Meet Dick Termes: The Visionary Behind Termespheres

Dick Termes is a pioneering artist known for redefining visual perspective through his iconic spherical paintings, known as Termespheres. His work challenges traditional viewpoints, offering a fully immersive 360-degree experience unlike anything in conventional art.

Quick Facts About Dick Termes

• Born in: San Diego, California
• Based in: Black Hills, South Dakota
• Profession: Artist
• Education: Studied Art and Design
• Preferred canvas: Spheres
• MOVA Globe designs: Black Hills Termesphere MOVA Globes
• Website: termespheres.com
• Favourite works: Pantheon and Looking for the Order

“I want people to see the world in a whole new way – 360 degrees in all directions.” – Dick Termes

A Revolutionary Approach to Visual Art

Dick Termes is no ordinary painter—his spherical canvases, known as Termespheres, challenge traditional perspectives and invite viewers to see the world as a complete 360-degree environment. Painted on the outside of a globe, these works create a powerful optical illusion, making it feel as though you are standing inside the scene, surrounded in every direction.

Using a unique six-point perspective technique, Termes captures up, down, and all around, presenting the entire visual sphere from a single viewpoint. This method transforms how space and dimension are experienced in art.

Creative Process and Philosophy

Dick’s artistic journey began in primary school, when a teacher first inspired his interest in drawing. Over time, this passion evolved into a career focused on pushing creative boundaries.

He maintains a collection of visual ideas, revisiting and combining them over time—making creative blocks nearly nonexistent. His work often explores themes of order, geometry, and perspective.

“I like to organise the world through my paintings—even if the world itself isn’t always that organised.”

His approach is slow, deliberate, and thoughtful, allowing ideas to develop organically.

Termespheres and 360° Perspective

Unlike traditional two-point perspective, which captures a limited field of view, Termes’ six-point system encompasses a full 360 degrees in every direction. This allows him to create immersive scenes that wrap entirely around a sphere.

“If you were inside a Termesphere, the world around you would feel perfectly normal. But from the outside, it’s a completely different experience.”

Each piece invites viewers to walk around it, discovering new perspectives from every angle—effectively placing an entire visual universe onto a rotating globe.

Personality and Preferences

Dick’s personality is reflected in his work—precise, methodical, and endlessly curious. He enjoys painting intricate scenes such as the interiors of architectural landmarks, which challenge both his technical skill and creative vision.

Creative inspiration includes:

• Food & drink: Steak and beer
• Music: “South Dakota” by his son, Lang

He also embraces refinement in his work:

“If a good idea is let down by poor technique, I’ll go back and improve it.”

Art and Influence

If given the opportunity to spend a day with another artist, Dick would choose M.C. Escher, citing their shared fascination with mathematical patterns and optical illusions.

However, he remains content working in the present day, where his innovative spherical art can truly be appreciated.

His philosophy on creativity is clear:

“To explore the new. To learn to play. To approach subject matter in a totally different way. If your art all looks the same, you’re doing it wrong.”