I thought nof leaving a book of my lifes work. I could call it, From unknown to virtualy unknown. The paintings of a self taught New Zealand amatuer. I say amateur, not as a description of the quality of my work, or that I havn't woken each day just bursting to paint. but because I have not handled the buiseness side of things like a buisiness man. Anyway, a book to leave a record of my passion. My journey with my art. My quest to understand what I was seeing and the emotions felt. To develop the techniques I needed, to make a painting. Now unfortunatly for me, liver cancer will cut my journey short. Chemotheraphy started on the 29th november 2012. completed 18th june 2013. this has given me more time. How much? I dont know. Each day now a bonus. I still feel rather well. I would love to paint again in my countrys high mountain areas, though I suspect my best work is now behind me. Perhaps brain cells dieing off with age.This FAA site was loaded with some of the about 2,000 works in storage from the mid 1970s through to the present. I have just been advised that my FAA memberaship has been downgraded from pemium to basic membership. This is good, as now I have had to pick 25 works from my original FAA gallerys. My choice has been made by the amount of FAA visitor views on each work plus a few personal favourites The doing has always been more important to me than the selling. My reward has been the satisfaction in the creation of a good painting. I have always tried to learn from each finished work, successful or not. My type of painting requires learning to understand what I see. That has always been my goal, and a continual learning experience. My thanks to all the fellow artist friends on FAA who have helped me with positive feedback. This I value, especialy from fellow artists. It gives me strength when sales are so rare. Perhaps I have wasted my life, but as an artist, I felt that I had no other choice. It has been such a rich life experience, but with sacrifices. Would I do it all again. Of course! but probably with a buisiness manager. I guess I'm a slow learner. Thanks for reading my story. Terry Perham, b. Bleneim New Zealand. 1941- hoping to make 2014.
Terry Perham joined Fine Art America on May 8th, 2010.
