts theater, several corporate art departments and a teaching job at an art academy for beginning artists.

 

 

Throughout my career as a graphic designer, when time would permit, I made fine art drawings and paintings in a realistic style. In 1999, I left my final corporate job and plunged into the real world of personal art making. It was an exciting but apprehensive time for me.

 

 

At the same time, I set new goals for my fine art. I wanted to develop a personal style that would express my optimistic attitude toward life and art.

 

 

To that end, I constantly viewed art in galleries, art shows and online for inspiration and to determine the aspects of paintings I really liked the most. I wanted to make the viewers of my work feel the joy in the creative process I utilize.

 

 

I’ve been influenced by many artists from impressionists to expressionists to pop artists to pure abstractionists. One example is the work of the Spanish artist Jose Merello. I admire his ability to draw and paint expressively, adding abstract elements, creating chaos, then bringing everything together to make splendid works. I also admire Jean-Michel Basquiat’s works based on his life experiences that were filled with raw passion.

 

 

My work is based on my own life experiences, which are very much different from all the artists I admire. I make use of all kinds of subjects to create my paintings. I have no interest in painting them with detailed realism, but make them semi-transparent within a colorful abstract environment.

 

 

My goal is to create a painting where the painting itself is the only important subject matter. In this way I foster a new and memorable visual reality.

 

 

I expect my viewers to find something relatable to them. More than anything, I expect them to feel the joy I feel during the creative process. Some of my paintings are infused with a shred of deeper meaning. I may try to push that aspect more in future works.

 

Artist Terry Crump invites you to follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

 

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