I grew up in Florida and here in the later part of my life I find myself in a colder part of the country -- Minnesota.  

The outdoors is a huge part of living here.  This lake I have painted represents just that -- 'life'.  You see, right now as we are having temps in the negative teens and twenties, the lake is frozen up.  Other times, gray skies hover the lake.  Whether the lake is reflective of dusk settling into evening, as I have depicted here, or a rainy day, foggy morning, or frozen tundra -- Life constantly surrounds the lake.  Fish thrive -- the holes in the ice affirm this as, even in the midst of winter, people take home catches.  My message in this painting is simple -- it's not always about a temporary beauty.  No, it's about the 'life' that renders the real beauty within.  Eventually those grey skies clear, the rain dries up, the sun melts the ice and once again the magnificence of life reveals itself -- but the truth is -- it is always there.  We just have to be patient while that life-keeping body of water gets through its cycle.  That is my thought going into 2018. 

On a very personal note, I have a lifetime friend I would like to dedicate this painting to.  Her name is Juli.  Juli -- I love you.  Be patient -- life isn't finished, it's preparing to render another beautiful day -- just like you.

Home -- it's where everyone wants to be; especially at Christmas.  This is my Christmas Painting for 2017.  Unlike any other year in my life, this Christmas has so many significant milestones.  New beginnings and many endings.  The light in this painting depicts the warmth in my heart, the love I have for my family.  Those lights were turned on again when I recently went through some difficult dark times.  And now, I have new hope for a future.  New love discovered has created a walkway to warmth, acceptance and an end to regret.  This Christmas, the gift I have already received -- I pass on through this painting, to each of you.  Above all things in life, love is the absolute only thing that fixes everything.  This is something I hope everyone can discover, if they have not already.  It is all I ever want for the remainder of my life.  It is all I ever need. 

To my wife, Vanessa:  I finished this on our 16th anniversary.  I dedicate this painting to you baby.  You turn on every light in my life and the warmth of that light beams love -- just like you do.  I love you.

Merry Christmas to everyone.  God's speed and Be Well!

- TmagiK

It is getting cold here and made me want to paint something that depicts warmth.  This Snow Fox is a perfect example of one of God's creatures that thrive in elements that are otherwise miserable for others.  Today, I went out shopping with my wife.  It began to snow.  I was not prepared.  She even commented about how I should have worn something warmer.  I thought about my subject this month and how God prepares them for the elements.  He has done the same for me in my life.  I am entering the 'winter' of my life, yet I have more warmth now than ever.  Like the love God gives to all His creation, He has not left me out in the cold. 

TmaGiK-nation

I am submiting my recent painting of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse as an ad hoc featured art.  I completed it this week after doodling around (helps me think)...decided to finish the sketch and what you see here is my finished result.  Not perfect...but I am not Walt.  :-) While doing this I realized my own kids may have never known where I coined my artistic name TmagiK.  It started with my fascination with art and Walt Disney's many wonderful creations.  Mickey was special to me because of Mr. Disney's message about never giving up.  After all, his Mickey Mouse was created on a train while doodling on scratch paper.   The purpose of that trip was making his way to New York to deal with his then bankrupt art company.  Yet in his scratch paper stack was what found him fortune and changed the world for so many; myself included.  It was Mickey's words, "Use your imagination!" that inspired me.  Therefore when I decided to created an artistic name for myself, I took my First, Middle, and Last name initials (TGK from Terry G. Kuder Jr.)...and suddenly saw TmaGiK...hence TmagiK Art!  I have never really spent much time with cartoon-type art, but have always loved recreating Walt's Mickey, if nothing else, a way to tip my 'hat' and say, "Thank you for the inspiration, Mr. Disney!"  Not only in art, but in life, I have been able to keep that spark of hope alive.  Simple, but true.  And so I pass this on to my family, my friends, and to those of you I may never meet -- never give up and when given the choice, it is always better to Inspire, than be admired.  Take care and be well. 

TmagiK out.

Terry G. Kuder Jr.

'TmagiK'

Secret Signature

A quick word about my “secret signature” — because of my inspiration I described in the paragraphs above, in some of my paintings I insert the Mickey Mouse symbol °o°  — I blend it in to the painting somewhere.  It could be a part of the background, or maybe part of the painting.  For the record, this has nothing to do with the Disney Corporation and besides, I do not sell my art.  It is a ‘nod’ to my favorite artist of all time and his creation Mickey Mouse.  I do this as kind of a watermark to denote that although I may use a ‘model’, it is MY work.  

See if you can find that secret signature.  Drop me a line anytime at [email protected].  

My inspiration for this painting was a documentary on Netflix about a Cheetah and her cubs.  Again, it was her eyes that captured me.  This Cheetah had 5 cubs.  The statistics are that only 1 out of 5 cubs survive to adulthood.  As babies their main predator is the African Hyenna; an aggressive and vicious wild dog.  This Cheetah did lose 2 of her cubs to the Hyennas. However, she successfully raised the other 3 to adulthood, beating all the odds.  And they grew up to take care and protect their Mama!  But what I really wanted to capture was the multidimensionality of the expression in her eyes.  I see fierce determination, sincere loyalty to her family, and unconditional love.  All these values are the mark of any outstanding mother.  How wonderful to see this in then wild.  So, the human race could learn a thing or from God's beautiful creation. 

I am pretty certain this painting is autobiographical.  Yes, I wear my heart on my sleeve.  The dog looking through the fence  belonged to our family's  neighbor.  Unfortunately, these folks paid little attention to this guy. He was very aggressive to the point we had to call Animal Control.  Just as this painting reveals, he had tore a hole in the fence trying to get to us. We were afraid if he got through, he'd hurt us. And then when we were not paying attention, we would look over at the fence and there he would be; almost as if he was saying, "Love Me".  Eventually, they moved and we never saw him again, but we think of him often; especially of late.

When I completed this a few months ago, I had no idea the personal significance it would be once I finally released it. The past few years, and especially the past 45 days has probably been the most difficult times of my life. There have been days where I hoped I could just cease to exist. When I finally picked up my art tablet today I realized my painting of this magnificent bear sums up the many life-changing events I have been forced to face.  Like any normal person walking through the 'woods', no one would intentionally seek out a bear. But if one does, what do they do?  Well, simply face it and utter the words "Yo Bear!".  I am still facing that bear, but not alone.  First, God has been with me.  My friends and family have helped me more than they know.  AND today a person I have never known showed up at my door and helped me face yet another 'bear'.  So I dedicate this powerful painting to all of them. Dante, Janet, Juli, Chris, Cilla, Julie B.,Irma, Pam S., Terry III, Corey, Rosie, Jon, Derek, Maddie, Robert, Renee S., Ross, Teri W, Tim H, Candy, Josh, Nathan, Marci, Rene M, Christine, Ron, and Ron E., Kathy, Andrea, Barbara, Shayla, Max, Cheryl, Allison A....and Bob, whom I met today. If I have missed any, I'll come back and edit. But you all are my SuperFriends!  And on a final but very important note...to Vanessa who is facing an equally vicious 'bear'...I pray for you every moment I can. I have and always will love you.  Thank you all.

Take care, Be well.

- TmagiK

Everyone needs a place like what I've depicted here.  When I painted this, many things were on my mind.  Loss was one.  I have lost so many loved ones in my fifty-plus years of life.  The bench represents that loss here.  However, the tree and it's strengthened roots reminds me to stay strong and keep 'grounded' in the lessons learned from those that have passed on.  And finally, although the sun may seem to be setting, it really depends on one's perspective.  To me, not only is the sun rising, it's beams of light wrap around the tree as promise of new life beckons. For I believe that for every loss, there is always -- always, a gain.

I could not resist doing this painting.  Raccoons take me back to my childhood where my and I raised several 'coons'.  I was about 5 years old when we had one named "Nosey".  Years later in my teens we had another named "Coony Bug".   I used to walk Coony Bug on a leash when I would go places.  One day, I went to a 7-11 convenience store.  As usual, people would gather 'round the spectacle of a teen with a coon.  This particular summer day, a lady came up to me.  She had a giant cherry icey in her hand.  She asked, "May I give your raccoon some of my icey?"  I had no sooner answered and Coony Bug ripped the icey out of her hand, and stuck his entire head into her icey, then tilted it up and completed engulfed it.  The look on her face was priceless, because what I was about to answer, was "no, ma'am, he will want the whole thing."

This month, I am highlighting a painting that I did for someone that I do not know.  They had come across my site and saw the painting I did called "The Lurker".  They asked me to paint a White Siberian Tiger.  This person went on to tell me that her husband had recently passed away and this was his "spirit animal".  Well, there was no way I was not going to fulfill this request.  The rest of the story was details about her husband and how much he loved her and how his passing was sudden and unexpected.  My delivery of this tiger was met with positive responses.  I have no idea where in the world this person is, but their story was one of great love, compassion, and an eduring 'spirit' -- one befitting of the awesome White Siberian Tiger; a creature onlly God could create. 

I cannot think of a better way to welcome 2017 than with this painting,  named "Top of the Heap".

I really enjoyed painting the black lion.  The black lion is really more of a mythical creature although some contend that they have seen one or two out there.   Although the draw for me as an artist is one of intrigue. For this lion's domain is a built-in 'Camelot',  in which,  by default,  he rules. The challenge in this painting was what to bring to fruition the idea of a magnificent creature with outstanding qualities onto the digital canvas.  My wife suggested the background and I am so happy she did. Previously I had him set up on a rock with a blues sky and the normal African terrain. It was nice,  but this is so much better. The colors represented in the dusk of an African landscape are some of my favorite hues. The feeling where the mood that is behind this painting