Meet Terrilynn Moore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrilynn Moore.

Terrilynn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a native of Denver, Colorado and I have had many different careers.
I am a retired Denver Police Officer after ten years of service and I have also worked
as a mental health counselor, salesperson, registrar, professional gardener, and actor.

None of those jobs satisfied my drive to be creative and have a true and lasting impact in my community. Being an artist and storyteller drives me and feeds me in a way that no ‘job’ can.

I received my BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Colorado Denver in May of 2017, at the age of 60. In June of 2017, I had my first one-woman show in the Aurora Municipal Center. In October of 2017, I was sworn in as an Aurora, Colorado Art in Public Places Commissioner.

In November of 2017, I was accepted as a member into Core New Art Space and my first solo show opened February 15, 2018. I taught art to adults on the weekends. My life’s goal is for my art to support my dreams of living and painting in a francophone country and starting a sanctuary for animals and people. Cruelty and inhumanity are unnecessary and must be resisted at every opportunity.

I am a founding member of Master Networks-Glendale Chapter and was just hired to be an Area Director for Master Networks in Colorado. I am also a very active volunteer in my community in pursuit of human rights, reproductive rights, financial equity, and the eradication of racism and inequality.

My only son and daughter in law have blessed me with a 4-year-old grandson and another grandchild due in August of 2019. I have two Schnauzers, four squirrels and a huge community of friends and associates. My Linked in just passed 4000 followers this week!

I currently live and work from my home in Aurora, Colorado.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
None of this has been easy. In 2012, I lost everything. I had filed for medical bankruptcy and was forced to move into my childhood home with my mother. This was in no way the life I had ever imagined for myself. Full of shame and self-loathing, I moved into my brother’s old bedroom with my miniature Schnauzer, who had been born in this house.

I found a job as a mental health counselor after moving in. My weeks were filled with work, school and to my dismay and shock, I became my mother’s caretaker.

She was exhibiting very strange behaviors–repeating her self 5-10 times within a span of 5 minutes. She was eating only ice cream. My mother would wake up several times in the night and begin throwing clothes out of the closet.

I took over the cooking, cleaning and all household chores. I documented her odd behaviors through a series of texts to my brother.

I took her to her doctor’s office where she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Her condition worsened–she began punching and biting me. She hid her car keys and would disappear for hours at a time in her vehicle. She would let our four dogs out of the house and into traffic.

I was exhausted. Many mornings my professors would find me crying at my easel with a black eye or busted lip from an earlier encounter with my mother.

It was at that time I began researching Alzheimer’s Care facilities because she was becoming more than I could handle.

In October of 2016, we placed her in a care facility and in May of 2017, I graduated with a 3.7 GPA from the University of Colorado, Denver.

I painted this journey as my Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis and named it ‘The Alzheimer’s Chronicles.’

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m an Artist and a Storyteller, my firm is a unique and vibrant company that is known for creating beautiful murals on walls and made-to-order paintings, from my client’s dreams and visions.

The attention to detail, the strange and unexpected elements, and vibrant colors make my paintings memorable. I can paint in any medium–watercolor, gouache, oils or acrylics to create your vision. I can paint on canvas or boards in sizes ranging from 5″ in. x 7″ in. to 6’ft. x 6′ ft.!

My storytelling focuses on African and African-American folklore that can help audiences understand and empathize with the parts of African-American history that are often hidden. My stories can help us to discuss racial inequality, women’s rights, and the legacy of slavery in present times.

As an entrepreneur, I am proud to be a business owner that is always seeking to improve my knowledge levels, my services, and my fine art and storytelling skill sets.

To that end, in April 2019, I graduated from the Rocky Mountain Microfinance, Inc. Business Bootcamp. As a result of my successful completion of the boot camp, I qualified for and received my first small business loan!

Because of my small business loan, I was able to attend Gary Barnes’ and Michelle Mras’ Breakthrough Business Mastery Speaker’s Boot Camp. I was encouraged to create a one-woman show as they found my storytelling to be powerful and moving.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My three personal markers for success are:

1. Financial Freedom: I am creating so much income that I will never again have to struggle to pay my utilities, insurance or groceries. I am creating so much wealth that I can be the person that helps others, instead of the person that needs help.

2. I will move to a francophone country and learn to speak French fluently. I have studied French since junior high and would love to immerse myself in a French-speaking culture so that I can be flawless in my French speaking skills!

3. My stories and paintings speak of experiences that can be discussed and learned from. I seek to create a lasting POSITIVE impact on society. My paintings will find homes in museums and private collections. My stories will be viewed in podcasts and videos and shared with people for generations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TerrilynnMoore.com
• Phone: Upon written request
• Email: 1Terrilynn.Moore@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nnylirret1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrilynnMooreArtist/
• Other: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrilynn-mooreartist/

Image Credit:
friendsandloversphotography.com did my personal photo, Art photos taken by Terrilynn Moore, Artist and Storyteller, LLC

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.