Terry Widener

Growing up in a small town in Oklahoma, Terry Widener walked to the movies nearly everyday during the summers, sometimes seeing the same movie three or four times. Once home, he’d draw pictures from scenes of his favorite adventure films, such as, Jason and the Argonauts, Journey to the Center of the Earth, or The Time Machine

Book reports in grade school always included at least one illustration and in after school art lessons his art teacher, Mrs. Homer, taught him the fundamentals of drawing and painting. It was during these lessons he discovered what would one day become his life’s work, making pictures for children.

In high school and college he divided his time between art classes and playing on the school’s golf teams. After earning a BFA in graphic design at the University of Tulsa, he had the choice of becoming an art director at an ad agency or an assistant golf pro at a golf course. He took the art job because it paid fifty-dollars more a month.

After moving to Texas in 1980, Terry began his illustration career. For the next fifteen years he worked with editorial, advertising and corporate clients. Then in 1996 he was asked to illustrate a picture book.

His first picture book, Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man by David A. Adler, published by Harcourt, received a number of awards including a Boston Globe – Horn Book Honor Book.

He has since illustrated over 30 books. Many of these books have been recognized on state reading lists, ABA, SCBWI, ALA, and a number of Best Book lists.

In March 2014, The Streak by Barb Rosenstock, published by Calkins Creek was released. Two books were released in 2013; You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! by Jonah Winter, published by Schwartz & Wade / Random House and The Kite That Bridged Two Nations by Alexis O’Neill, published by Calkins Creek.

To be released: Fall of 2016, My Name is James Madison Hemings by Jonah Winter, published by Schwartz & Wade / Random House.

Terry’s work is included in the collections of National and International Corporations. His artwork is also a part of the Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books at the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio).

Terry’s work has appeared in the Society of Illustrators #’s 26,27,29,30,31,33 annual exhibitions and The Society of Illustrators Original Art exhibitions in 1997, 1999 and 2005. His work was also selected for the Communication Arts Illustration Annuals in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and1991.