Painting diverse landscapes “en plein air” (in one sitting, on location) is Ed Terpening's passion. California’s hills scattered with oak trees, bay marshes, and of course our beautiful coastline provide him with constant inspiration. He applies his contemporary California Impressionist skills both outdoors and in the studio for larger works.
Terpening seeks to capture the essence of a location and time by painting the movement, rhythm and color harmonies unique to that day. To his eye, the disparate elements in the landscape (land, sea, and sky) have an interchange and relationship that is fascinating and inspirational. Each effects the other and work in harmony. That’s why he’ll often paint the same location again during the year several times. As the seasonal fauna come and go, and the weather changes, the color harmonies are endless! Terpening's early music training and career established his perception of “visual rhythm,” which he strives to represent in every painting. It’s the interesting interchange between all elements of the landscape that create these rhythms and provide the perception of movement in what otherwise might be considered a photographic still.
As a collector of early California art, Terpening follows the traditions set by the innovators such as Edgar Payne, Colin Campbell Cooper, Seldon Gile, Tom Tompson and in particular the seascapes of Franz Bischoff, Paul Dougherty, Joseph Kleitsch, Armin Hansen, John O’Shea and Alfred Mitchell. He is grateful to these men and women for the inspirational legacy they’ve created. He also admires contempory plein air artists, such as Edward Seago, Fred Cuming, Ken Auster, Joseph Mendez, Ovanes Berberian, Don Stone, Ted Goerschner and Camille Przewodek.
Visit Ed Terpening's website.
