Terry Isaac
July 16, 2019 – Our Deepest Loss
Dear artists and friends,
The Terry Isaac Gallery is sad to share some unhappy news with you today. On behalf of Terry’s family, we are announcing the sudden and unexpected passing of Terry Isaac on July 16th. Terry was excited about his upcoming shows, workshops and paintings, as was obvious in his plans, conversations and inspirations. We will honor Terry by keeping his Gallery open for the summer, continue to exhibit his work, as promised, and operate his gallery on-line, to provide Terry’s art to those who wish to own a piece of his artistic genius and legacy. Thank you for being a part of Terry’s artistic, musical or personal journey. We thank you for your support and love of Terry Isaac. Celebration of Life Information
Celebration of Life Video
Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting providencefuneralhomes.com.
Internationally acclaimed wildlife artist, Terry Isaac, grew up in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, and it is there that he began his love affair with wildlife. Drawing inspiration from his own backyard and from the captivating vistas of the Northwest, he began to create dramatic wildlife art. He called Penticton, British Columbia, Canada “home” until his untimely death. Since moving to Canada, Terry continued to create paintings capturing unique characteristics of wildlife and their habitat. Terry traveled around the world to capture exciting images, but his main painting focus continued to be on North American birds and mammals.
Terry’s formal art began with an interest in animation and drawing cartoons. After art college, he was interested in children’s book illustration but soon re-discovered his childhood passion for wildlife. Since the mid 1980’s, he had created realistic wildlife art with a focus on particularity and dramatic light. He was inspired by large panoramas as well as close-up views, and by subjects ranging from whales to hummingbirds.
During his successful professional career Terry had been the featured “Artist of the Year” at a number of prestigious art shows/expos, placed in 12 stamp and print competitions, been commissioned to create for the Audubon Society handbooks and hired to develop the main character in a Walt Disney production. His works are housed in prominent permanent collections such as Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Bennington Center For The Arts, American Airlines, First National Bank of South Africa and in many private and corporate collections around the world. His paintings have appeared for sale and re-sale at Christie’s Auction House, London, England.
Isaac continued to participate in several important art competitions, including Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s prestigious “Birds in Art” exhibition, in which his art was featured 14 times and the Society of Animal Artists annual exhibition. He was invited to participate in a number of prominent gallery art shows on an annual basis. Terry was a longtime member of Artists for Conservation and Society of Animal Artists. He donated regularly to many not-for-profit charities as well.
Terry was an accomplished teacher, and his approach to painting is outlined in his own book “Painting the Drama of Wildlife, Step by Step” now in its second edition (North Light Books, 1998). The book’s success led to the creation of two DVDs, “Painting Wildlife in Acrylic” and “Paint Like a Pro – Concept to Completion“(Creative Catalyst). Terry’s art has also been featured in several other books, “Painting Birds Step by Step” (cover/North Light Books, 1996), “The Best of Wildlife Art” (cover/North Light Books, 1997), and “More Wildlife Painting Techniques of Modern Masters” (Watson-Guptill Publications, 1996). His most recent publication was on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, featuring Winter Warrior, on the January 2018 edition.
Demand for Terry’s originals has remained high, due to his detailed technique of painting which is so impressive. The majority of Terry’s work is offered as limited-edition prints which sell out quickly and are sought out by collectors.
In Terry’s spare time, he was a songwriter, accomplished guitarist and singer, and he performed throughout the Okanagan Valley.
We wish Terry would have had twenty more years of making his fabulous art.