There are things that people often say when they talk about Terri Stone. That the former art director had a keen eye for good — and bad — design. That her creativity seemed to be endless. That she was a prankster. That her artistic skills knew no bounds.
Jim Fuqua hired Stone three decades ago to work on food industry campaigns when he owned Fuqua Eyre. Although they worked together briefly and lost touch after he closed the agency, the experiences of working with her have stayed with him. Stone, he said, was “brilliant on the creative side” and consistently delivered “sparkling ideas” that would win clients over.
“As we worked together, I found her a joy to work with,” said Fuqua. “I liked being around her. It was fun to be around her.”
There were other reasons why Stone stood out among other art directors. Fuqua said Stone knew when she had to play it safe, and when she could bring him something exciting and outside the box. Just as critically, she knew when she could cut loose with a client and when she had to be buttoned up.
“I came from the account side, so finding that in an art director I really did appreciate,” said Fuqua. “I had a great deal of faith in her and I really trusted her.”
A TCU alumna, Stone received her degree in fine arts. During a career that spanned more than three decades, Stone worked for some of the heavy hitters in the advertising industry. According to her LinkedIn profile, she worked on campaigns with The Bloom Companies, Puskar, Gibbon and Chapin and Stafford Advertising.
An independent art director for most of her professional life, Stone amassed a client list that reads like a who’s-who of national, regional and local businesses and organizations that includes American Airlines Group Inc., the American Heart Association, Bachendorf’s Jewelers, The Coca-Cola Company, Sewell Automotive Companies, Frito- Lay, and Mountain Valley Spring Water.
One of the things that impressed Dina Meek about Stone when they were both young creatives at Puskar, Gibbon and Chapin was that she seemed to have life experience that belied her years. “Here’s the thing: Terri was very, very good at what she did,” said Meek, who with her husband founded DAM Creative. “She didn’t just rest on her laurels, she didn’t just say ‘good enough’.”
A jovial, gregarious and eccentric woman who adored her dogs and had a wicked sense of humor, Stone was widely known for her ability to connect with people. The other thing friends and colleagues remember about Stone is that she loved to laugh and have fun.
Her offices, full of toys, were an expression of her playfulness. She had silly and funny nicknames for nearly everyone she met. Many remember seeing her driving around Dallas in her Volkswagen Cabriolet with the top down — rain or shine — with her beloved dog Murphy in the passenger seat, both of them wearing sunglasses.
While she harnessed her sketching, painting and other creative skills to fashion a successful career in advertising, friends say that Stone found her artistic identity as a sculptor. Her pieces range from large, abstract steel structures to small works made from car clutches, wheels, bicycle parts, and other found objects.
Over the years, she made artwork for public spaces, including firehouses in Dallas. The sculpture at the Deep Ellum dog park is dedicated to her dog Murphy.
Longtime friend Virgil Scott, who owned Studio 204, said her art reflects who she was. “It’s whimsical. It’s really creative, and it makes you kind of rethink all those found objects that she used,” said Scott.
A fixture at exhibit openings in art galleries and museums, Stone taught at the Creative Arts Center and was involved in events that promoted local artists, including the White Rock Lake Artists Studio Tour. In addition, she curated exhibitions at the Bath House Cultural Center.
Stone never stopped exploring and pushing her creative boundaries. She branched out into music over the years, and eventually found her instrument in the ukulele.
That she could do that well, too, surprised no one who knew her.
Stone died after a brief illness on June 27, 2024. She was 60. A memorial service for Stone will be held on August 17th, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Dr., Dallas, TX 75218.
