| Artist's
Profile: Terry Redlin
Terry
Redlin is most known for his nostalgic
depictions of life and his entrancing
use of sunsets and sunrises to
enhance the profound tranquility
of his subjects. He has authored
two books: "Opening Windows
To The Wild, The Art of Terry
Redlin" released in 1987
and "Master of Memories"
released in 1997. He has also
been a major contributor to wildlife
conservation over the years and
from 1981 through 1997 he donated
art work to Ducks Unlimited to
raise money for wetland conservation
and preservation. His donations
raised over $28 million for that
organization's projects.
Terry
earned the Telly Award in 1993
for his video presentation of
"Terry Redlin Paints America
The Beautiful". Terry's First
Book "Opening Windows To
The Wild, The Art of Terry Redlin"
was a Certificate of Merit winner
at the Printing Industries of
America competition in 1988. He
has been presented with the "Lithograph
of the Year" award at least
three times by the National Association
of Limited Edition Dealers. He
was inducted into U.S. Art's Hall
of fame in 1992, as well as being
named Artist of The Year by Ducks
Unlimited, and Conservationist
Of The Year - Magnum Donor by
the Minnesota Waterfowl Association.
Terry
Redlin was born in 1937. He spent
his childhood in Watertown, South
Dakota. He had always loved the
out-doors and dreamed of becoming
a forest ranger. After graduating
from High School he received a
state art scholarship and went
on to earn a degree from the St.
Paul School of Associated Arts.
After that he worked for several
decades as a commercial layout
artist, a graphic designer, an
illustrator and an art director.
However, he continued to be interested
in nature and learned as much
as he could about wildlife. He
began painting in his spare time
and published his own work. He
even handmade the mats and frames.
In
1977 Terry's breakthrough came
when "Winter Snows"
appeared on the cover of Farmers
Magazine. Suddenly there was an
increasing demand for his work
and in 1979 he decided to leave
his art directing career to concentrate
on painting. In the late 1970's
Ray Johnson offered to distribute
Redlin's work in his art gallery,
the Wooden Bird, which later became
Hadley House. They now handle
all of Redlin's business including
Limited Edition prints and Limited
Edition collectible plates.
Redlin
had decided from the beginning
that he would concentrate on selling
prints. He did sell a few of his
original oil paintings in the
beginning of his career, however,
most of those originals have been
recovered and are now displayed
in the Terry Redlin Art Museum
in Watertown, South Dakota.
His
work gradually evolved from wildlife
scenes, to paintings of the countryside,
to scenes of early Americana.
Some of his paintings recapture
his own youth in rural America.
His work became so relevant to
American Heritage that he held
the title of America's most popular
artist for eight years in a row
from 1991-1998. He is now semi-retired
and only works for three months
out of the year, producing one
painting a month from November
through February.
Terry
never forgot his love for nature
nor the people who helped him
turn his dream into a fulfilling
career. He has donated millions
of dollars in art to nonprofit
conservation organizations and
after he and his son constructed
a museum to house his original
oil paintings he donated the museum
to the State of South Dakota,
in appreciation for the art scholarship
he received as a young man. The
museum includes a state tourism
office, a 108-Seat amphitheater
and a state of the art teleconferencing
center as well as over 150 of
his original paintings.
You
can visit the Terry Redlin Art
Center and Museum located at the
junction of US Highway 212 and
Interstate 29 in Watertown, South
Dakota. Admission is free. For
More Information, Call Toll Free
1-877-873-3546.
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