A professional artist since 1989, Theresa Mather creates fantasy works featuring a variety of unusual creatures. Best known for her pieces painted on feathers and stone, integrating her paintings with the natural colors and textures of the surface, Theresa draws much of her inspiration from the world around her.

“When I need inspiration, I go hiking somewhere,” is what Theresa tells those who inquire. Theresa and her husband Barry Short reside in Cedar City, Utah, where the many nearby national parks – Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and Grand Canyon - give her plenty of opportunity to find inspiration.

Theresa is an artist who chooses to work outside of gaming and publication, exhibiting and selling her work at science fiction convention art shows across the country. She enjoys the freedom this gives her to paint whatever she desires, allowing her paintings to be truly her creations. She was active in the field of antique carousel restoration from 1989 through 1999, painting suites of large scale paintings for the crestings of 5 antique carousels and decorative paintwork for a sixth.

While Theresa does have some formal art training, she suggests that those curious about this aspect of her background simply rent and watch the movie Art School Confidential, which parallels her experience quite well. She's learned that when it comes to creating art, classrooms are no substitute for simply doing the work.

Theresa exhibits at over 70 shows each year and is the recipient of numerous awards, including Popular Choice Best of Show at ConJose, the 2002 Worldcon.

If you would like to get in touch with Theresa, click HERE to email her.

Carousels Featuring Paintings
by Theresa Mather

Chase Palm Park, Santa Barbara, California. 1919 Allen Herschell Company carousel, restored and opened at this location in 1999. Theresa painted a complete suite of paintings for the top rounding boards and center scenery, as well as the carved grotesques between the rounding boards.

Eastridge Mall, San Jose California. 1920 Spillman Engineering Company carousel, restored and opened at this location in 1992. Theresa painted a full suite of paintings for the rounding boards and center scenery.

Seaport Village, San Diego, California. 1895 Looff Carousel, formerly at Pacific Ocean Park, a defunct amusement pier historic to the Los Angeles Area. Operated at the 1992 International AmeriFlora Exposition in Columbus, Ohio. Moved to Media City Center in 1997. Center scenery painted by Theresa in 1990.

Southbay Pavilion, Carson, California. Mixed eras, mixed New York manufacturers. Rounding boards, center scenery and carved heads between panels painted by Theresa in 1992. Operating at current location since 1995. Note: restoration incomplete, carousel is operating with mostly aluminum stand in horses. Correct carved wooden horses currently in storage.

Fairgrounds Square Mall, Reading, PA. 1920 Spillman Engineering Corp. carousel, historic to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Scenery and rounding boards painted in 1996 with scenes from that region by Theresa.

Palisades Center Mall, West Nyack, New York. 1907 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel #15. Theresa painted several of the chariot seat backs in 1989.