“American Indian history fascinates
me. I feel privileged to be one of their storytellers. I think it’s
important to tell the story of the Plains Indians because their history
is our history . . . part of our heritage. The history of the West is
the only history America has that is uniquely our own.”
- HOWARD TERPNING
Meet Howard Terpning:
When
Howard Terpning’s paintbrush touches the canvas, there is a profound
commitment behind its spirit, a vital force that drives the originality
of each painting with a heartfelt purpose. The compassion, strength and
vulnerability that radiates from the canvas is not only a testament to
his skills, but a reflection of the artist, and the man, himself.
Terpning
has become one of the most lauded painters of Western art today and is
considered by many a national treasure. He is amongst the rare group of
artists to see his work sell for over a million dollars in his lifetime.
This is not only a rating of the mastery of his skills as an artist,
but of his employment of them to allow the viewer to experience the deep
respect for people and nature that drives his art.
Born in
Illinois and educated at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the
American Academy of Art, Terpning first gained attention through his
advertising and editorial illustrations. His vision became the force
behind such classic movie posters as “The Sound of Music,” “Dr. Zhivago”
and the 1967 re-issue of “Gone with the Wind.” Always a Marine,
Terpning answered the call again, making combat patrols around Da Nang
with a camera and sketch pad for the Corps in VietNam during 1967. But
his love of the West and Native American traditions fueled his
transition to fine art. He has become known as the Storyteller of the
Native American because of his devotion and respect for the Plains
Indian.
The late Fred A. Myers, director of the Gilcrease Museum
said of Terpning, “He is simply the best and best-known artist doing
Western subjects at this point. He is among a very small group of
painters of the West in the late 20th century whose art will still be
hanging in museums and appreciated a hundred years from now.” His work
has been exhibited around the world and collected in museums including
the Autry National Center, the Phoenix Museum, and the Booth Western Art
Museum along with many of the most prestigious private collections
today.
