Tyler Fine Art Gallery

Terry Rae Heckmann

Nature & Wildlife Painter

Terry Heckmann was born in rural Iowa.  She presently lives in Tyler, Texas, having retired from clinical and academic research in the hard sciences, with an emphasis in molecular biology.   She now has the privilege of immersing herself in art, having the time and space to do so.   She is self-taught and continues to discover and develop her own unique approaches and techniques through experience and observation.  Her medium is gouache (an opaque watercolor), adding details using pen and ink, colored pencil, and pastel. 

Terry Heckmann

Terry Rae Heckmann

Nature & Wildlife Painter

Continued

Inspired by her love and fascination for nature and wildlife, she seeks to evoke a curiosity of wildlife’s essence as well as form. Her work is often loose and impressionistic, even invoking playfulness in her distinctive style, but also portraying subjects as a scientific illustration; a dichotomous piece of taxonomy and phenotype. She is drawn to each subject by color, texture, and subject.  

Growing up totally immersed in the woods and fields of Iowa, National Geographic magazines and books of Audubon paintings were her inspiration as a child. Having only done pencil drawings, she began using color media as an adult. Her favorite artist as a child was Audubon. 

In the act of making her art, Terry embraces a deep and dual connection to the natural world in a scientific fashion as well as in knowledge of the work of her Creator.  Each painting she is compelled to create is a worshipful endeavor.

The very first mention of someone receiving the Holy Spirit in scripture was in the Old Testament 1400 years prior to Pentecost. It was bestowed upon a craftsman and artist named Bezalel:  

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel  . . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, . . . to make artistic designs . . .” Exodus 31

“This inspiration propels me with enthusiasm and gratitude in my artistic endeavors. My hope is that I can bring joy and curiosity in my works in the creations of the Maker.” 

Terry Rae Heckmann

NATURE & WILDLIFE PAINTER

Gallery