Lectures & Workshops

Contact 605-642-4805  or termes@blackhills.com

Dick Termes’ workshops and lectures all show the interconnection between MATH / SCIENCE and ART. Most of these workshops can be adjusted to fit whatever time is available. If you are interested in any of the services that you see here or would like to discuss anything with Dick Termes you can E-mail him at termes@blackhills.com  Below are different workshops and lectures Termes can do.  He charges for a Five hour day…. $1000  If this is in South Dakota, his Touring Arts Grant can pay up to 50% for a nonprofit sponsor.

Termesphere Video/Lecture

This program works best with one hour and fifteen minutes, but can be adjusted to fit your time schedule.   Mr. Termes will also bring examples of his Termespheres, Polyhedra Paintings and the Total Photos. Many short videos are shown of the Termespheres he has painted over many years.  He explains why and how he painted these pieces and also has fun stories to tell about his work. The video is a wonderful way to show the spherical paintings in motion.  This can be any size audience as long as the screen is large enough for the audience to see.  He has used this video /lecture when he did the keynote speech for the California Art Teacher Association and was also at the National Math Conference in 2011

Exhibits of Termespheres

Termes will hang Termespheres with motors in your gallery or library for 3-4 weeks. The Termespheres can hang in gallery spaces or libraries above book shelves.

•  8 pieces Cost: $800.00 + shipping*
• 12 pieces Cost 1000.00 + shipping*
• 18 pieces Cost: $1500.00 + shipping*
• 24 pieces Cost: $2000.00 + shipping*
• 30 piece  Cost: $2500.00 + shipping
• 40 piece  Cost: $3000.00 + shipping
• 50 piece  Cost: $3500.00 + shipping

* The show can be brought to your destination if within one day driving distance.

1-6  Point Perspective lecture (no hands-on)

The lecture on 1-6 Point Perspective takes about one hour.  Termes explains a new way to teach and do perspective.  He uses grids to show the directions the lines must move to draw the different systems of perspective, one through six point.  Using an overhead projector or smart board  he shows how to use the grids by making up scenes as he goes along.  From the Renaissance one and two point perspective to curved line four point perspective which creates 360 degree panoramic drawings, to the fish eye 5 point perspective and even a flat six point perspective.  He goes on to show how total up, down and all around worlds can be drawn on the regular polyhedra.

1-6 Point Perspective workshop (very hands-on)

The workshop should be two to three hours for hands-on results.  Grids are handed out to help students move more quickly from one through a flat six point perspective. Up to 60 students could be in this workshop with some outside help.  When students are done with this workshop they should be able to draw 360 degree panoramic scenes and flat five and six point drawing that show total up, down and all around made up or actual scenes.

3D Structures Workshop

This one to two hour, hands-on workshop helps students use and understand of platonic solids, or regular polyhedra by man and nature. This workshop shows the importance of Regular Polyhedra in creating wonderful sculptures, architecture, and how nature uses them in many of its creations found in biology and chemistry. Most three dimensional geometries are based on them. This is offered to up to 30 students at a time.  Magnet stick and ball sets are provided by Termes to help the students each create around 20 different polyhedra. Students see the world in a whole different way when they are done with this workshop.  Termes also shows some of his spherical paintings and how this geometry helped him come up with his ideas.

Drawing Workshop (basic drawing concepts)

This is a very logical approach to drawing.  It is designed for art students and non-art students who just want to be able to express visual ideas. The class will explore drawing the CUBE, CYLINDER, and SPHERE.   From the understanding of these three, most objects in the universe can be drawn. The students will add them together, subtract them from each other and in the end, create realistic images from them. Along with these basic solids we will explore contour surface lines and shading techniques.  Once these ideas are explained and tried, students will wonder why they thought drawing was so hard.  One to three hours is needed for this workshop.

Tetra Group Art ( copy machine needed)

Students draw on triangular paper coming from a flattened Tetrahedron with a system where they must come off the triangle at particular points.  When done their work will be copied.  Their pieces can be rejoined with other copies of their work in many different ways.   Using colored pens or pencils they color in their designs or drawing.  When finished it can be added to other peoples work and it will fit fine.  It can be a large flat mural. The students work can also be glued onto a large polyhedron.  The end result finds a flowing design created by many minds.  If Termes is to supply the large polyhedron like a Tetrahedon, Octahedron or Icosahedron, arrangements must be made with him.

Tetra Art (copy machine needed)

Students draw their ideas on tetrahedrons.  The tetrahedrons are flattened and copied on a copy machine.  These images fit back together in an interesting mathematical way making an interesting tessellating drawing.  When done, their work can be displayed on the flat or as three dimensional polyhedron art.

Grids to do Art 

Termes has a large collection of grids he shares with students.  Grids or Substructures  have been used by many artists of the past.  The systems help hold the artwork together.  With the grids we explore tessellations and realism that conforms to the grid.  From this we make drawings which might turn into paintings someday.  Colored pencils are used for finished results.

Optical Illusion workshop

We explore many different kinds of optical illusions by looking at a collection Termes has put together.   Termes talks to the students about the ones he has played with and why he enjoys optical illusions.  After studying these illusions and what their basic properties are, the students take on one to see what they can come up with.

Spherical Art from Geometry

After exploring the different structures that come out of the Platonic Solids with the magnetic tools Termes hands out small spheres or students bring a sphere or ball with them then Termes shows the students how to apply what they have learned to the sphere.  We talk about how many ways you can breakdown the regular polyhedron into more complex designs.  After they come up with their own unique design we use permanent pens to add color and achieve a finished piece.  A white ball must be brought by the students unless the instructor makes arrangements with Termes to supply the balls.

Geodesic Dome Making Made Simple

This is a workshop on building your own geodesic dome home or greenhouse. A color coded ball is produced by the students and the formulas for the production of any size dome are explored. Other polyhedron are explored for possible buildings. Each person needs to bring three white balls.

Polyhedra Workshop

Students Create Permanent Polyhedron Models for themselves or for the school Students, with the help of Dick Termes, will create twenty-five different polyhedron models. The Polyhedra Workshop is a great hands-on and minds-on workshop for students to learn spatial thinking and the connection between Art and Geometry. Students will gain an understanding of how often the Polyhedra are used in nature and by humans. Using a system of wooden rods and foam balls to make the Polyhedra allows the Polyhedron to grow into endless possibilities. This work not only adds beautiful geometrical structures for those interested in Math and Art, but they also show the relationship to many other areas of study such as Architecture, Biology, Chemistry and Sculpture. Students learn to identify Polyhedron Geometry as objects in the real world.  Polyhedra are all around us disguised as seeds, viruses, crystals, DNA molecules, plants, chandeliers, and TV sets. Termes will furnish all the supplies. This is recommended to be a two day workshop.  Group not larger than 30 for both days.  $2500