There is no pretense in Terry’s pursuit but an altruistic vision, fueled by a contagious joy that champions others and produces outrageous art.
Behind the ironclad corrugations of an old industrial warehouse, and just a few sun scorched paces from Kona Brew, an Oasis lies hidden. Terry Field’s Art House, epitomizes the very best of Hawai’i’s beauty and the very best of the artist’s vision. Her success, however, didn’t begin and doesn't end with Art House. The story that is stitched into these plaster walls, man-sized canvases and polished concrete floors, is one of passion and endurance; of a genuine artist, taking some lemons that life gave her and throwing them out the window, to paint.
Up against the wall of her office, an incredible vista leans on a low wooden bench of the famous Pu’u Hoku’ula in Waimea, known to many as Buster Brown. Although it is sketched in a triptych form (over three canvas panels) from a less seen northwestern perspective, Terry’s mastery over brush and pencil renders it immediately recognizable. Rolling Kohala mountain cow pastures dive to meet a sudden contoured ascent. And only just visible on its south facing shoulder, the windswept, ironwood remains of the letter “P” written in trees, for Parker Ranch. The persuasive, Kamuela winds can almost be felt pushing one off the slopes. Terry’s exuberant attitude is immediately evident while she shares about the process.
“I had painted the first one of Pu’u Hoku’ula. It was two panels, for a café up in Waimea. I was so excited when it sold, it was hanging for just six days! The purchaser of the painting was so nice, they allowed it to stay hung in the café, while I completed a new (and bigger) version of the same piece, to hang in its place.” She explains that she draws all her inspiration from the land and discovers new color palates constantly; from the fuchsia center of a white hibiscus to the neon green of a pistachio. The white flowers of the Big Island; the Gardenia, pikake and ginger blossoms, are a particular favorite of hers.
But let’s rewind 30 years, to a time prior to the sun-splashed Pu’u’s on Terry’s canvas. Originally from L.A., Terry earned her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Loyola University. Wanting to start afresh and remove her family from the riotous environment of early 90s Los Angeles, she and her family, looking toward the idyllic environment of Hawai’i, made their exit from California without looking back.
In 1992, they landed in Honolulu and then on to Kona, Hawai’i in 2001, where Terry earned her Master’s in Education in 2005. Following her achievement, she then entered the world of education, where she taught at the school her children attended. For the next 13 years, like so many mothers, she laid down her pursuits, to care and provide for her family. The flame of her passion, however, was never far, as she continued to paint, and on occasion even sell a piece, as well as taking on small graphic design gigs. All the while, the encouragement, and exhortations from her friends and family, regarding her art, were behind her all the way.
Terry says that if your sketch for a painting is good, “then everything is going to turn out good!” Following that mantra, a day finally came in 2018 when a defining cornerstone in the foundation of her career would be laid. Finding herself in an empty nest, Terry decided to take the proverbial ‘plunge’ and truly go all in with her art. From that point forward she ate, slept and breathed painting. Finding her muse in the beguiling nature and character of the Big Island, she began producing more art, honing her skill and discovering that as she coupled her talents with effective social media advertising, her art began to sell. Her vision and pursuit culminated with the opening of Art House, Hawai’i, this past May 2023.
The rest is history, but Terry, true to her spirit, is still boldly writing her history, one square inch of her canvas at a time. She can be found most days at Art House, not only working on her current tour de force but also running ‘Paint and Sip’ workshops, sharing her art with the community and helping individuals discover their inner artist. So come down to the Brew Blocks and spend five minutes with Terry, and discover that there is no room for fear in her house. Everything she does, is an outpouring from a heart truly steeped in a love for the gifts that the ʻāina has given.
Learn more at ArtHouse-Hawaii.com.
"I was so excited when it sold, it was hanging for just six days!"
