About Terri Lipman

In the late 70’s, soon after the United States’ Bicentennial, I was selling folk art

and paintings at art and craft shows.  Along came young daughter Beth almost every week-end from April to December for 7 years.  And all the while, I was teaching folk art and decorative painting at many adult education programs.  Demand and business grew.  In 1983 my husband, Henry joined me in the business. He opened a wood shop, created the wood and I taught painters how to paint my designs which we then sold through every gift show in the country for 10 years.

During this time, every mail order catalog and major department store (a thing of the past?) were customers.  Also during this time, I wrote two painting books which were published by Plaid Enterprises.  This was in addition to being published in several other books and many magazines: House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, Accessory, etc.

The nature of the wholesale market is such that one must reinvent the wheel every two years. So I did!  I went from folk art, to painted tin folk art, to sophisticated painted furniture in the High Point Furniture Markets to painted floorcloths, watercolors, etc.

About 1993 I was really a tired artist.  My husband went to work so we had benefits! I had to stop teaching people to paint my designs or I would become a loony person. Therefore, we stopped doing all the trade shows.  I launched my art only career by selling painted floorcloths at juried art shows all over the East Coast.  And I decided since we were then empty nested, that I wanted to be employed.

During the last thirty years I became very involved in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen as a juried member and exhibitor.  I was President of the local chapter, bus tour planner in chief, manager of many many art shows and more.  It is here, while I was President of the Lancaster County chapter that I met Sandra Coldren who came on my board! (Then I only knew her as a theorem painter!)

My first real job, to see if I wanted a real job, was a customer service representative at a local cable Company. It was a rude awakening that made do what I love! From there I worked for Eisenhart Wallcoverings in Hanover, PA. 

It was while I was an assistant marketing manager at Eisenhart that I learned about SALI and went to my first SALI Convention in Philadelphia. I was blown away!  I had no idea how many fabulous things were happening with stencils!  I had no clue about all of the resources and how wonderful TAS was.  And I joined SALI immediately! 

While I was working at Eisenhart, I met some friends in the Art Department. There I viewed the art and assisted in the art procurement for wallcoverings.  And I had a tour of the Eisenhart factory and the York Wallcoverings factory in York, PA( then my residence).

I was still doing the art shows when I jumped ship to Public Relations Director at the local community theatre.  Again, I was working with artists – making contacts with scenery artists, etc. It is here that I was sent off to development classes and began a fundraiser career. I had to leave the theatre to move to NH, a choice relocation.

Three years ago I moved to NH and still do the art shows.  They are like an addiction!

But the art business isn’t as terrific as it was before 9/11 and my body is older!  For the last two years I have been Marketing and Development Manager for a local summer music festival.  The best part of development in this area is that we have so many well known weathly folks upon which to call: Ken Burns, a writer for Sesame Street, NH governors, professional folks, politicians etc.  Everyone is so interesting!  I also plan and market a local garden tour every year for this non-profit organization.  And of course, I work with the Board of Trustees.

For recreation, when I have time, I love to cross country ski, snowshoe, kayak, knit, dye fabrics, etc.  I am surrounded by the arts, art schools and more.  The weather is my friend as I love the five seasons: Ice dam season, Mud season, Spring, Summer and Foliage Season!  If only I had 35 hour days to enjoy all of it!