By NVOS artist Cathryne Trachok
If there is an artist that works harder than NVOS artist Terri Courtney, I haven’t met them yet, and a visit to her studio is proof. Leather hides, alligator hides, other kinds of hides, gorgeous cowboy boots already finished, boots in process, colors, tools, drawings everywhere, all showcase the craft that goes into every pair of boots that Terri makes.
With a clever wit, and a lot of talent, Terri works with leather to produce a pair of boots that are masterpieces in their own right. Terri uses the different materials that basic cowboy boots are made of — alligator, leather, ostrich, etc., but her boots are anything but basic. She incorporates the personality of the client, and so the finished product not only fits the foot, it fits the persona.
Terri has been one of the must-sees on the Napa Valley Open Studios Tour since I can remember, and also participates in shows all around the Napa Valley and beyond. Her out-going personality, and straight forward outlook engage the visitor, and it is always fascinating to hear the process of how she makes her boots from scratch. Seeing the stages from start to finish is quite fascinating, and if you can leave without putting an order in, you are stronger than I am. And yes, I do have a pair on order.
Terri Courtney shares studio space with her photographer husband, Dave Courtney, jewelry artist, Cathy Kough, and painter Jean Cullinane. You can meet and be greeted at Studio #32, 3151 Sunnydale Drive, in Napa, California. You can also go to www.courtneycustomboots.com to see what kind of boots you are going to want to order!
Cathryne Trachok works from, in, and around the Napa Valley, using her vision to create artworks celebrating the beautiful world we live in. You can meet her and see her work at Studio #4 during Open Studios, and you can see her work online at www.catrachokstudios.com.
