Meet Teri Shagoury | Artist and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teri Shagoury and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teri, how do you think about risk?
Growing up in my family I think the guiding rule was “play it safe.” It seems we always lived in between two lines: this is how it’s been done and this is what we will do again. We never went too far out of those expectations–We drove on the same highways, we visited the same people, we did not venture in a new directions to explore, just to see what’s there. I was always curious about other places, people from other places fascinated me–I asked them a lot of questions. I think I wanted to get an idea what was their “normal” and how it would be to live in another place. I took a trip to Europe and Russia during university, and afterwards met my husband who turned out to be Syrian. When he sent me a ticket, I jumped on a plane to the middle East. I think I am an explorer in a way and fascinated with other cultures. Looking back I never considered myself a risk taker–but find I was willing to risk in order to learn. Some times I feel I am cautious, but at other times I seem to know instinctively that taking a risk might be worth it. I thought I was being calculating and counting the cost when the idea of having an art business came to mind. I did not even call it business–but “sellling my art”. I have been on a steep learning curve for the last several years because all the different aspects of having and promoting a business were totally new to me. I had been a teacher in an international school for many years and that sheltered me from learning business strategies and I never thought I would have a business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art has always been part of my life since I could hold a crayon. I liked to set challenges for myself like coloring exactly in the lines or copyng an illustration of a person in the biographies I liked to read. I took art in highschool for my fun elective and felt since I had always done art, there was no reason to major in it at university. By the second year I decided to make studio art my major. I was fortunate to have Wayne Theibaud as my professor and that totally inspired me to keep working to get better. I also greatly benefited from having William T. Wiley as an influence as well.

I also studied Russian, which led me to discover Icons on a trip to Moscow, which had an influence on my imagery later on in my work. I saw a lot of European art at the Hermitage, which I loved and I realized that the art on slides and in art books could never capture the scale, color and brush work of the actual drawing or painting. I soaked it in, but had little idea of what would influence me except I seemed to feel at home around art and I always aspired to keep learning. Even today, I am always learning and I never settle for just what I know, especially if new technique might communicate in idea or a mood better than what I already know.

A few years later I went to live in Syria, which was full of historic artifacts and sites from many eras. Texture became more interesting to study, but I was a full time teacher at the American school and my painting time was for myself to keep learning. While I was there I became a Christian in Damascus and that actually affected my art. One night I heard a voice that said “give me your art talent” I didn’t understand what was going on, and then I heard it again. Once I realized it was God asking me I agreed, after a little emotional struggle because I thought my art was just a part of me, not something that could be used.

After that I sought different imagery and kept working but it was frustrating. After the troubles broke out in the Middle East and Syria we decided to move back to California. Well, I discovered you tube videos and all the art making going on and people explaining their techniques and I was crazy excited and what ever material or product they mentioned I bought it and tried new ways of making art, art journaling, mixed media, all sorts of textures and new kinds of paint. I was frankly overwhelmed, but I kept working to find my voice that would coincide with what I thought God wanted me to paint. I was working in a little studio in Santa Ana and in total isoloation. I created a domain name Whispering Truth which is my business name now.

I just kept creating and responding to Scripture finding a few artists whose work seemed to give me permision not to be so literal with interpreting the truth I found in the Bible. One Lent I decided to make a painting a day for forty days. Looking back, I think that was a very pivotal time for me because I felt that I found a voice that was mine and authentic.

Soon after that we moved to Lake Forest and one thing led to another and I discovered an art ministry at Saddleback Church. Before I was always working in isolation. To discover other artists trying to work in the same direction was a total shock for me! Having a community was a very new experience for me.

I’m happy that a lot of my early struggles were with myself learning to collaborate with the Spirit in the process of creation. Once I had that, finding a community with like minded creators that has helped me feel more confident.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first place would be to take them to church! We could go to Newport Beach and walk around, visit Laguna Beach and to tell the truth spend time at my house on a little lake, ride on the boat and just chill out.

I also like to walk around San Jaun Capistrano and invite some friends over so they’s get a sense of my life here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One book that really helped me in thinking abut my art is The Artist’s Rule by Christine Valters Paintner. My copy has so many penciled comments, underlines, notes and stars. I found her excercises helpful and worth sharing. Every time I read it more truth jumps out. I would advise anyone on an Art /Faith journey to read it.

Website: https://www.terishagouryart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teri.shagoury/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-shagoury-47445a27/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whisperingtruth/

Image Credits
Jenny Hopkins