We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Terri Dilling. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Terri below.
Terri, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I was a fairly reserved child, not overly confident, but I was a good student and also involved with a variety of sports and activities, so this helped develop some basic self-esteem. As an artist though, it can be hard to be confident in your own voice and to believe that you as an individual have something to say and contribute. One of the biggest leaps for me was learning to identify negative self-talk, things I was telling myself over and over that prevented me from moving forward. I learned to replace them with positive affirmations, focusing on my strengths and being more clear about what I want in my career and in life. It is amazing how becoming more clear and naming your goals actually starts making things happen. Little steps enable bigger steps.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am primarily an abstract painter and have been showing my work professionally for over 20 years. I believe that abstract art helps us see things in new and different ways. My passion is making gestural abstractions that are inspired by nature, but are really more about the emotional landscapes that are within. I have been influenced by both Abstract Expressionism and Impressionism. I paint intuitively, making marks on the canvas and then responding to what is there. Some elements get covered over while others are pulled forward, and the finished painting contains a rich, layered history. I also create cyanotypes which involves exposing prints in the sun. My work finds a balance between energetic marks and tranquil space, and reflects the kind of balance I seek in my own life.
As the child of a German mother and an American father, I grew up loving culture and travel. I also have an interest in science, wondering about what we are made of and how things work. Before becoming a full time artist, I worked in video production and graphic design. All of these things have given me knowledge and skills that are helpful now. I earned a BFA in painting and printmaking from Georgia State University and continue to live and work in Atlanta.
I am represented by several galleries around the country and am currently preparing for an upcoming exhibit at Michael Murphy Gallery in Tampa Florida. It is called “The Resonance of Color”, works by Terri Dilling and Amy Donaldson. For me, the focus is on the way colors can convey emotion. It opens on February 8th.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
These are qualities that have been really important to me and I would encourage others to give them consideration: 1. CURIOSITY
Making art is an ongoing exploration of ideas and techniques, each piece its own unique combination. I’m always asking “what would happen if I try this? Or maybe this? What if I look at it a different way or try the opposite thing?” Curiosity helps keep things fresh and reminds me that I need to take risks in my work.
2. KINDNESS
I’m a believer in maintaining good relationships whenever possible. Root for other artists instead of competing against them. Share information. Give a shout out. When something doesn’t work out, or you move on from a business relationship, try to stay on decent terms. The art world can seem small, and you may cross paths again. If you show support to someone, they will often offer their support in return.
3. SELF-MOTIVATION
As an independent creative, there is generally no one telling me what to make or when to get it done. (Commissions can be an exception). So I have to rely on my inner motivation and personal drive, and then set goals and deadlines for myself. I have to get into the studio and get things done. I take the initiative to learn new things and look things up. I use google all the time, and make my to-do lists. Oh how I love to scratch things off that list!
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
It is a BIG challenge to be an artist who deals with making art and also running a business. Not only do I have to know about painting, I also have to know about sales, marketing, accounting, budgeting, writing, research, shipping, image editing, websites, social media, etc. I personally find it very rewarding to be able to do all these different things, but the business side can make it really difficult when you get in your studio. I need to turn all of that off when I start to paint. I don’t want to be thinking about what is trending or what has sold for me in the past, or what other people might like. I want to be present and curious and authentic with each new work. For me, it helps to listen to music or podcasts, which keeps part of my brain occupied, so that more intuitive parts can come out. I also like to work on more than one piece at a time, so I can go back and forth between paintings. The goal is to get in a flow state where you kind of lose yourself and things just flow from within. It is so wonderful when that happens. But it can be hard to find the flow, so I’m always working on that. If anyone else out there has advice about it, please share!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.terridilling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terridilling_art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terridillingart/
- Other: https://mmgart.com/show/michael-murphy-gallery-the-resonance-of-color-amy-donaldson-terri-dilling
