Artist's
Profile: Terry Redlin Terry
Redlin is most known as one of the country's most widely
collected painters of wildlife and Americana.. His "romantic-realistic"
art style employs earthy colors to create amazingly brilliant
winter scenes as well as blazing sunrises and sunsets.
For eight consecutive
years, 1991 through 1998, Redlin was named America's most
popular artist in annual surveys conducted by U.S. Art magazine.
His induction into U.S. Art's Hall of Fame in 1992 followed
the magazine's poll of 900 galleries nationwide.
In 1981 and
1984, he won the Minnesota Duck Stamp competition, and in
1982, the Minnesota Trout Stamp contest. He also placed
second that year in the Federal Duck Stamp Competition.
He has been honored by Ducks Unlimited (National and Minnesota)
as Artist of the Year and as Conservationist of the Year-Magnum
Donor by the Minnesota Waterfowl Association for his gifts
of entire print collections. The National Association of
Limited Edition dealers has three times presented him with
the "Lithograph of the Year" award for excellence
in the medium.
Redlin has published
at least two books. His first book “Opening Windows
to the Wild, The Art of Terry Redlin." is in its sixth
printing. It was a Certificate of merit winner at the prestigious
Printing Industries of America competition in 1988. This
book details Redlin’s paintings, pencil sketches and
biography. He personally supervised the printing and production
of this important project. His second book, “Terry
Redlin, Master of Memories”, was released in 1997.
It was voted Best Art Book in a U.S. Art Magazine survey.
"Terry
Redlin Paints America the Beautiful", a video presentation
produced by Hadley House, earned a coveted Telly Award in
the 1993 national competition.
Redlin spent
his childhood in the Lake Kampeska region of Watertown,
South Dakota. He often spent his time sketching the wildlife
around him as he dreamed of a life in the outdoors as a
forest ranger. After earning a degree from the St. Paul
School of Associated Art, Redlin worked in commercial art
as a layout artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and art
director. However, he continued to pursue his earlier interests
by doing the research necessary to create realistic wildlife
paintings in his spare time.
In 1977 his
painting "Winter Snows" appeared on the cover
of The Farmer magazine and by 1979, the demand for his work
had become so great that he left his art directing career
to concentrate on painting wildlife full-time. Then in 1985,
Redlin added an entirely new artistic direction, limited
edition collector plates. To date, he has released more
than 30 editions, many of which are now available only on
the secondary market. In addition to fine art and collector
plates, Redlin's images also appear on a variety of collectibles
and decorative accessories. Cabins, homes and church sculptures,
adopted from some of his most popular art prints, join music
and keepsake boxes, steins and ornaments in collectors'
displays.
His contemporary
wildlife art often included settings from the American heartland
and in 1987, Redlin began a deeper exploration of Americana
subjects and nostalgic scenes of yesteryear by painting
his “American Memories” and “Country Doctor”
Collections. Since then, his annual Christmas prints have
attracted thousands of collectors from coast to coast. Then
in 1992, he completed his most ambitious work to date, his
“America The Beautiful” collection. The eight
paintings depict American life from the settling of The
West in the 1800's to the present day. They were released
as limited edition prints over a three-year period, ending
in January, 1995. The series has been acclaimed by thousands
of collector and Redlin’s tribute, to the country
he loves so dearly, has been showcased in art and consumer
magazines nationwide.
Redlin has long
been a contributor to the conservation efforts in America.
Over the 17 year period from 1981 to 1997, his donations
to Ducks Unlimited raised more than $28 million, setting
an all-time record in art sales for wetland conservation
projects. By his own estimate, he has donated several million
dollars in art to other nonprofit conservation organizations
as well.
Redlin's most
compelling project is the construction of a museum to house
his original art in Watertown, South Dakota, where he now
resides. The Redlin Art Center, which includes a regional
tourism office, an amphitheater, a Digistar planetarium
and a state-of-the-art teleconferencing center, opened in
the summer of 1997 and has seen more than 2 million visitors
from all over the world. Terry Redlin donated the $10 million
museum to the State of South Dakota in appreciation for
the art scholarship he received after graduating from high
school in Watertown.
You can visit the Redlin Art Center at 1200 33rd
Street SE Mickelson Drive in Watertown, SD
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday:
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 12
p.m. - 5 p.m.
For more information call 1.877.TREDLIN or 605.882.3877
Redlin was further
honored in 1998 by the City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
by having an elementary school named in his honor. Terry
Redlin Elementary School opened in the Fall of 1998.
On June 29,
2007 – After a lifetime of artistic achievements,
Terry Redlin announced his retirement from painting and
print signing. Redlin, who is widely known as "America's
Favorite Artist," says he has accomplished what he
set out to do, "I
wanted to tell stories with my paintings, to remember the
experiences of my youth, and to imagine and capture forever
events that have been related to me by older folks I have
had the pleasure of knowing. America's rural past, in my
eyes, was a wonderful place full of both beauty and opportunity.
How fortunate I've been to spend my life creating memories
of those distant times for others to enjoy."
But the fortunate
ones have been the art enthusiasts who have collected over
2 million art prints and an even greater number of collectibles
and home décor products—all inspired by his
unique artistic talent.
Redlin plans
to enjoy his retirement in Watertown surrounded by the family,
friends and places that have inspired him for nearly 70
years.
Please note
that many Terry Redlin signed print editions remain available
at their original issue price at this time, but in limited
quantities. No additional prints will be signed and there
will be no new paintings. Future release of new Terry Redlin
products will support his two most cherished causes, the
Redlin Art Center in Watertown, SD, and the preservation
and restoration of rural America
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