My mother, Canadian artist Terry Fishman, was born in Montreal on January 29, 1953. In 2016, her life took an unexpected turn when she took her first art class with artist and gallery owner Nedia El Khouri of the Viva Vida Art Gallery in Pointe Claire. After retiring from a fulfilling thirty-three-year career as a social counsellor at the Jewish General Hospital, she decided to challenge herself by learning to draw and paint. It was a decision rooted in her desire to keep her mind active and her life vibrant.
As an artist, she is deeply drawn to painting her memories, using art as a way to express the emotions that have shaped her at different stages of her life. Whether expressing joy, sadness, or grief, her work is a reflection of the range of emotions she has experienced. Over the past eight years, her style has evolved into abstract painting, often featuring whimsical nature and floral themes. If you look closely, you’ll often find little critters hidden somewhere within the canvas—a signature touch that adds charm and personality to her work.
She is a prolific painter, and her preferred medium is acrylics, with watercolour coming in as a close second.
-Written by Mitchell Fishman, son
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What do you do?
In 2012, I took early retirement from being a social counsellor at The Jewish General Hospital for over 35 years. I worked in Palliative care, Geriatrics and Stroke Team. I discovered I could paint after taking courses with at Viva Vida Art Gallery. Yeah !!!!!! I’m a visual artist and I love it.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just completed a medium-sized abstract landscape series based on my own photo inspiration from my most recent retreat at the cottage on the Rivière Maskinonge. Along with these works, I added several more small bird paintings. They are my babies, as I develop such character in their faces, I love them. They will all be shown at an upcoming mid-June Spring Exhibit in the Dollard Civic Centre.
Where can we find you?
You can see some of my works on the AIM webpage, as well as the Dollard Artists Association website. On social media, I am on Instagram and on Facebook.
You’re always welcome to contact me and come up to my home studio where my walls are covered in my memories and love of nature.
