The Mind of Mason

Local Artist to Showcase Pieces at Gaslight Festival

Writer  /  Heather Chastain

Take a tour in the mind of Mason. Terrance Mason, local artist. A man filled with passion and artistic ingenuity.

A private man who doesn’t want to reveal too much about his personal life, Mason says his art is an expression of his individuality.

“I’ve been an artist my entire life, but I became a full-time artist in 2010 after a back injury kept me from staying in my current job,” Mason says.

As a child, he first found his love for drawing after an exercise his dad created.

“My father drew half a Superman and challenged me to do the other side,” he recalls. “Then I got into high school and took up painting.”

Mason says art has also been therapeutic for him.

“My back injury, surgeries and treatments sidelined me from my job,” he says. “But I am not one to sit idle for long. I decided to pursue a lifelong dream, and that dream was to express myself through my art and to one day step out of my comfort zone and show the world. It started when I decided to give friends and family paintings for Christmas rather than the typical commercial presents. My art has been a way of helping me express what’s going on inside of me.”

His work is an eclectic group of pieces all reflecting what inspires him.

“I like to do things that are unorthodox. I use paint sometimes, but I use fabrics, textiles, and objects, too,” he says. “I’ve found that it gets me in a creative place. I’m not just focused on one discipline. If I had to describe my art I’d say that it is meant to incite a riot of thoughts in the viewer’s mind. I want them to want to get close, to want to touch it. If my work inspires those sorts of emotions, then I think that I have succeeded.”

Despite being an artist, Mason says he believes he is not just an artist but a carpenter.

“Everything is built. It’s not just painting on a canvas,” Mason says. “Yes, I’m an artist, but I also feel I’m more of a craftsman because everything is constructed.”

Mason not only works with canvas and digital pieces, but he has also been constructing furniture.

Currently, Mason is crafting his pieces inside his garage.

“I hope to one day find an actual studio space so that I can truly spread my wings and work on larger projects,” he says. “As it stands, I am just beginning my journey as an artist. I like to take commissions because when I am working with someone else I get fresh ideas and a different point of view. I find that it definitely helps to get the creative juices flowing.”

Mason also tries to use his art to give people a different perspective on life.

“What I really want to do is get into a position where I can get the next generation to think outside of the box,” he says. “I have a nephew and I always tell him the world is so much bigger than the block you live on.”

A former corrections officer, Mason says he wants to help youth see their potential and stay on the right track.

“Things may not seem all that great, but you can find a way to make life bearable,” Mason says. “I never had children of my own. I want to be a positive male role model for young men. Whatever nugget of wisdom I can give them, I give it freely. I try to leave them a little better than I found them.”

The artist reflects on his own personal struggles to help guide youth.

“I felt so lost after I couldn’t go back to my job,” Mason says. “I had to find something to get me centered again. Art did that. I know I may never achieve a da Vinci or Michelangelo level of success, but I can work as hard as I can.”

One piece he would like to see reach a higher potential — an 8’ painting of Muhammed Ali who is fighting Superman. The piece was inspired by a comic book from the 1970s.

“I would love to have it displayed in the Muhammed Ali Center,” he says.

In September, Mason will display several of his pieces during the Gaslight Festival. The artist is currently working on a new series. The series has two working titles he was not yet ready to share with the public. He says he will also bring several canvas pieces and digital pieces to display his artistic range. Mason can also be commissioned for works.

“I just hope to meet a few good people and get my work out there,” he says.

The Gaslight Festival is slated for September 15-17. More information about where you can find Mason and his work will be available on the Jeffersontown Chamber website closer to the event.

For more information or to contact Mr. Mason regarding his art, you can visit mindofmason.com.