|
 |
|
|
 
ART MEDIUM:
Wood
Glass
ARTIST'S STATEMENT/BIOGRAPHY:
Terry is an artist that exhibits a unique mixture of cultural influences that is reflected through his artwork. Having a Japanese and Hispanic culture, Terry's art is a refinement of intellectual and artistic taste. With such a diverse background and upbringing, Terry found inspiration through the studies of many great artists and teachers. Terry is an artist of multiple medias. His art has taken many forms over the years. The beginning works consisted mostly of painting and sculpting. His creativity later extended to poetry and the art of controlled force Martial Arts. Terry found great passion in the studies of martial arts and eventually became a master instructor, owning a school whose students competed at a world-class championship level, Terry has a huge appreciation for the arts. His positive outlook and inner energy has led him to discover the fine art of woodturning and glassblowing. The enormous assortment of beautiful woods and a very creative imagination has brought Terry
to sustained efforts and endless possibilities. In addition, Terry attended an apprenticeship under the very prestigious glass artist, Jason Lawson. Terry is also a member of the Pennsylvania, Wood Turning Center & American Association of Wood Turners. This experience has allowed him to combine the beauty of wood and the wonderment of glass in a world that can only be seen as one of a kind.
"Art is philosophy put into action, not the end result of a task but a completion of an idea"
- Terance Ramos
"Why did I combine the two mediums wood and glass?"
Let me first talk about how I feel about the two mediums. To me the element of wood represents the Earth: stability, strength, life and texture. The element of glass represents the Sky: movement, light, ethereal and color. To me combining the two mediums was like combining two elements of nature and the world around us. The seam where the wood is connected to the glass represents the horizon. Both mediums bring so much to the table that when I combine them together, I have achieved a whole statement with my work.
"How do I combine the two mediums wood and glass"?
I first start out with a concept of the form and then I like to draw the form out. I work in series of forms like the gourd style, acorn style, and squat style. The type of work ranges from classical shapes, rustic asymmetrical, eastern influences to contemporary work. Color is the next consideration. I order the color of
glass and purchase the exotic woods. When I'm thinking of color combination I think how the color of the glass will enhance and bring out the beauty and color of the wood. At times I like to contrast the color range, depending on whether I am working on a traditional form or striving for a contemporary look. I blow the glass and anneal for 24 hours. The next day I pull the glass out of the annealer and cut and grind the glass to prepare the glass for the wood. I rough out the shape of the wood on the lathe and place the wood in a chamber to stabilize it so it does not expand or contract any more. That way when I connect the wood to the glass they will never separate from each other. I pull the wood out of the chamber and finish the turning, sanding and polishing of the wood. I then affix the wood to the glass with a specially formulated adhesive. The last thing I do is number and certify all my pieces of work.
"How my Vessel Art and my Martial Arts are connected."
I have studied both my Martial Arts and the Fine Art for about 28 years. When I was not kicking and punching I was drawing and sculpting and more recently turning wood and blowing glass. The real connection between the two disciplines started when I began to produce vesselized work. You see the study of Martial Arts focuses on the mind and body, or more specifically the study of achieving an empty mind and the perfected form of the body. In striving for both form and emptiness, you reach a high level of spirituality. In Vessel work, it is the hollowness of the inside of the vessel that brings value to the outside of the form. Are you starting to see the connection? It is the ability to fill the empty form with something; it is also the same ability to allow oneself to be filled up, which brings value to our lives. My Martial Arts and my Artwork will always be connected, for they both learn from each other and allow me to understand myself a little bit more and to see how all
thing are connected. "Zen says to empty your cup."
CAREER BACKGROUND:
Education:
* Two-year glass blowing apprenticeship with Jason Lawson *
Wood turning class with George Hatfield.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Bayou City Art Festival - October 14th and 15th, Booth #178.
Come out and see my new line of work. I do commission work, so if you see a style of work but would like it in a different color please do not hesitate to ask; I love to do custom work.
In November I will travel up to Pennsylvania to study with David Ellsworth the worlds most renowned wood artist and teacher.
 Back to Directory of
Artists
|
