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Setting the Stage for Epiphanies
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: August - 2022
Terry Warren’s journey into the world of art supplied lessons for success in the larger world.
Early on, Terry Warren was determined to leap up theladder of the corporate world.On the verge of making a big move to Australia, hemet a self-made millionaire in San Francisco, who had a hugeimpact on his life. To thank his mentor, Terry decided to drawhis house. Only one problem – he had to enroll in a drawingclass to learn how to do it.Little did he realize that encounter, that class, that drawing(which was well-received) set the stage for a lifetime epiphany.He says, “I found drawing to be one of the first things I hadever done that took my mind off everything else. I could justfocus and be away from the business madness.”Terry’s San Francisco benefactor turned out to be the firstof several art- and life-mentors, his next being a 95-year-oldwoman who welcomed him to her art class.Happenstance art opportunities managed to appear at just theright time wherever he went.Terry says, “My art education was primarily workshops orprivate instruction, I still had my corporate job, traveling60% of the time. Sunday afternoons were set aside for artexploration.”The more he drew, the more he was hooked. He started withpencil, then color pencil, oils and acrylics and then back to oils.He says, “In 2010 I was in an art show exhibition. I craved moreart ops. But my corporate travel schedule was eating into my arttime. By 2015 I decided to leave corporate America for good.Art and coaching have been my passion ever since. I dividemy time 50/50: half for art, half for executive coaching. I alsojoined plein air painters in Nashville which amplified my skillsin unexpected ways.”A little over three years ago, Terry wanted to ratchet up anotherlevel, so he took a Roger Dale Brown workshop for fine artists.He says, “Brown’s approach to teaching and my engineeringbrain clicked. I begged him to give private sessions. He agreed,and I spent two remarkable years studying with him.”Over the years all the workshops, the mentors, the experiencesin corporate and art worlds coalesced into a book, The Art ofChoice, Making Changes That Count in Work and Life. Atthe book’s core: Art, Living, and Work share the umbrella ofPerspective.To inquire about his book, commissions, and art, attend theHighlands-Cashiers Art League shows to meet him personallyor contact him at[email protected].
by Donna Rhodes
