I am sure many of you remember my recent “A Whale of a Story” where I was gifted a chance to photograph Killer Whales or Orcas from our Mayne Island shore on one of my recent January photo shoots. If you have a look at that post you will be able to see where I the inspiration for this painting came from.
ORCAS IN EVENING is a 12 x 12 inch oil on gessobord with a 2 inch wood cradle
In many ways this painting was a stretch for me. I seldom paint animals or birds into my paintings of sea or landscapes. This time I wanted to have the Orcas included. It was such thrill to see them like this I just felt “I must!” However, I wanted to do this in a way you could “feel” rather than just “see” the Orcas in their natural environment at sunset. This is why I anchored my work in the quote from Claude Monet and intention from an earlier post “Painting the Desperation of Wanting to Stay Alive.” I wanted to paint the impression of whales as seen from “the glance.” What do you think? Was I successful?
I also was thrilled to have the chance to paint pinks, oranges and mauve. Though still grounded in the body of cool-blue tones that are our foundation here on the west coast of Canada these “hot colours” are not common in my work. I couldn’t help but think of the paintings of a colleague and artist Lena Levin. You can view her work on her website. Though she has primarily still life work at the moment, she did do a seascape a while back that she felt had been influenced by my work. Now it is my turn to share that this piece was definitely influences by her astounding palette development in these sunset colours. Do check out her Ten A Penny experiment as well. It is an idea I am watching closely. Even though I don’t do a lot of what are called “studies” I really like the concept. Lena is also on G+ HERE if you want to drop by and say “hello” or browse her recent posts.
SPROUT: Who is having a profound influence on your work of late?
© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.
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Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com
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Creative Potager 
This painting is breaktaking, Terrill. I love the colours in the sky. And I can feel the orcas.
Oh good Leanne! Glad you like it. I may paint more skies like this. It was so much fun!
Terrill – You asked, “Was I successful?” Oh boy howdy, you are spot on!
SPROUT: Who is having a profound influence on your work of late?
That would have to be Maeve Binchy — storyteller extraordinaire.
Good to know Laurie! Yes I agree… “Maeve Binchy — storyteller extraordinaire.”
Awesome work!! I smile everytime I see your work, “hear” your voice….with the memories of your amazing little girl self that I knew not so very long ago!! : ) Love your work!
Well it may seem like only yesterday Beverly but it truly was a long while ago in human years. Though I am sure in the time of the universe not an eyelash twitched. Thank you and thank you so much for dropping in.
Beautiful painting Terrill. . . thank you.
You are most welcome Alison 🙂
This is truly a spectacular painting, one of your finest oils ever. It’s textured, atmospheric and ravishing. And the price is most reasonable.
As of late I’ve relied on my readers to pass on the good word. Ha!
In your case Sam that is a huge community full of good words!!!! Thank you for the feedback about this latest painting. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Yes you are successful and so is your painting, I could just draw up into my mind’s eye the very photograph you were going to use…Lovely and I know those Whale y moments
My partner turns 65 in July, we have been influenced by all the meetings and research we need to do to find the money for his health insurance supplemental, his drug premiums, and his co-pays so he can have Medicare when he turns 65. We will save about $50 a month over what we pay now for him. Then all the decisions about when to sell the house or not, when to actually retire, when we can afford to ( never at the moment) What can we downsize.
Then I am still trying to build my business…IT all feels like WORK and more WORK right now…and not very fun.
IT is extremely intense and time consuming.
I love coming here for my vacations and just enjoy the view 🙂 thank you for sharing
Patricia what a great way to think of Creative Potager… a vacation. Oh I like that. I have this photograph you might have seen already that I am going to post in the morning http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch/works/8434667-february-flight-at-sunrise-over-strait-of-georgia I took it at dawn this morning and THAT moment felt like a vacation. I had the Georgia Point almost to myself except for the ferry traffic. Just me and Sun, a few gulls and a couple of harbour seals coughing away.
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