terry isaac

“When it is my time to leave this world, I wish to do so knowing that I have left paintings that inspire others to appreciate the true wonder and beauty of the natural world.” – Terry Isaac, Wildlife Painter I have been on a journey with my art since I can remember.

As a youngster, exploring the world in my backyard was a daily adventure, always finding a new treasure to look over and study. I have never lost the intrigue of daily exploration and discovery. I look for the special, transitory, and magical moments in nature that appear with the right lighting, color, and atmospheric conditions. Magnificence can be found in large, dramatic landscapes or smaller and less majestic scenes such as a moss-covered rock.

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I began with an interest in animation, drawing cartoons, and developing my own characters. I then studied surrealism with great interest. After college, I was interested in children`s book illustration and discovered my passion for wildlife art in the mid-1980s. I have been creating wildlife art ever since.

I draw my inspiration from observing nature, always on the lookout for “magical moments.” Usually seeing a particular setting is what initially inspires me. I then consider which bird or mammal will go well with that scene. I like to capture particularity, avoid stylizing, and expose the uniqueness that everything in nature possesses. I edit and manipulate the composition until I am satisfied, use abstract shapes, and create a painting that has a sense of depth. I work background to foreground – general to specific, striving to create something that is captivating and pleasing to look at.

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I usually paint in my studio during the day, every day of the week. There are times when my painting is not flowing right and I get uncomfortable and feel uncertain. Mostly, I feel the magic of watching my work develop into something that looks like the real world.

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Terry Isaac (1958-2019)