Terry Masters Memorial Scholarship
Terry Masters was a beloved and award-winning oil painter who is best known for his passion and immense talent for plein air painting - the act of painting outdoors in natural light versus in a studio or enclosed setting.
Among his many accolades and awards, Terry held the distinguished honor of being a California Art Club Signature Artist. He could often be found exploring the Southern California desert where he lived; setting up his easel in a remote spot and painting the stunning pieces he was best known for.
Terry loved nothing more than to be outside in the fresh air, finding inspiration for his canvas in the beauty of the everyday world around us. A gifted artist, teacher, and friend, Terry was also known for his generous spirit and warm heart.
This scholarship aims to continue Terry’s legacy of giving by inspiring others to embrace and pursue the same passion and joy that Terry found in painting outdoors and to honor his memory through excellence in the arts for years to come.
This scholarship is for painters (oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink, gouache) only. Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate pursuing a degree in the fine arts may apply. Candidates who practice plein air (painting in the outdoors) are highly preferred.
To apply, submit a short essay telling us how the everyday world inspires your art and submit 3 images of your original art pieces. Original art only. No reproductions accepted.
How does the everyday world around you inspire you as an artist? Additionally, please submit 3 images of your original art pieces. Applications without art piece submissions will not be considered.
Winners and Finalists
January 2025
January 2024
January 2023
Winning Application
Explore All Kinds of Scholarships for All Kinds of Students
FAQ
The application deadline is Dec 31, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jan 15, 2026.
Your privacy is a top priority on the Bold.org platform, and you can find our privacy policy in full here. You may opt out of communications from Bold.org at any time, and unless we’ve first notified you and gotten your consent, you’ll never receive communication from any third parties related to personal information you give us.
Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jan 15, 2026. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.