Page 12 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Fall Giver 2024

Capturing Nature:
The Art and Inspiration of Terry Matthews

by Stacy Underhill

Terry Matthews began painting in high school and has
been creating, exhibiting, and teaching art in various forms
ever since. In 2002, he built an art studio at his home in
Whitney, giving him a space devoted to his craft. His years
of practice and commitment to art are reflected in the tranquil
landscapes and lifelike animal portraits he creates.
Terry’s art is very much influenced by nature, and he is
currently working on a Canadian wildlife series. “I find my
inspiration rooted in nature and the connections that each
of us has with it,” Terry says. “The simple beauty of
wildlife—its diversity, behaviors, and habitats—captures my
imagination and helps me depict wildlife. Our family has
always had a pet of some type, and as a result I enjoy painting
pets, usually, cats or dogs.”
The mediums he uses for his paintings vary, oils, acrylics,
watercolour, ink, and pastels. “My favourite medium is
pastels,” Terry says. “This includes Pan Pastels, soft and hard
pastels, and pastel pencils. Pastels are an excellent art
medium due to their vibrant colors, versatility, and ease of
use. They have very rich pigments that provide intense, and
brilliant colour. Unlike paints, pastels offer a direct
application of color, allowing me to work quickly without the
need for drying time. They can be layered to build depth,
making then ideal for both detailed realism, such as the pet
portraits and wildlife animal art that I do.”

A Black Bear from Terry Matthews’ Canadian Wildlife series.

When asked to describe his creative process, Terry says,
“The process is different, depending on the subject. For
wildlife, I read as much as I can about the subject, such
as the wolf I am currently working on, to learn about their
habitant, life span, etc. I collect as many high-quality photos
as I can, and always get permission in writing before using
photos that I identify. One example would be the Pine Martin
that I completed last spring. The photos that I mostly used
were from an Irish photographer, who gladly allowed me to
use his image for my artwork.
The next step is to create a series of charcoal and graphite
drawings, before deciding on the composition. This usually
takes me about 2-3 days. After that I start the final drawing
in either ink or graphite that I will use in the art - another day
to finish this detailed drawing. Lately I have been drawn to
using pastels because of the vibrancy of the colours that they
afford. The paintings that I do of wildlife take me about 20-
40 hours, depending on the drawing.”
Terry reflects on the creative process, highlighting the

12 www.GiverMiramichi.com Fall 2024