Collage (2005) Painting by Epiphany Art

Artist Statement
Who am I?
I am still finding out. But now I am thoroughly enjoying the process.
After years of working as a nurse and raising a family, I took my life time love affair of art to the next logical step… creating my own visions of my world on canvas with oil and acrylic paint. Working as a nurse in nursing homes, hospital cancer wards, cardiac progressive care floors, a dialysis unit and with patients with AIDS, leprosy, TB, Alcoholics, prisoners provided me with a unique life experience of death, dying and suffering. I left the professional nursing to do a very private duty - to take care of my friend, my step mother, who suffered early onstage Alzheimer’s. It was a long goodbye that took too long to grieve.
Besides a nurse, I am a wife, a mother, and a daughter. I was a child once upon a time – and way back then, I did draw portraits of my friends and of my pets. I drew landscapes when I lived in Hawaii while growing up. When we moved to Miami, Florida in 1976, I took up a paint brush in high school.
But for some people, life changes their course onto a different path. I believe that is why I am me. If I did not have all the life experiences that I have had so far, I would not love life now so very much and life to me is art.
Why do I make my art?
I have to.
After the hurricanes in 2004 in Florida that hit our area hard, and some areas even worse. I needed to express the need for a place to go to stress free and beautiful. I painted “My Secret Garden” from a dream.
In that same year I had another dream of “Escaping Christmas Trees” and painted what turned out to be a large and quite different colorful scene.
I am at the point where all I think about is the next painting – the ideas keep popping into my head. I feel if I do not paint the idea - I am turning down a gift from God.
How do I make my art?
It starts with a thought, or a dream, an emotion, or just plain real life inspirational view of nature. I sketch it out to save the thought, so I don’t lose it! Then it is a matter of size of the canvas and color pallet to portray the mood. I use knife techniques with thick paint as well as very thin washes of transparent glazes with brush. I use only artist quality oil and acrylic paint. I love to paint things such as old furniture or house hold items as well make them into new art or useful items or one of a kind gifts!
What does my art mean to me?
For the most part it means to me, a confirmation of God speaking to me. I recently bought a piece of art from another artist at a show; it is called “Epiphany”.
an epiphany is what I believe I have had and continue to have daily while I create my art.
I am growing and my art is ever changing, as I am.

Terri L. West is an internationally collected artist and is actively pursuing juried art competitions as well as gallery representation. Her art is increasing in value as a result of her hard work and commitment to her art.

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• Nationality: UNITED STATES
• Date of birth : 1960
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary American Artists