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Iowa Artist

Animal portraits by Terrinye Goetz

3/6/2024

A smiling alpaca. A towering giraffe. A black and white zebra. These animals find their portraits on Terrinye Goetz’s paintings, framed prints and cards. 

Goetz gives the impression of a seasoned artist; however, her art career started late in life five years ago after taking an art class in Florida. Her instructor, a well-known artist, asked to buy one of her pieces. She was surprised, yet it gave her the confidence to pursue her art work. 

“I’m a little late to the art world,” she admits. 

She painted pictures of beach scenes, selling them to a woman in her condo unit in Florida. “It really lit a spark for me. I told her thank you for helping supply my art supplies,” she says. 

She continued her art journey in Iowa. When Mainframe Studios opened more studios, she and her adult children pondered a joint venue for their artistic talents. Last year, the trio established a shared studio which includes Terrinye; her daughter, Toree Goetz, who is in fashion and design; and her son, Thomas Goetz, who is a multidisciplinary artist focused on painting and sculpture. 

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The three creatives bounce ideas off one another. 

“The kids come here in the evenings. It’s a wonderful family thing. My son and I sat down to write out goals for the year. It’s easy to get into an artistic mode being here,” she reflects. 

She says Mainframe is supportive of its tenants. 

“They’ve got workshops and topics, such as copyright and pricing,” she explains. “It really helps me to stay motivated.”

Goetz has been involved in artistic ventures since early on. She painted murals on bedroom walls and the business snowballed as other friends requested murals. She launched a popular Christmas card line 30 years ago, which combines digital elements with her own artwork.

For her animal paintings, she gets inspiration from watching the National Geographic Channel, viewing photos of animals, and visiting farms and zoos. “I really want to get it right to observe nature live. Some people know if you put something wrong on a painting,” she says.

To stay on task, she develops four pieces a month, drawing them first, then building up the base. She’ll begin another one, and, if all goes well, she’ll continue painting, put it aside and come back to it later. 

“Sometimes you get too close to it,” she says. “When I’m done, I sign it and don’t touch it again. Signing is huge — it means I’m done.”

Goetz attends various art shows and says she feels blessed she doesn’t have the “extreme pressure” of constant selling of her artwork. 

“I want success, but there’s a happy medium.”

Her motto, “Sing your song,” appears on numerous prints and is her mantra to continue her journey.

“I was hesitant to begin a new career. One morning I woke up and thought, ‘Sing your song. Just do it.’ My daughter pointed out, ‘When you’re singing, you’re happy.’ ”

When painting, Goetz forgets about the mundane. 

“The world goes away. You get busy checking off boxes. In the middle of painting, I’m not thinking about tomorrow,” she reflects. “I’m in my happy place.” ♦

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