Meet Teresa E. Green

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa E. Green.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been taking photos for a while now (whispers since HS). I’m the “family photographer”. I didn’t jump into the digital age right away when it came out. My first digital ‘camera’ was a red Nikon Coolpix L110. I joined the Meetup group Glendale Photography. Everyone had full DLSRs and I had this handheld point and shoot camera. Yeah, I felt left out of all the fun. I got a good piece of advice from one of them – he told me to work on getting my shooting ratio up. I was shooting 30 shots and only three would be good. I turned it around so that I have 10- 15 good shots out of those 30.

From there, I moved up to the D3300 and continued to shoot. I found the Burbank Art Association (BAA) in 2016 and the old thoughts of where I could go with this came back. Joined the Board of Directors as Programs Chair and entered my photos in a few of their exhibits within the Association. At the BAA Fall show, I placed second in the Photography Division with “Mr. Pu-erh Tea.”

I had a solo exhibit in March of 2017 called “Eye of the Beholder” featuring 25 photographs and their backstories. Finding I had plenty of support with that show, I continued to photograph things around me. However, in the Fall of 2017, I had fallen very ill.

For eight months, I had to sit on the sidelines – getting tests done – getting a diagnosis to remission. I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called ITP or Immune/Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. I did worry if I had lost my talents, and would I be able to hold a camera again or not at all. It was tough for me to be sidelined – I had a momentum going and then down to zero.

Around August 2018, I felt I was strong enough to pick up my camera again. It was starts and stops for a bit. I showed a few photographs at AlkebuLan Cultural Center Pasadena in August. I entered the BAA Fall Show that November, and I won 3rd Place in the Open Division with a photo titled “Poised.” I moved up again in cameras with a D7200 I got as a gift for Christmas.

A fellow photographic artist suggested I try submitting my work at a local gallery, La Galeria Gitana, in San Fernando. By February 2019, I was going to be in four different exhibits in the next few months. While I didn’t win an award in the BAA Spring Show, in the Fall show, I won First Place in the Photography Division with “Grace.”

On January 1, 2020, I shot the Burbank Tournament of Rose float “Rise Up” at the Pasadena Rose Parade. A first for me – being in the official news-press/photographic area in Tower Two. Those photos can be found on their website under History for “Rise Up”.

Please tell us about your art.
I’ve never been one for making people pose a certain way in my photos. It has always been an environmental, candid, event, travel, wildlife, vehicles, nature, and street type of photography. I rarely shoot black and white, but when given the challenge for the BAA Board’s show in January 2020, I rose to the occasion and shot them. I walked along a street right after we had rain and I captured photos of fallen leaves on the ground. And yes, I did shoot color right along side the black and white.

The horizon may not be at the right angle in some of my photos and others may be tempted to correct it. If I’m at events, I try to shoot a series of three to four shots to show something that is going on at the event. I like capturing dancers with their fluid movements and bands playing their instruments. They both show so much emotion when doing their craft.

Right now, my animal of choice is the butterfly. I’ve been to several different butterfly sites. Yes, it does mean running around after them sometimes, but standing still and watching where they fly, I’ve found some of their hidden spaces.

When I go out on day trips with others or by myself, I call them Adventures. I use that word because it always ends up that way – shooting something that I’ve never seen before and explored the angles and light that’s all around. Desert X ’17, Desert X ’19, Bagdad Cafe, Muir Woods, Ondo at Nisei Week Japanese Festival, LA Tea Festival(s), Alcatraz, Anza Borrego Desert State Park… Are a few of the places I’ve been in the last five years.

If, by chance, I repeat an event, I try to focus on something different each year/time. For example, at a car show one year, it will be seat belts. The next would be hood ornaments or the color green.

Nature is my favorite – never ceases to amaze me what Ma Nature can do. Hiking is good for the soul and I miss it dearly. I am still trying to get back up to my hike mode. Rather than keep trying to find the perfect light, I’ve just accepted that view is useful in any format. You just have to know how to use it.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I consider success when I accomplish a goal that I have in mind. Sometimes even when I failed at it. I am accepting the good things that come my way with an open mind, grace and humility. I encourage you, the artist, to share your artwork with others and accept that not all will see things your way. My next goals are: I’m working on updating my website to showcase my photos and work on the Instagram page, creating calendars for the year 2021 and 2022, and photo-book(s) Finding a site in which to sell my artwork.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
“Hidden Jewels” Exhibit

Betsy Lueke Creative Art Center
1100 West Clark Ave,
Burbank, CA 91506

Show Dates: February 7th – 27th, 2020
Opening reception: Friday, February 7th, 2020
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

Gallery Hours: Mon – Thu: 9 am – 9 pm; Fri 9 am – 7 pm
Sat: 9 am 1 pm; Closed Sunday

“Feathers, Petals, & Wings”

Geo Gallery
1545 Victory Blvd,
Glendale, CA 91201

Show Dates: March 2nd – 27th, 2020
Artists’ Reception: Saturday, March 7th, 2020
Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 5 pm

“Under and Above the Sea: A Way of Life Worth Protecting”

La Galeria Gitana

120 N. Maclay Ave Suite E
(Behind Manzanitas & between City Hall)
San Fernando, CA 91340

Exhibit run March 21, 2020–May 1, 2020
Opening Reception with the artists Saturday, March 21, 6:00-9:00 pm
Regular Hours: Tue 12-6, Wed-Sat 12-4
or by Appt

Burbank Tournament of Roses Association – Pasadena Rose Parade photos can be found on their website under History for “Rise Up” – Parade Day Photos and Post Parade Photos. http://burbankrosefloat.com/history/history.html

Contact Info:

• Email: tegshse@gmail.com
• Instagram: tegsys_adventure

Image Credit:
Photo of me sitting with flowers – by Jeri Lynn Grover
Photos of me at Bagdad Cafe and with my camera – by Helena Bowman
all others are by Teresa E. Green
“Hidden”
“Angle on Things”
“Treasure in the Trunk”
“Grace”
“Mirror House”
“Poised”
“One”
“Bend – Super Bloom”

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