Dick Termes

There are many people who make a difference in the lives of others. Dick Termes is one of those people. On November 7, 1941, Dick was born to loving parents, Joe and Nonie Termes, in San Diego, California. He has an older brother named Joe Jr., and a younger sister named Trudy. His Dad was enlisted in the military and at the time of his birth was helping to build ships that were to be used in World War II. After the war, his family returned back to the Black Hills of South Dakota where his Dad began building houses in the local Spearfish area. When his father was building a home, they would move into the houses that he was fixing up. His mom’s job was to make sure the interior of the house was up to speed. During his younger years, Dick really enjoyed playing basketball and his dream from an early age was to become a professional athlete. He can remember countless hours spent in the gym with his friends, perfecting his craft. He didn’t find a love of art until he was enrolled at Spearfish High School and a speech teacher took him aside to ask him about art. She had noticed that he gave excellent speeches on art and encouraged him to pursue that as a passion. She actually purchased two paintings from him for $5 each, setting into motion what would become a lifelong journey.

Dick has always been passionate about the topics that mean the most to him. Art was very easy for him due to the fact that he could put all of his energy into it, and he was able to get out what he put in. This love for art helped propel him into pursuing it as a career. He graduated from Spearfish High School in 1960 and later in enrolled at Black Hills State University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in the study of art. Dick also has a Master’s Degree in Art from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, California. After college he returned home to the Black Hills and later met his wife Markie at an Arts Council gathering in Pierre, South Dakota. Markie is a puppeteer and still continues to perform across the country. Together they have two boys, Lang and Kabe.

During his time at the University of Wyoming, Dick was studying perspective and how that relates to art. At the time, there were only 1-point, 2-point, 3-point, 4-point, and 5-point perspectives. He was actually teaching 1 and 2-point perspective when he became engrossed with the idea of 6-point perspective. He could picture the world around him and every scenario as having six points where the lines disappear from point of view. He wanted to figure out a way to get these ideas onto an object and so he developed the term “Termespheres.” When he enrolled at the Otis Art Institute, there wasn’t a professor who was able to comprehend 6-point perspective, so he was given the opportunity to go to school for free as a chance to explore this new- found style. He began perfecting the Termesphere and is now the only person in the world who is able to create 6-point perspective art. Evidence of his work is all across the world. He has been to countless conventions in multiple countries to give lectures on his findings of perspective art. Even leading mathematicians are interested in this new idea. He has painted spheres over 7 feet tall that have had to be delivered by helicopter. He has been to the Pantheon in Rome, Cathedrals in Greece, and Stonehenge in England. He has even painted Termespheres of the landmarks that make South Dakota famous. If you walk around Spearfish for very long, it won’t take much for you to stumble across one of his pieces of work.

Dick now enjoys reaping the benefits of his passion. He feels like he has never had to work a day in his life because he finds such joy in his art. His bubbly personality and his love for exploration helped him achieve a life that he is more than pleased with. Today, you can find Dick at local schools helping spread the word about art and how wide open the opportunities in the world of art are. He believes that you can do whatever your heart desires as long as you enjoy it and work hard at it. He gives many art lessons at school and helps students with Termespheres of their own. You can also find him on the tennis court or in his workshop processing new ideas. He completes an average of 8 Termespheres a year and 2018 marks the 50th year of his work. 50 years of Termespheres. What an impact he has made.