Artist living his dream

ART has allowed Terry Jarvis to travel the world and his travels, in turn, have become his art.

From his own backyard here in Bendigo to the villages of the UK to the hills of Tuscany his pieces document his journey’s across the globe.

All over the world is also where you will find his art, with his trademark watercolour landscapes on display in collections found in Italy, the USA, Finland and more.

It took some time for Jarvis to commit to the life of an artist however, after advice from his father in his early days set him on his path.

“My dad said to me ‘You’ll never make a living out of this son’,” he said. “So, I went into timber and hardware and eventually managed hardware stores, but I painted all the way through.

“I then decided one day, even though it was scary, to go full-time with my art because I was making more money out of painting than I was out of managing.”

It was the best decision he could have made Jarvis said, having become both a renowned painter and teacher.

“For the last 30 years, I have been traveling around the world,” he said.  “This year we are in the Greek Islands, next year it’s France, followed by Italy up in the mountains where Raphael was born.

“It’s really turned into a dream come true. I remember as a little boy thinking about how amazing and incredible all these places were and now, I have got to see so many of them.

“I am living the dream but it certainly hasn’t been without hard work and effort.”

Though his art has taken him around the world Jarvis said he still enters the Bendigo Rotary Easter Art Show every chance he gets.

“I think I have been exhibiting with Bendigo Rotary for 40 years or more,” he said.

“I have judged as well as exhibited and been lucky enough to win a few prizes in my years. But it has always been one of the most wonderful exhibitions in Australia.”

Jarvis’ works will be on exhibit again this year and are sure to be a highlight of the show with the chance to purchase your own to hang at home.

With so much experience, Jarvis said his life journey will be the feature of his exhibits again this year.

“I’ll have paintings that feature Bendigo, the Greek Islands and Tuscany,” he said.

“They tell the story of who I am and what I am and I have projected that into the exhibition from my perspective.”