Terry Lynn Shotton - Artist Statement



My life has never gone in a straight line......from point a to point b. For instance, I began college as an art major, obtained a degree in Business Management, and 30 years later returned to art school.

I create my art in the same way that I’ve lived my life. I begin each piece with a concept but rarely with a complete idea.

My paintings have to evolve. I begin with a base painting - at this point it may even look complete to some. I am rarely satisfied at this point. I leave the painting to ‘rest’ and look at it again the next day. I have a need to paint in bright colors and many layers of paint. More often than not, I will put new colors over old and maybe change the composition slightly (or drastically!) - adding, subtracting, letting the base painting show in areas.

For several years I painted ‘en plein aire’. There are a couple of those paintings on my website. While I very much enjoyed the camaraderie, I was bored with the process of copying what was before me. In art school we drew and painted to copy life. I have found that my most satisfying painting experience is not to copy reality but to evoke emotion.   It finally occurred to me the landscapes in my mind were what  I really wanted to paint. Bright colors and invented subjects are the hallmark of my paintings. I want to surround myself with art that makes me feel uplifted and happy.