Introducing Terry Albert

I love animals and they are an essential part of my life. I have had hands-on experience with hundreds of dogs and cats – as a dog trainer, a foster home for numerous breeds, pet sitter and now boarding dogs in my home. It is this personal experience I put into my art, my writing, and everything I do. 

Art: Pet Portraits

My clients recognize their own pet immediately in my paintings, and value that it is a painting of THEIR pet, not just anyone’s. This is the part I enjoy most about my art – making that personal connection with the person who commissioned the piece and knowing I have made something very special for them.

I have owned cats and dogs all of my life, and cared for hundreds more as a pet sitter. For the past 20 years I have owned horses of several breeds. I learn every day as I sit and watch the animals around me in action and try to capture that in my art. See my pet portraits

Paintings

Long before I painted pets, my work featured a variety of subjects: florals, landscapes, places and things that hold precious memories for my clients. Today I enjoy exploring new outlets for my creativity. See some of my paintings here

Writing

I earned a minor in English in college, and since then my interest in writing has continued. My grandfathers both were great storytellers; maybe I inherited that love from them. Check out my blogs to see samples of my writing.

During my retail advertising career at Builder Emporium, I wrote advertising copy, training manuals, press releases and educational materials. I wrote the employee newsletter, Chain Links, and edited the home improvement newsletter, The Pop Larsen Newsletter. In recent years, my focus on animals has led me to writing assignments from the Delta Society, Petco, and my first book: Your Happy Healthy Pet, Basset Hound, for Howell Books. Learn more.

Web Site and Graphic Design

As Art Director for Builders Emporium and then Pep Boys, I gained a lot of experience in graphic design. Today, I use these skills in custom web site design for small businesses. In addition, my graphic design projects include logos, t-shirts designs, and assorted printed materials. Although many of my projects are pet related, I do work for other industries too. See samples.

Pet Sitting

Last, but certainly not least, I have been a pet sitter for over 15 years. I make daily visits to clients’ homes and also board dogs in my own home, where they live as members of the family, not in kennels. I have over 75 regular customers, and consider them my friends as well as clients. Read more and see photos.

A video dedicated to everyone who rescues and adopts homeless animals.

A poem I wrote, I Never Was a Mother, expresses my love for animals and why I, and so many others like me, rescue homeless pets. It won a Maxwell Award fromthe Dog Writers Association of America in the poetry category. This video was created by my friend Roberta Cantow of Original Digital.

Watch the video