Terri Hallman

Terri Hallman is an artist who creates many layers in her work but makes it look deceptively simple. She uses dry pigment and tape to create her textures and layers.

Terri Hallman was born in a small town in Wisconsin in 1962. Hallman had a childhood fascination with the shape of things, reproducing them and then recreating their surfaces. She recalls that drawing was a continuous part of her daily routine. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in design from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design which she attended from 1986 until 1992. Hallman worked in the design field from 1987 until 1991, winning two International awards for Packaging Design What is so special about Hallman’s abstract works is that at first they seem primitive, her subjects are simple. Yet upon further observation there are layers of depth and emotion. Her colors are remarkable in that they are super-saturated, and there is a curious textural quality in her pieces that is uncommon.

Most impressive about Hallman’s work, however, is the unusual and laborious technique she employs to achieve all these results. The artist begins by using dry pigments (in a powder form) and applies the pure and rich tones to paper. When she is satisfied with the layout of colors, she sprays a clear acrylic which sets the pigments in place. She then applies multiple layers of pigment, masking off different areas with tape, applying pressure with her hands; no brushes are used. Then, she scrapes away selected areas revealing previous layers and all tape is removed. At this juncture, Hallman assesses the work.

In some instances she applies acrylic mediums, using the masking off and tearing away technique. She continues this procedure until the desired effect is achieved. The next step, if the artist chooses, is to apply thin color washes and/or combinations of oil mixed with dry pigment on the top surfaces. In all her pieces, Hallman uses a combination of the methods described above; applying colors in layers and scraping away until the piece "reaches maturity"

Terri Hallman’s art is unique. She thinks each of her creations is in a state of constant movement and transformation; always beginning by drawing abstract lines and building up the piece in layers, which develops into a more "realistic" creation. Hallman feels that the layers represent "the way things were", and the building up process to completion is "the way things are."

Hallman is an extraordinarily driven and innovative artist. There is a constant audience for her work that keeps her busy creating full-time. Her work is widely collected and featured in galleries throughout Canada, Great Britain, and the USA.