J. TERRY BENSON
J. Terry Benson grew up in the agricultural central valley of California.
As a young man, Terry was drawn to creative arts and excelled in his classes in architectural drafting, drawing and painting in a variety of mediums. His first award came as a result of entering an abstract oil painting into the Tulare County Fair Art Exhibit.
During his college years, Terry demonstrated a proficiency in pencil portraiture and earned money drawing portraits for coworkers. He responded to the popular “Draw Me” art training advertisements found in magazines at the time and enlisted, gaining valuable insights across mediums through his course work. He was often called upon to create community event posters complete with lettering and illustrations.
His creative endeavors led him to a long career at Mattel Toys in Hawthorne, California. At Mattel, Terry was first a Draftsman, then a Project Engineer and eventually an Engineering Manager, all while collaborating closely alongside specialists in various fields to produce toys from concept to manufactured reality. His work at Mattel resulted in the debut of HeMan’s Dragon Walker; Big Jim’s Eagle; BJ’s Giant Clam; Pulsar the Ultimate Man of Adventure and his adversary Hypnos. Teach & Learn Computer; See n Say Talking Learning System, the Bee Gee’s Rhythm Machine and many others. Exposure to coworkers in several art fields from illustration and painting to sculpting helped him further appreciate the creative process and how it affects the viewer or user.
Terry paints with the viewer in mind, seeking to create a piece that is not only aesthetically pleasing but allows the viewer to appreciate the process behind the work. In retirement, Terry draws inspiration from nature and has been able to focus on painting more with acrylics and watercolor, with multiple pieces available to show.
Terry’s creative influence within his own family resulted in six children who have followed his example, successfully creating in diverse artistic mediums.
When Terry is not actively painting, he enjoys gardening, nature documentaries and chess. He currently resides in Twin Falls, Idaho.
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