“A Day in the Life” of Nature-Artist Terra Simieritsch

Terra Simieritsch is a Calgary based mixed media artist and teacher. She can often be found adventuring in the woods with her husband, young boys and dog in tow as she gathers inspiration for her work. She recently left a career in Environmental Science to pursue visual art full time. Her long-time friend and co-worker describes her work as follows:

“I have known Terra Simieritsch over the course of almost two decades as a respected environmental expert and as someone with a profound appreciation for the wild spaces and species of Alberta. Only recently have I come to know her as a skilled and highly original visual artist. Terra’s art is firmly rooted in her formal and informal studies and her lifelong immersion in nature. She starts with the familiar: animals, plants, and natural objects so common they often go unnoticed, but infuses them with colors and textures that we may only have envisioned as children in stories or dreams. To my mind this synthesis of realism and unbound creativity results in artwork that simply radiates with emotion and personal meaning. Terra’s paintings remind me that there is far more in nature than meets the human eye, and that our appreciation of wild things is incomplete without imagination, respect, and love.”

Terra Simieritsch
Three’s a Crowd, an example of my mixed-media art.

Young Mountain Blue Bird by Terra Simieritsch
Young Mountain Bluebird. I am most well known for my paintings of birds.
Terra Simieritsch
I gather inspiration from outdoor events with my family.
Terra Simieritsch
I love being able to work from home in my studio.
Terra Simieritsch
I love participating in art events like the Pinebrook Emerging Artist Showcase!
Terra Simieritsch teaching
I teach art at various preschools.
Terra and Family
My husband Rob and our two sons Jude and Gray.
Terra and Kids
My kids love to co-create with my art supplies!

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What ‘hood are you in?

I’m in the burbs of Douglas Glen in southeast Calgary

What do you do?

I am a visual artist that works in mixed media. That means I love to incorporate many different materials into my acrylic and watercolour paintings. Currently I’m working with Chiyogami (Japanese silk screened paper), vintage sheet music, tissue paper and book pages. I’m also learning printmaking in order to make my own papers to incorporate into my work.

I am also an art teacher, and while I do teach some adult mixed media workshops I primarily teach preschool art workshops. I currently teach around 120 kids each month.

I am grateful for the flexibility of being a working artist, as I juggle these artistic pursuits around raising my two young sons. They love helping teach my preschool art classes and having so many art supplies at their fingertips.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on my first solo exhibit, Coexistence. This will be an exhibit highlighting the challenges and adaptations of people living alongside wildlife species that are often ‘conflict species’ such as skunks or porcupines. The exhibit will be shown at the Leighton Art Centre in the spring of 2021.

I am also working on a feather series for an upcoming show with Woolf’s Voices (at Shelf Life Books), and building inventory for upcoming shows and sales. I usually have a commission or two in the works as well.

Where can we find your work?

My work can be found at the Leighton Art Centre, south of Calgary and Lineham House Galleries in Okotoks.

My work can also be viewed and purchased on my website, on Instagram or Facebook.