Terri Ford studied Illustration at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco from 1973-1977. She then worked as a graphic designer for 25 years, during which time she discovered pastels (in 1987), and worked with them “off and on” until 2000 when she decided to devote full time to pastels. She then began entering competitions and immediately won top awards. Terri continued to hone her style and technique while entering shows and receiving a plethora of awards in numerous exhibits as well as recognition in worldwide publications.
Her mantra “Deeper, Darker, Richer” has helped her create vibrant, luminous works in a relaxed, impressionistic style. She prefers the landscape both studio and plein air but is always entranced by interesting, old, historic architecture like old backroad barns or the bridges of Paris.
Her pastel paintings have gained national and international recognition, as proved by her achievement of Eminent Pastelist Status in the International Association of Pastel Societies in 2012. Ford is a Master Pastelist with Pastel Society of America and “Distinguished Pastelist” with Pastel Society of the West Coast, and Pastel Society of New Mexico, and an Artist Member of the California Art Club.
She has received numerous awards at the Carmel Art Festival Plein Air Event, including 8 Best Pastel awards, First Place, Third Place, Plein Air Magazine Award of Excellence, and People’s Choice Awards. Her work has earned her top awards in many exhibitions at such venues as the National Arts Club in New York, The Butler Fine Art Museum, The Autry Museum, The Triton Museum of Art, The Haggin Museum and the Carnegie Art Center.
In 2019 Ford’s pastels were featured in Plein Air Magazine, Pastel Journal, American Art Collector, PSWC Collector’s Issue, PSA Pastelagram and in the coffee table book Pure Pastel. In 2018 she was featured in the French art book “40 Maitres de Pasteles”.
In 2017 Terri was the Invitee de Honneur of the Art du Pastel en France, at their annual exhibit in Giverny where she has painted numerous times in the gardens of Claude Monet, a great inspiration for her. Terri has been recognized as a popular workshop instructor and shares her technique and experience from her extensive travel throughout the US and abroad. She is often called upon to judge and jury art exhibitions.
Recent Awards:
2019 FIRST PLACE, Villages Annual Arts Juried Exhibition, Moondance 1
2019 THIRD PLACE, Richeson Online Juried Exhibition, Lily Pond
2019 Pastel 100 Honorable Mention, Old Mill Casita
2018 IAPS Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention, Lily Pads sur Ciel Blue
2018 Pastel 100 FOURTH PLACE Landscape, Lily Pads sur Ciel
2017 Invitee de Honneur, Art du Pastel en France, Giverny Exhibition
Past Awards:
Pastel Journal Pastel 100 Competition – GRAND PRIZE – “COUNTRY
CALM” Appeared on the cover of the April 2012 Issue of Pastel Journal
Carmel Art Festivel Plein Air Event – 3RD PLACE & BEST PASTEL – Carmel Morning Vista
Carmel Art Festivel Plein Air Event – FIRST PLACE & BEST PASTEL – Carmel Pathway
