We were lucky to catch up with Terry Chacon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Terry, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I started my professional career as an artist when my son graduated High School. Before I worked as a Medical Transcriptionist and created part time working in sculpture and learning all about oil painting.

Terry, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I never thought of myself as a landscape painter, I took classes learning to paint animals in particular the Afghan Hound of which I showed and bred for 50 years. My last girl is now approaching 13 and I am still very compassionate about the breed.

As I was looking on the internet at other artist and their work I became interested in the students work of Henry Hensche. I was fortunate to learn of an upcoming workshop by a student of Hensche. Here I learned the beauty of painting landscape and using a palette knife to create. I then went on to continue learning from Susan Sarback for the next 7 years. It was here that I learned I could bring my knowledge of painting a landscape and combine animals which prompted a series of Dog Show paintings. These Dog Show paintings have been shown at the American Kennel Club Dog Museum in two separate one women exhibits. Also in connection to this series of work over the past 15 years the Santa Barbara Kennel Club commissioned me to do a painting which is used for their catalog, images on sweatshirts, greeting cards and totes. It’s quite a collection and I will include a couple of these paintings for you.

Many years ago I worked with my mother learning ceramic sculpture. I turned that in to a business of ceramic and then bronze sculpture over 20 years ago. Working with the Heritage Bronze of Hesperia, Ca. I have produced many bronze sculptures from 1 inch to 6 feet. Two life size sculptures are now living on a farm outside Oslo, Norway, loved by an Afghan Hound breeder and owner. A couple of these photos will also be included.

As an avid Plein Air painter (painting scenes on location) I have been lucky to carry my paints with me when I have judged dog shows or vacationed in South Africa, England, Australia, Iceland, Mexico and Canada. Let alone the beauty of the Southwest from Red Rocks to Ocean views.

I am available in my studio in Redlands, Ca. to create dog portraits, animal paintings and any landscape scene. My bronze sculptures of the Afghan Hound, Greyhound and Saluki are available through my website. I also have an account with Fine Art America where you will find many images of my work available on canvas, paper, metal, t-shirts, totes and more.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Standing in front of a blank canvas or block of clay can be very intimidating. No matter how many times you have completed a piece of work, it is still intimidating to start a new piece. However, in saying this, the satisfaction each morning of opening the door to my studio, looking at the new pieces I am working on is like Christmas. When they are complete it always amazes me that I was actually able to create a piece of work that I am so very proud of. Years of experience and learning my different mediums has given me the ability to finish pieces for my collectors that they can show in their home or business with complete assurance that I have given my best.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have been very lucky to have shown and judged Afghan Hounds around the world. In this I have met many people who love the Afghan Hound. When I joined FB it was easy to connect with all these people who were already interested in my work. FB also connected me with other countries and breeders of the Afghan Hound giving me a new market.

Some advice to those wanting to build an audience on FB, you have to work at it. Put your work on your page everyday, tell stories about your creation, ask people to title your work or make suggestions on what they would like to see you create. I have found that a lot of my time is promotion. When sales are down, promote, promote. You are the owner of the business and if you want to be successful you have be the creator and salesperson. Always stay in contact with your collectors and share your new work,

Contact Info:

• Website: www.terrydchacon.com
• Instagram: Terry Chacon
• Facebook: Terry Chacon
• Other: [email protected]