It has been over twenty years since my wife and I first traveled the back roads of Ireland. Each trip brought a fuller appreciation of its beauty and charm. The landscapes of Ireland vary in mood and drama illustrated by the pure works of nature – wild animals, birds, plants, mountains, valleys, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, bogs, rocks, and stone formations. All of which takes on a spiritual effect with the ever-changing weather - wind, rain, clouds, snow, sunshine, sunbeams, and rainbows. The landscapes are embellished further by the works of man - villages, farms, castles, demesnes, ruins, walls, pastures, fields, harbors, domesticated animals, factories, bridges, sporting venues and most intriguing of all, the thousands of prehistoric graves and monuments collectively referred to as antiquities. The landscapes are intensely attractive and active with people, machines and animals moving about even on rainy days. To the artist’s eye the landscapes are captivating.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, raised in Sacramento, California, maturing in Marin, 40 years in Larkspur, the artist first visited Ireland when his mother said he was Irish. The beauty of Ireland inspired him to paint and write poetry to capture his feelings.
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A computer system-software-expert, he participated in the development of one of the world’s first on-line business transaction processing systems, operating from the late 1960’s until April of 2006. Similar software platforms enabled the credit card and ATM technology. Retired, the computer executive and consultant devotes his time to traveling, painting and writing. Drawing since he was a young boy, the artist is self taught. A degree in history provides a keen sense of what he sees. Look for “Adventures in Ireland” due out soon.

Philip Terry’s book “Paintings and Poems of Ireland” is an illustration of one man’s passion. While traveling through Ireland he could not help but to be moved by the landscapes. After many trips he has recorded for us his exquisite view of what he has seen and felt. The work is unique in that he is the artist and the poet as well as the publisher. This book is a rare find in today’s world of corporate book publishing. I found it a very enjoyable read, as I took the trip with the author and artist, one page at a time.

Richard J Wells

Philip A. Terry
82 Diane Lane
Larkspur, CA, 94939 USA

E-mail: pa2terry@comcast.net
Website: www.philipterry.com
Phone: (415) 924-5957