Our latest collaboration with Kansas City-based artist and illustrator Terry Runyan is already proving to be a new community favourite! Featuring a menagerie of happy animal art positively bursting with quirky character, we asked Terry 10 questions to get to know her a little better!
What is your earliest artistic memory?
Like most children, I created art from a young age. My mom was an artist, so as I got a bit older I started painting with her now and then. At that point it was mostly dogs!
How did your art career begin, and how did you develop your style?
I took classes in art in junior college but fell away from it for many years not knowing what direction I wanted to go. When I decided to go back to school when I was 26 or so, I found out there was a career in illustration and design at a university near me. I decided to submit a portfolio of the small amount of art I was doing, and got accepted. This led to Hallmark recruiting at our school my senior year. I went to work for them within 6 months of graduating at the age of 29! Late bloomer!
What has been your career highlight to date?
My career has been full of highlights. The fact that I am making art for a living has to be the biggest highlight!
Hard question, but it needs to be asked: Cats or Dogs?!
I absolutely love all animals but there is no question that it is CATS!
What is your favorite art museum or gallery in the world?
I’m not a big gallery or museum person but I enjoyed the Buffalo Museum of Contemporary Art. I saw some huge abstract by Franz Kline that took my breath away.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Continued good health and happiness.
What interested you about partnering with Erstwilder?
Erstwilder makes such amazing high quality resin jewelry that I was jazzed to work with them!
Are you working on any exciting projects at the moment?
I’m finishing up a new painting book! Can’t wait to share all about it later this year.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists? Or your younger self?
Keep creating! Play with art and creativity everyday even if you scribble for 5 minutes. Get your hand moving, let go of judgement, pay attention and be present while creating. These things go such a long way in enjoying the process!
If you had to pick a favorite design from Erstwilder x Terry Runyan collection, which would it be?
There are so many great designs in the collection so it is hard to choose! A few of my favorites are the pug and Schnauzer dogs but I love them all! Feather Dress owl is also a fav!
Browse and shop the Erstwilder x Terry Runyan collection here!
Browse and shop the Erstwilder x Terry Runyan collection here!
