The Artful Touch of Terry Brennan
Written by Merry Lee Jones
Photography by Ed Funk
he beauty of the marsh, shrimp boats slowly drifting down the river, and moss covered oak trees have been the muse or power regarded as inspiring Terry Brennan’s paintings. He travels the area with camera and sketch pad, seeking out challenging Lowcountry subjects to recreate on canvas. “Our colorful sunrises and sunsets are a bonus to any artist,” he said. “From my first visit to this area, I knew I wanted to move here and paint these wonderful scenes.”
Terry and his wife, Joanne moved to the Lowcountry from Illinois, where he spent thirty-five years working for Nicor Gas Company. He holds degrees in engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and in business from Northern Illinois University. Sometime during his illustrious career he realized that there was an artist hiding inside himself. “As an engineer, I did a lot of drawing, but the drawing I did was mostly straight lines,” Terry said. “It wasn’t until 1985 that I actually started painting in oils. And, it was ten later that I began working in watercolor.” He has honed his skills with workshops from noted artists like Tom Lynch, Irving Shapiro, Tony Couch, Charles Gruppe and Morgan Samuel Prince. “With my exposure to these incredible teachers my work has moved in an important direction and I have learned to free up and loosen my technique,” he said.
Terry and the Lowcountry became engaged in a dance of mutual admiration. They have proven to be good for each other from the beginning. In 2001, his first one-man show “Lowcountry Scenes,” proved highly successful, with more than half his paintings being sold at the opening. And, it has only gotten better. In addition to his inspirational pieces, his commissioned work can be seen in homes and businesses around the area.
In the past six years, Terry has had five one man shows and has sold over two hundred original oil and watercolor paintings. The vibrant colors of the local landscapes and seascapes come alive under his brush. “With each piece of my work, I attempt to capture the emotions and mood of a specific place at a particular moment in time,” says the artist. “Painting is an opportunity to combine color and values into a composition that provides viewers with a chance to see the Lowcountry as I do.”
Terry Brennan is not only a well-known artist, he is also a driving force in the art community. In 2003, along with fellow members of the Society of Bluffton Artists, Helen Evans and Emily Wilson, they designed and remodeled the old Bluffton Library into The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 48 Boundary Street in Old Town Bluffton. He served as president of the Society from June 2004 to June 2006 and is currently a member of the Board of Directors. “I’ve really enjoyed seeing the membership grow through the years from less than 100 to the current number of 185,” he said. “The growth of the Society’ has been phenomenal. It’s state-of-the-art gallery and learning center, has been acclaimed as one of the finest galleries in the Lowcountry.”
Working with other Old Town galleries, he implemented the first “Old Town Art Walk,” which is now a bi-annual event attended by thousands of visitors and residents. Terry also had the original idea behind the very successful ”Art in the Park” event. This was sponsored by The Old Town Merchant’s Association and in May 2007, twenty one area artists set up their easels and had a beautiful day of painting in Dubois Park on Boundary Street. “This area is fortunate to have so many skilled artists that can learn from each other; we challenge each other resulting in better paintings by all,” he said.
Terry worked diligently with Jacob Preston and Emmett McCracken interviewing applicants for an executive director position for the Bluffton Old Town Merchants Society. After time they all agreed to hire Sarah Bergin which proved to be a beneficial decision for all Old Town bussiness’.
The Art League of Hilton Head is also very much a part of his life. He is the current president and has been on their board from 1998-2001 and was primarily responsible for the successful move of the Art League’s Gallery from Sea Pines Center to Pineland Station. Terry credits this new gallery for his determination to take on even more challenging subjects in his paintings. “The Art League’s Gallery shows the work of so many outstanding local artists that it inspiredme to try new and different techniques to improve the quality of my work,” he said. Terry is also a member of the Beaufort Art Association, The South Carolina Watercolor Society and the Hilton Head Plantation Artists Association. He also represents all Old Town art galleries on the Hilton Head/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s Art’s and Cultural Committee.
“I have enjoyed painting the Lowcountry scenery, the landscapes, seascapes, marshes, sunsets, shrimp boats and old buildings. They are an artist’s dream. I especially like contibuting to the growth of the visual arts in both communities. Terry Brennan’s work can be seen in many galleries in the Lowcountry area.
For more information call Terry Brennan at 843-681-8041
