I was born and raised in southern California.  I always wanted to be an artist.  My early influences were my parents who liked to camp in the Sierras and to garden and my grandmother who had a curious and childlike interest in birds, green growing things and bits and pieces of stuff  from nature.

I received a formal education in art from Cal State Fullerton, graduating with a B.A. in Fine Arts - studio emphasis in painting and drawing.  I studied with Leo Robinson and Don Lagerberg.  I also studied with Bettye Saar and Karen Carson at Cal State Northridge.

For several years I then worked for the U.S. Forest Service in the Los Padres National Forest out of the Chuchupate Ranger Station.  I rode horseback with pack mules as a back country patrol person, manned the Thorne Point Fire Look-Out Tower and lived in the back country for one season enjoying kerosene lantern light and wood stove cooking.

After receiving a California State Teaching Credential I taught art in high school.  I continued teaching but in Special Education after receiving a Masters degree in Special Education.  During this time I started exhibiting at various galleries in the Los Angeles area and the Central Coast of California. I have had solo shows at Orlando Gallery in Tarzana, California, Village Square Gallery in Montrose, California, Aquarius Gallery in Cambria, California and Wailoa Art Center in Hilo, Hawaii.  This year I was selected with 11 other artists for the WALLWORKS show at the Brewery Annex, for LA Artcore's 20th annual juried competition.

I am past President of Women Painters West (founded in 1921) and currently co-chairing Programs for WPW.  I am also on the Board of Directors of VIVA gallery in Northridge, California.

Teri L. Garcia