Hi there!
I am Terry and this is a photo of me capturing my beautiful surroundings in the Shenandoah Valley. I hope you enjoy my work!
Artist Bio:
Terry A. Thiele was born and raised in Central Virginia attending college at James Madison University, where she earned her BFA in Studio Art. After graduation, she spent a decade in and around New York City, followed by another ten years in Washington, D.C. A lifelong appreciator of the arts, Terry recently rediscovered the joy of creating after settling in along the Shenandoah River in Woodstock, VA. Much of her inspiration comes from the countless hours she spends watching and photographing the birds in her backyard. She hopes you enjoy her work and that you too can find joy in the birds.
Artist Statement:
My encaustic photographic work explores the shapes, colors, patterns, and forms that emerge through the observation of birds. While birds are the catalyst for each image, my interest extends beyond wildlife photography to the visual relationships created by movement, light, gesture, background and composition. I am drawn to moments when a wing, branch, shadow, or flash of color transforms the scene into something that feels both recognizable and abstract.
My practice occupies a space between wildlife and studio photography. Working from a "studio" environment in my back yard that I have intentionally created for observing and photographing birds, I am able to study their movements, interactions, and ever-changing relationships with light, color, and space. This setting allows for spontaneous encounters while also providing the opportunity to compose images that emphasize formal elements such as line, shape, pattern, texture, and negative space.
Composition is central to my work. I seek visual moments where the natural world arranges itself into compelling forms that invite closer examination. Birds become participants in larger explorations of rhythm, balance, and design, existing not only as subjects but also as elements within a broader visual structure. Through careful framing and attention to color relationships, I aim to create images that encourage viewers to see familiar wildlife in new and unexpected ways.
The encaustic process further transforms these photographs. Layers of wax soften detail, enrich color, and introduce depth and texture, moving the work away from straightforward documentation and toward a more interpretive visual experience. The translucent surface creates atmosphere while preserving the immediacy of the photographic image, allowing the work to exist between observation and abstraction.
Through the combination of photography and encaustic, I seek to create images that reward sustained looking. By highlighting the beauty of form, color, and movement found in everyday encounters with birds, I invite viewers to experience the wonder, complexity, and visual richness that often exist just beyond a casual glance.
Terry A Thiele Photography
