Biography
A native of the Horicon Marsh area of Wisconsin, Terrill grew up in an area rich in wetlands and natural areas. He was attracted to the variety of migrating birds that came and went through this area, and his love of nature blended with his love of the visual arts. He attended Wayland Academy and upon graduation went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning degrees in art and wildlife ecology. Ornithologist Joseph Hickey, Terrill's mentor at UW-Madison, introduced him to museum curator and dean of America wildlife art, Owen Gromme. A close relationship developed that led to his working as Gromme's understudy for seven years. Terrill was Gromme's only student.
Knaack's paintings have been shown at many of the nations natural history museums, as well as at numerous Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum shows and the national Geographic Society's Explorer's Hall in Washington D.C. Terrill has had numerous one man shows in his career including featured visual artist of the Green Lake Festival of Art. In 1983, Terrill received the Alumni Achievement Award from Wayland Academy and was selected as Honorary Chairperson for Wisconsin Youth Art Month in 1986. He has continued to lend his support to art education programs from high school through the college level. |
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Terrill's originals hang in private collections throughout the nation. Collectors of originals also include many of the Midwest's major corporations, such as Miller Brewing, Pabst Farms, State Farm Insurance, ABC Supply, Powercom, Advance Products and Century Telephone to name a few. Terrill has produced many paintings and limited edition prints for Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and Wings Over Wisconsin as the "Artist of the Year" for these conservation organizations. Over 60 limited edition prints and canvas reproductions have been published. The majority of limited edition prints are sold out editions.
An active environmentalist, Terrill has been involved in the North Woods Wildlife Center, the International Crane Foundation, Marsh Haven Nature Center, the Seippel Homestead and Center for the Arts, and the Department of Natural Resources-Beaver Dam Lake Management Alliance and the Beaver Dam River Priority Watershed.
Terrill is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, where he teaches painting, photography, and a course he developed, which explores the unity of art and science. Terrill continues to paint at his studio and in the field. He has added new dimensions to his work by concentrating on plein aire paintings and larger landscapes that explore the spirtual reality of nature. In additon, he has added large format photography to his portfolio.
In 2008, ten of Terrill's pieces were selected for the Wisconsin Veterans Administration Chapel at Boland Hall in Union Grove. He received the People's Choice Award at the Francis Hardy Center for the Arts in Door County and had a painting juried into the Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape and Exteriors Art Competition in Kimberly, WI. Two other paintings received "meritorious entry" status. One of Terrill's photographs was juried into the Wisconsin Waters Photography Show at the Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus. In addition, a one-man show of Terrill's photography was on display at the Bradley Memorial Center on the UW-Madison campus through January 2009.
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