Hanging at the Bennett Bay Bistro

May 4, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

No it is not a murder mystery. It is paintings – my large oil paintings on canvas are now hanging at the new *Bennett Bay Bistro* at the Mayne Resort on Mayne Island.

Summers are usually my busy time but you may ask – doing what? Well,during the summers our small island doubles in size with visitors and part-time residents and weekenders. This means getting my home studio ready for visitors and also put up new shows of my work in venues on the island.

The latest request came from Colleen Wadsworth, the owner of the Bennett Bay Bistro at the Mayne Resort. When she asked if I would be willing to hang some of my paintings on her huge wall in the Bistro I had to swallow hard not to drool before I said a simple “of course, what did you have in mind?” Colleen took this photograph just after we got the four largest paintings up.

It was most fun and a pleasure to see the work display together like this. I afraid, my small studio does not afford such a luxurious viewing of these paintings. Here is one of the smaller paintings which most of you will be familiar with hanging on the far wall in a space by itself.

But dear readers, I also want give you a glimpse of the view if you look the other way from these paintings.

Isn’t this lovely? Even on an overcast day like today it is inspiring. How about we go out on the deck for a minute?

All this is served up with a fresh, fresh tasty small Bistro menu that will grow as the number of customers grow during the summer. I will try to get back to capture Colleen serving up some of these sumptuous offerings soon.

An admirer on G+ recently said “I will not be there. I live in Denmark. I hope you will share your work on G+” I replied yes and that I could even do better than this. All of these paintings are available for viewing and purchase in the *Artsy Home online Gallery* and arrangements can be made to ship them to you wherever you are. Now how is that for service?

Tomorrow, I will share with you the new show of 14 small paintings and photographs that are now showing at the Green House Restaurant. So see you then!

SPROUT: What is filling your days with vibrancy and simple abundance?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

Say Yes Whenever Possible (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
STORM COMING THROUGH original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Looking Over My Shoulder in the Studio (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
RAINY DAY OUT ON THE POINT original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

STORM COMING THROUGH original painting by Terrill Welch

April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

Winds howl as the rain slaps driving mist across the landscape. It takes fortitude, girt and a bit of foolishness to be out on a day like this. With shoulders hunched I yell against the beastly day with no effect. The sounds are carried away, across the water, through the trees – gone, like the day that will end in nothing more than a short, perpetual early dawn. Such is a winter storm in January off the southwest coast of Canada.

I’m not ready to make this painting available for purchase just yet. The painting and I are still discussing its current state of completion. If you want to know more about how this conversation is going you can read my account of the dialogue HERE on one of my G+ posts. When we have reached a mutually agreeable conclusion, the painting will be posted at the Artsy Home online Gallery with my other paintings that are currently available.

This a 24 x 36 inch oil on canvas and is my second attempt to capture one of these storms on canvas. Here is the first smaller study I did of just a section of this scene

(available for purchase HERE)

Pssst! May is just about upon us and you know what happens to me between May and September – even October right? I am less frequently online and in front of the computer. It is just the way it is. I wish you the best for the summer and will post as the opportunity presents itself. May you be digging your toes in the sand, tossing your hair in the breeze and enjoying the few short months of fine weather.

Good morning and the best of Wednesday to you!

SPROUT: If you could do any creative project you wanted this summer what and where would it be?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

Coastal Winter Storm original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
RAINY DAY OUT ON THE POINT original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
New paintings by Terrill Welch in the Artsy Home online Gallery (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

My gift to you of 12 landscape and seascape photographs for Earth Day 2012

April 21, 2012April 21, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

I was going to wait until morning but why wait? Why not start such a beautiful day of celebration early? Here is my gift to you of 12 landscape and seascape images in celebration of Earth Day 2012 for your personal use are available now.

View and download my gift of all 12 high-resolution photographs at http://terrillwelch.smugmug.com/Photography/Earth-Day-2012-licensed-for/22555682_37czZn#!i=1805146523

Of course, Earth Day is something I celebrate everyday. But for this special day of global recognition I wanted to do something extra – something that didn’t require you or I to necessarily reach into our wallets. I wanted to do something that was accessible to anyone with a computer. I wanted do something that I felt I could share with you that was respectful of our finite and limited resources. This is what I decided.

May these photographs provide you with years of personal enjoyment and reflection on our relationship with our earth and all that she provides for us. Please feel free to share this gift with others – Happy Earth Day 🙂

SPROUT: How will you be celebrating Earth Day on Sunday April 22, 2012?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

And so we shall sleep – Earth Day April 22 (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
How Are You Celebrating Earth Day? (gadling.com)

And so we shall sleep – Earth Day April 22

April 20, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

When the evening light gets low it is as if the earth is reminding us to go to sleep. But Earth Day is a time I like to be wide awake. Earth Day is celebrated this Sunday April 22.

As I looked at this image this morning, I am pondering and thinking about what it is I can contribute this year to this very important day. My conclusion is that I shall make accessible 12 high-resolution images for personal use that celebrate my relationship to our glorious earth. I chose the number 12 as it would be one photograph for each month of the year.

What do you think? Does this sound like a good idea? Would you like this?

All the best of the weekend to you!

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

Waving at you from Mayne Island with Monet (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Earth Day: What color are you? (urbannugget.com)
8 Gorgeous Nature Blogs for Earth Day (tangentsky.wordpress.com)
Green Things for Earth Day! (pocampo.com)
Every Day is Earth Day (ecology.com)

Sometimes a photographer’s life is for the birds!

April 19, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 6 Comments

I am not a bird photographer. I am mostly a sea and landscape photographer – mostly. But those darn birds! They just keep getting in the way of things and what is a photographer to do? Take for instance this young Great Blue Heron refusing to stop stalking his fish no matter how close I sat beside him.

Then there were those bathtub toy-duck sounding squeakers – the pretty little Harlequin Ducks…

But it was the Red-wing Blackbird singing in the rain that really distracted me from the sound of the surf…

The clouds were waddling their heavy bellies slowly across the sky as the first drops fell. This red-wing blackbird just kept singing as I moved closer to capture his silhouette against the rain-laden clouds.

Those darn birds! 😉

SPROUT: What pleasant distractions have you found in your creative adventures of late?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

RAINY DAY OUT ON THE POINT original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ORCAS IN EVENING original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron and the surf (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Say Yes Whenever Possible (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

The Plum Tree and the Brick Building

April 14, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

Looking across the street I admire the plum trees against the brick building.

Oh those blossoms can make a heart twitter like a spring bird!

Have you ever noticed a blooming plum tree standing by a brick building? So majestic and regal it stands like the building butler as the blossom petals drift to sidewalk.

(image available for purchase HERE)

There is a window dripping with plum tree blossoms that must look as lovely from the inside out as the outside in

(image available for purchase HERE)

SPROUT: What blossoms have your heart a twitter like a spring bird?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

RAINY DAY OUT ON THE POINT original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Looking Over My Shoulder in the Studio (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

A Few Clouds Over the Strait

April 12, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

Sometimes it is the simple wisps at the top of a thundercloud that can have a person’s eyes come to rest. Then there is the noticing of the distant light on the sea. In this way, a quiet scene becomes part of tomorrow’s dream – a gift really. The bits pulled together have little drama and not much of a pronouncement to make.

Yet, I linger over so little for much longer than expected.

SPROUT: What have recently held your attention much longer than expected?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

A Friday on Mayne Island in January (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron and the surf (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Edge of the Storm (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
The Coast is Clear (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

RAINY DAY OUT ON THE POINT original oil painting by Terrill Welch

April 11, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

Sometimes the light reflected through a rainy day has the sweet bitter melancholy which reflects a sense of inner peace like no other day. The bright colours of wet rocks balanced the soft hues of the day with the houses and gentle seaside cityscape in the background reminding us we are part of this view.

This is a painting of Cattle Point in Victoria British Columbia, Canada

A 16 x 20 inch oil on gessobord with a 2 inch wood cradle. No framing required. The painting is available at the Artsy Home online gallery at http://www.artsyhome.com/product/rainy-day-out-on-the-point and a couple of detail images are included for closure viewing.

SPROUT: Where were you the last time you realized that you were part of the view?

P.S. The related links provide easy access to other posts related to the process for this painting.

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

RAINY DAY BY THE SEA oil on canvas study by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
A distant detail of painting in progress (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
In the Rain at Cattle Point Victoria B.C. (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

A distant detail of painting in progress

April 10, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

It is Tuesday and my larger painting of “Rainy Day by the Sea” has been “resting” since last Thursday. The long Easter weekend has come to an end and I have a long list of petty tasks to do. But first one must paint don’t you think?

Here is a 3 x 5 inch distant detail from the 16 x 20 inch painting I am working on. It was never intended to be viewed with such up-close scrutiny but I like doing this sometimes. The marks of paint only lightly suggest their subjects leaving lots of room for our imaginations.

SPROUT: What do you see or think you see in these fleeting strokes of paint?

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com

Looking Over My Shoulder in the Studio (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
RAINY DAY BY THE SEA oil on canvas study by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Looking Over My Shoulder in the Studio

April 5, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

There isn’t too much to see yet but I thought you might like to peer over my shoulder this morning and see what is happening. I have started on the larger 16 x 20 inch gessobord following yesterday’s study.

I do not expect to end up with many process shots for this painting just because of how absorbed I become when working on it. There is no ground or underpainting as I felt this would interfere with the flat heavily filtered light on this rainy day. Also, unlike most of my paintings I have built up areas near the top more than usual before getting the whole painting roughed in. I may regret this meddling in my own approach but it felt right and the paint was the right consistency for working when I applied it last night so I didn’t interrupt my intuition.

The blank areas are the rocks in the foreground which have a much deeper value than the repeating of the same colours in the background. The dabs you see there are what I call “markers” for future reference and to guide my work in the background. Once the whole painting is rough in, this one is going to require repeated building of paint to get to the end result I am seeking. This is what the study was mostly about yesterday.

SEED: Alfred Sisley ((October 30, 1839 – January 29, 1899) and English Impressionist Painter born in Paris to English parents may be of help with this particular painting. Though he has been overshadowed by Monet his work is really quite stunning and much more attuned the the same sensibilities as Camille Pissarro – who I feel more akin to than Monet even though I am sometimes called the Monet of Mayne Island. If you look at the link I provided you will see many paintings where he has created depth and interest with little value change on a gray or winter day. This is what I am after – depth with only subtle difference in values in the picture plane. This is not a new exercise but with this scene it is a complex study of light, time and spacial relationships. We shall see what happens!

Today I must also go out on a photo shoot for a client. So the work on this painting will need to happen in the next couple of hours and then we will be into Easter weekend. All the best of the holiday weekend to you and may you enjoy a renewed sense of resilience with the arrival of spring.

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com