Artist Spotlight: Terrell Atwood

Artist Terrell Atwood is currently finding inspiration from images taken deep in space by the James Webb Space Telescope. These swirling images of color and light have caught her attention and her creative response is to make art derived from these images.

Terrell has a studio at Art Center of the Bluegrass overlooking the intersection of Main and Fourth Streets. Sun streams into the space, filling it with light. She works here for three to four hours each day.

The photos from space intrigued Terrell and she has been working on a piece for more than a year. “It’s so complicated, and these photos are just amazing,” she said.

Terrell began painting when she was a child in the first grade. She attended the University School in Lexington. “They had a really good art teacher,” Terrell said, “and at a young age, we did all kinds of things. I think it started there.”

Terrell also found inspiration at home. “My mother was very artistic. She worked for interior designers painting furniture. She got married out of high school so she didn’t have a degree but worked for decorators, and I watched her, too.”

Terrell continued to study art through her high school years and into college. “I majored in art at school in Virginia, it’s just been my life.”

Oil and watercolor are Terrell’s favorite mediums. She also used to do some print-making, etchings, and lithographs. She said she’d like to get back to those methods but would need access to presses and all the chemicals involved in printmaking.

Terrell enjoys painting a variety of subjects. She has works-in-progress around her studio that include portraits and landscapes. She also spent time painting murals for interior decorators. A photo album contains photos of homes where she has created murals on walls and ceilings.

Terrell grew up in Lexington and has spent time on Herrington Lake since childhood. She continues to live between the two places and enjoys making art in Danville.

“Danville is very art-oriented,” Terrell said. “and the Art Center is just wonderful, it’s really contributed a lot. I come in here, and I can get into another world. And I really enjoy the people coming through. They want to talk about the work, and it’s fun.”

The second-floor studio at 401 W. Main Street in Danville is Terrell’s primary workplace. She can be found there almost daily and welcomes visitors.