April 07, 2010

Terran Ambrosone


Three years ago I started wood carving. When I had completed my first piece I went on line and googled 'hand carved walking sticks' to see what was out there. There were hundreds of sites, shops and pages to be found. I clicked on 'images' and began thumbing through what lay before me... it was then I became a fan of Terran Ambrosone...

At the time she had a site that contained many how to videos and photos of her work. Whenever I would become discouraged with my lack of ability I would head over to her site for inspiration. And she has indeed inspired me for the past three years. I became familiar with all of her work... oil paintings, digital art, wood carving and she is now thinking about ideas for children's books... The woman is unstoppable...

There were many late nights when I would be stuck not knowing where to go to from the corner I had carved myself into.. I would head over to the computer and go to her site just to get an idea of what to do next.... then realize I had been sitting there for a couple of hours thumbing through the pictures and videos, cursing her talent and shaking my head...

One night I was going to show Julie a walking stick she had done when I noticed that her site was gone... I panicked... I searched all over for her and found only a few links mentioning her. I was devastated.. I had lost the one person that had truly inspired me in my hobby. Periodically I would browse the internet looking for her work.. Over time I started the facebook fan page we have and one night as I was posting some photos on it I began to go through the fan list... And there she was... I couldn't believe it... Terran Ambrosone was following my blog and was a fan of our page... I felt like a little kid, I was so excited... Immediately I jumped on facebook and sent her a sappy email of the "ohmygod ohmygod' nature, not caring how silly she might think I was... She was very gracious and extremely nice to me.

Terran has recently started another web site at http://terran.yolasite.com/ and I encourage everyone to go check her work out. She has provided me with the photos I have featured here on this post, its so cool to be able to speak with a personal hero... Her email address is terranart@hotmail.com if you have any questions for her she will be glad to help out. I am looking forward to watching her site grow and develope into a huge success as she features her work...







Terran comes from the West Kootenays in southern British Columbia and has spent the past decade on Vancouver Island... She recently moved back to her birthplace in the West Kootenays and is surrounded by its beauty as she creates her work, and with views such as that, who could blame her.... Her carvings are in the Alberta Provincial Museum, she is a veteran of many juried shows and has won many awards. Her work has been featured in several galleries... She was president of the Vancouver Island Woodcarvers Association, and was also involved with the Nanaimo Arts Council. Today I consider myself honored to count Terran as one of my friends...

2 comments:

Schmoop said...

That is very cool Clay. I like the pictures of her work but I like it even more that she took the time to get back with you. Happy Sunday. Cheers!!

Rob Cole said...

It never ceases to amaze me; the ever shrinking world and the "neighborhood of creativity" that engulfs it. Good for you man, and Terran, thank you for inspiring one of my dearest friends!