NEWS

TERRY STEVENS

 

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Terry Stevens loved music from an early age and began playing the drums at the age of twelve. The rhythmic impulse intensified, and at twenty Terry left to study music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating, he played with the Boston Jazz Sextet for a summer in Amsterdam and continued to play the drums professionally for many years. Upon returning to Toronto he met Kenneth G. Mills, who became his mentor. Much to Terry's surprise, Dr. Mills showed him that he could sing, and gave him extensive instruction on how to sing with an open voice.

 

"One of the basic premises that Dr. Mills taught me when I first came to study his Unfoldments was that you don't have to understand something in order to experience it. If you can accept a concept or idea, the experience is available. The practical application of this came during my first vocal lesson with him when I had to accept the idea of singing although I never knew I could sing. By my following his instructions without thinking, he showed me that I had a huge bass voice. It was a great surprise to me!"

 

Terry continued his musical journey vocally, singing bass with the Star-Scape Singers on seven tours across Europe and North America. He sang with the group under Maestro Mills' conductorship, performing at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Roy Thomson Hall, and Radio Vatican in Rome. Terry's bass tones are featured on all of the Star-Scape recordings.

 

Kenneth Mills not only mentored Terry musically but also encouraged him in a new venture by offering the walls of his own home as a means of developing a career in faux and specialty paint finishes. Terry recalls a life-changing moment:

 

"I was in Dr. Mills' studio one day, painting a fireplace surround, while he was sketching out a large flower on canvas at his easel. He suddenly said, 'Terry, put down your brush and roller and watch this. You will be able to use it in your artwork.' I was perplexed because I had never painted anything on canvas. Dr. Mills always had an innate ability to see your talents before you did."

 

Now the rhythm, harmony, and melody of music have continued on a different palette of expression. Terry's talent in faux and specialty paint finishes broadened to include fine-art painting. The influence of music and world travels is reflected in his love of colour, texture, and varied styles of painting. His travels to New Brunswick and Georgian Bay as well as his love of nature can be seen in his work.

 

He has recently moved to Ottawa to pursue his successful career in faux finishes and has established a home studio, Studio on King, for his fine-art painting.

 

Terry has shown at Art Square Gallery (Toronto), Skylark Gallery and D-Fine Art (Bolton), Art in the Park (Ottawa), and in Kleinburg Art Walk, and his work is featured in several private collections.

 

 

Click here to view more of Terry Stevens' work at www.studioonking.org.