Wabi Sabi Feng Shui Nature and Photography

February 27, 2013 / Terrill Welch / 19 Comments

Sometimes the grand seascapes of the west coast winter are just too gray and flat to hold my attention.

When this happens I look elsewhere to see what I can feel and see by the sea. This is when I am most often consciously drawn to beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” or the wabi-sabi nature of our natural environment.

Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. Andrew Juniper in Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence describes wabi-sabi this way: “if an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi.” Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

Feng Shui on the other hand comes from the discipline of Kan Yu or the Tao of heaven and earth. The term feng shui literally translates as “wind-water” in English. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui

In both wabi-sabi and feng shui there is an element of human use or organization to replicate and appreciate our natural world. So, when the view on the horizon is less than inspiring, I sometimes seek to photograph these natural relationships between feng shui elements with their full embodiment of characteristics of wabi-sabi at sources – without human use or organization.

These wabi-sabi, feng shui nature photographs seldom make it to my blogs or my online galleries for purchase. They are a meditation or spiritual practice rather than an end result. However, today I am going to share a few of these images with you.

In the trees…

Arbutus Splendor

Looking into the deep woods on Henderson Hill gives way to the splendor of the the arbutus trees. Their tangle of light-seeking branches reach elegantly under and around in search of the sky.

A new conversation

Though it is just the end of February there are many signs that a new spring season is beginning here on Mayne Island. One of these is the shedding of the bark on the arbutus trees and the revealing of the fresh new skin on of these sensual trees. It is such a tactile sensory visual experience that I walk along running my hands over their smooth exposed trunks.

Arbutus Bark Natural Design

The pealing and curling captures natural the movement of time in its everyday way of being.

Out on a limb

Trees seem to have invented the strength of the spiral. In our occasional high winds I am often amazed that so few trees are blown to the ground. This spiraling is I believe part of the mystery.

On the forest floor…

While, when the big landscapes fail to impress on a heavy overcast west coast afternoon, the little things sometimes become more beautiful than ever. This is fresh new moss growing on the rocks. So very soft and lovely on the eyes and to the touch.

By the Sea…

A Dance through Time

Over and over they tango the sea and the shore until they are shaped as one. I am squished between the land and sea begging the sky to intervene. Have you been there?

Shell Sand Sea – a love story

The tide is going out. As the water leaves in a wave of salty tears, the shell of a varnish clam remains, embracing the sand.

Butter Clam 1

The round butter clam brings vitality to the gray and the stones by the sea.

Mussels and Seaweed

The connected and passage of relationships crush and sweep away any sense of isolation. Yet, the inner scream of longing cries out to be heard, noticed and cherished.

Plump Oyster

What belly can grumble with such nourishing abundance for the taking?

Another Layer

There is yet another layer of temporary impermanence. We know in this continuation we are but a moment of moments lost to infinity.

Drifting

Our live bits drifting with the dead, the dying and such shall we become.

Such is the nature of wab-sabi feng shui in my natural world of photography. May this imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete Tao of heaven and earth bring you a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing.

What wabi-sabi feng shui nature influences your life?

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

Creative Potager – Visit with painter and photographer Terrill Welch

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

For gallery and purchase information about Terrill’s photographs and paintings go to http://terrillwelchartist.com

Feng Shui Basics (navarrahong.com)
Wabi Sabi Writing (deborahbrasket.wordpress.com)
Wabi-Sabi – Beauty in Impermanence (everydaygurus.com)
Photographing and Painting seams in time with John Daido Loori (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Stop feeding the WOW-smacked dragon! (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Reef Bay Morning Experienced – west coast seascape oil painting (terrillwelchartist.com)

Evening And The Arbutus Tree – large Canadian landscape painting

January 7, 2013January 7, 2013 / Terrill Welch / 6 Comments

As, mentioned I will write more about this painting and the creative process later. For now, we have the painting.

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Terrill Welch

The sun is going down fast in the late afternoon of November out on Georgina Point, Mayne Island . I marvel at the orange glow and the hues of the heavy mist in the distance of our west coast landscape. I knew then that this most-loved tree was once again going to grace one of my canvases – a large one this time. There is the coolness of a winter sea with soft waves barely evident on the shore. There is a quiet and a peace that often accompanies the end of a day. There is a sense of being alive without separation between land, sea and sky. It is often such with the Canadian landscape but so hard to portray in away that someone who has never been, never stood where I am standing will know what it is I speak about. Yet, this tree knows and seems to…

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When Resting is more than Sleeping

December 29, 2012December 29, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 7 Comments

Do you have nights when sleep comes lightly and yet your day unfolds as a time of rest and renewal? I often have these kinds of days around the full moon. Sleep time is short and yet I do not feel particularly tired. I like to putter and poke at things during these time. This morning I use this hushed time to edit photographs such as this one taken the late afternoon a few days ago on the east side of the Mayne Island.

As you likely know, I covet my time in the open space of sea and sky. Its simplicity in the soft light pleases me. While I am editing I take another look at this one…

There is a quiet here as well that draws me in and keeps me close.

So as the rain fumbles its way to the ground in the early morning gray, I feel at ease. Inside there is a peace and stillness that is reflected in the soft light of my studio lamp and in these photographs.

It is at about this time three years ago that I started our Creative Potager blog. Time has changed its purpose and intent slightly but it is still the place of creative sharing between you and me. It remains a place to visit and connect.

In the coming year I will continue to take you behind the scenes of my photography and painting. Sometimes I may have question or two for you. Others times a post might be more of a show and tell. Either way, a good visit will commence with each reading and a grand conversations will be had by all. Do drop in unannounced. Do stay as long as you like. And do feel free to jump into the conversation at any hour of the day or night.

So as we rest, I was wondering what are YOUR dreams and plans for the year ahead?

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

Creative Potager – Visit with painter and photographer Terrill Welch

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

For gallery and purchase information about Terrill’s photographs and paintings go to http://terrillwelchartist.com

Storm Clouds over Strait of Georgia – postcard oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
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Celebrating the day we eloped

December 10, 2012May 13, 2017 / Terrill Welch / 22 Comments

We are celebrating with biscuits, jam and dark roast coffee this morning.

Three years ago today is the day we surprised our family and friends. We eloped. Well, technically I suppose a person must run away to elope. We just didn’t tell anyone until after we were married. I suppose that isn’t exactly true either because we asked our closest friends in our Mayne Island community to marry us and be our witness. Then of course we had to also swear our local baker to secrecy in order to have a cake to serve with coffee and champagne after the ceremony.

But considering that we had lived together for eight years and had given no indication that we would ever marry, we did take most by surprise.

It was a cold December day that year as our friend John drove us to the local Mary Magdalene church.

We were like deer in the headlights as we walked up the isle of an almost empty small church.

Neither of us had expected the emotional significance of a decision we had thought we were making for some very practical reasons. This part of the surprise was on us.

The ceremony was short and included a poem written to me by David. The signing of papers happened with grace and ease.

It was so cold we could see our breath. Thankfully the candles gave off such warm light. In very short order we were leaving the church.

It was snowing when we stepped out that door and headed back to our home – la casa de inspiracion. The warmth of our heated floors in our strawbale timberframe house and the smell of freshly brewed dark coffee added to the festive mood of the morning.

There was the ritual slicing of the cake.

As you can see we are not a pair of youngsters but we giggled with the same nervous delight of a couple twenty-year-olds. After all, we were going away on a honeymoon. But before we could change there was one last requests from our witnesses. They wanted a picture of me in my shoes.

They look pretty non-impressive from this angle don’t they? Let’s try this again.

I can tell you honest and true – these shoes were NOT made for walking. But I also think that the photo op request was because I am usually barefoot or in walking shoes or hiking boots and so these shoes were particularly amusing to our guests. I will quietly admit to you that even at just past the age of fifty-one, I felt like such a beautiful bride in this dress and these elegant shoes.

Today, we give special thanks and warm hugs to our friends Thomi, John and Joyce who were a big part of this intimate elopement and to our family and friends who we love and who love us back. Thank you all for just being you and letting us be us.

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

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

Creative Potager – Visit with painter and photographer Terrill Welch

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Terrill Welch Artist website at http://terrillwelchartist.com

Planning an Elopement from Kristeen LaBrot Events + A Jose Villa Sneak Peek! (stylemepretty.com)
Paris elopement (joannagoddard.blogspot.com)
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Autumn Sliced with a Tear

October 19, 2012July 14, 2013 / Terrill Welch / 15 Comments

Just the highlights from a painter and photographer’s last five days…

Sunday – Today is one of those slow-baked, melancholy west coast Sundays, so moist and tender you can slice it with a tear.

Autumn Sliced with a Tear

(available in my redbubble store at HERE)

Monday – new painting.

To see at a glance the cliffside, the sea and the movement of light across the canvas. This unframed 16 x 12 inch oil on canvas is a studio-finished plein air impressionist painting of one of the most beautiful location on the southern most gulf Island off the west coast of Canada.

Fiddlers Cliffside Saturna Island – oil painting

This painting is now in a private collection.

Tuesday – After an appointment this morning I slipped off to the sea – for no reason other than to say “hello” to the sea, the sun and today.

Here is Today

Wednesday – Perfect for today…. Moroccan Harira Soup

Every time I make this soup I do something a little different. Today it was 1/2 cup of dried organic French du Puy Lentils instead of the ready-to-go canned ones. Just add the dried lentils at the same time as the carrots. Enjoy and feel free to add and delete veggies… it all works. No potatoes or cabbage in mine today 🙂

Thursday – Seagull Cry Mayne Island

These gray days are as much a part of west coast life as the gulls. Loneliness and aloneness are so close that they whisper to each other and can be heard above the wind and pelting rain.

There is a Haiku poem by Alexis Rotella that came to mind as I closed in on framing this image….

The Gull
giving loneliness
sound.

SPROUT: What are some of the high lights of your creative week?

P.S. I left out the event of locking my keys in the car over by the daffodil garden. It was not a highlight. Thankfully, because the kindness of one of our Mayne Island residents, it was only a minor bleep in the week.

Today I have a long list of tasks in preparation to leave for the big city Vancouver B.C. on Friday morning. I wish all the best for today and the weekend.

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

Early November Sea oil painting by Terrill Welch (terrillwelchartist.com)
New homes for Art and other studio musings (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Mayne Island en plein air painting morning (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Mayne Island en plein air painting morning

August 16, 2012August 16, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 9 Comments

August is my favourite month of the year and the weather is finally spectacular – feels like summer at last. However, I am not good at beach-sitting but rather prefer to be beach-doing with either my camera or french box easel or both. Such is the case on this fine morning down on Reef Bay, Mayne Island…

I am feeling fairly pleased with myself. I have the 12 x 16 inch canvas blocked in and the sea is singing away as I work away for about 45 minutes. But after awhile I take and good look. It seems nothing is quite right.

The parts in the painting are separate and seem unrelated to each other. I frown and I stall by signing the work. I look out at the scene before me. I walk around eating a golden plum I had brought with me for a snack. After awhile I acknowledge that I am still undecided and unsure about what to do next. But who can fuss on such a find day? I shrug and I set the canvas aside. I picked up my second blank canvas, slightly smaller at 9 x 12 inches and turn to the view just to my left.

This time I set to painting looking quickly and briefly at the scene as waves roll softly over and over again onto side of the reef. We seem as one – the sandstone, sea and me.

Swish, swish, swish. My brush responds with ease, leaving out the freighter and the driftwood as it focused on the relationship between the sandstone, the sea and the sky. After awhile, my bare arms begin to tingle from the heat of the sun and I am thankful I had decided to put a hat on my head. Stopping to take a long sip of cool water I squint at the painting.

It is done. Complete. Finished – and so am I 🙂

I pack up and head home. My en plein air morning is no longer morning.

Of course, you know, there is that other painting right? Well I sleep on it and get up in the morning to see what I can do with in the studio. Hum! I am not sure this helped much.

Though it is starting to come together, the overall painting is muted and lacks strength and conviction. Now what? I go back to my some reference images I had taken and look closely at the first photograph that I showed you here. I walk away and do a few chores. Then I take another run at it – or rather brush at it. I am determined though unattached to the outcome.

Now let’s see – yes, there! Now I think we have it.

The day is shot. It is well after six o’clock. I missed lunch and am not up to cooking us dinner. We decide to slip out to the Green House Bar and Grill. I ask David if I had any paint on my face. He said “no darling you look fine.” Off we go.

The first thing the owner says to us as he hands out the menus is “hey Terrill, you have paint on your nose.”

Not only that, some how I had managed to get three different splashes of colour on the front of my t-shirt as well. But they let us in anyway 🙂
Once these two oil paintings are dry and I am satisfied that no further adjusting is needed they will be available in the Artsy Home online gallery along with my other paintings that are currently available. However, if you are interested in having one of these hanging on your wall and you email me at tawelch@shaw.ca no later than 6:00 am PDST tomorrow, Friday August 17, 2012 I will cover the shipping for you to anywhere in North America. The 9 x 12 by 3/4 inch “Late morning in August by the sea” is currently $430. The 12 x 16 by 3/4 inch “August morning Reef Bay” is currently $675.

SPROUT: What keeps you coming back to something until you get it the way you want it?

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

Sold! Art and other adventures (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Seven Tips for Buying Original Paintings (terrillwelchartist.com)
An interview with Terrill Welch by Charles van Heck (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Mayne Island Backyard Bandit Capers

August 13, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

Mayne Island is a quite rather bucolic southern Gulf Island off the west coast of Canada. But this island has also been known to have its share of mischief. There are roving masked bandits during the night that frequently get up to no good. It is worth keeping an eye out for them just to be on the safe side. Let’s see if I can assist you in knowing what you are looking for. Ah yes, here comes one now…

“Who me?” she says.

Yes you! We are talking about you Miss Curious Cat.

“Well how interesting” she softly growls.

But then she thinks “what else could I possibly expect with such frequent trips through their property?”

“Lovely evening isn’t it?” and she almost smiles before looking farther up the tree to make sure the children safe.

Three of these are hers and one is the baby of a good friend of hers who is guarding the bottom of the tree and too hidden by the underbrush to get an identifying mugshot. The tree is like a raccoon hotel at the moment with the guests swinging from the rafters.

I suspect that they stopped at the compost fruit and salad bar before coming up because they sure know how to be entertaining and silly. Raccoon tail hat anyone?

If you do see any of this masked bandits do keep your distance. These photographs were taken with a telephoto lens so you can get good look at them. They may look cute but are fierce and can be aggressive if cornered. If you note those powerful back legs it is easy to see why they can spring a good distance to attach if they feel threatened or their young are in danger.

SPROUT: Who have you recently caught roaming around your yard at night?

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

European Fallow Deer Mayne Island (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
An Evening on Brown Ridge Saturna Island (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
An interview with Terrill Welch by Charles van Heck (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Does anyone read blogs and does it matter that you write?

July 18, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 29 Comments

Short answer: Yes they do and yes it does!

Sold – photography print on canvas of Building with a View #2 in series of five by Terrill Welch

(available for purchase HERE)

There is a wonderful story that goes with this sale. Yesterday, as I was standing on top of a bench-seat in order to hang a small painting in the Green House Bar and Grill here on Mayne Island, I hear a woman say

“Are you Terrill Welch?”

I turn, raising my eyebrows slightly at the smiling stranger and reply “yes I am”

The woman came bounding forward.

“OMG! I read your blog all the time! I am from Edmonton and whenever it is miserable there I go to your blog. I love your work! It is such a pleasure to meet you!”

Her husband is more nonchalantly and says – before saying hello to me –

“Is this the blog you always send me links to at work and tell me I just have to see it?” and as his wife is nodding he then smiles at me and says hello.

She is laughing and says “oh I send your blog posts everywhere – to my husband, my dad, all my friends”

Teasing she adds “you are famous in Edmonton you know.”

(For those not familiar with Edmonton – population 752,412 in 2007 and it is in Alberta, Canada – right next to British Columbia and about a two-day drive away from Mayne Island. Many make this trip at least once a year and sometimes several times. Anonymity intact!)

Before the couple even get their lunch ordered, this piece is selected and set aside for purchasing when they were ready to leave. She was able to ask for it by name and fortunately it was one of the photography prints I had selected to show this time.

I tell this story because if, as an artist, photographer or writer, you ever doubt the impact of your blogging efforts and all the time you put into posting your work – think again. It does matter. It does make a difference in connecting your work to those who will and do enjoy it.

I had never met this delightful woman before. I did not know this reader as one of my regular readers who comments here on Creative Potager. And the post with this photograph was made on February 19, 2010

https://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/simplicity

I allow those who have a subscription to my blog to receive the whole post so they can read it and share it – the consequence of this is the views do not show up in my viewing statistics. But none-the-less, she is a regular reader and was able to comment on past and recent posts with great joy.

A fine moment for any artist, photographer or writer.
Thank you, thank you to my dear reader who has quietly enjoyed these posts and shared them with her family and friends. Thank you to all those readers I have yet to meet. And thank you to those readers I know well and who comment and share my work regularly. You are wonderful! You are a joy! You make my heart glad to be alive!

SPROUT Question: __________________ (you decide:)

P.S. This wasn’t the only sale yesterday as I was putting up the new show – but that is another story! 😉

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

How long did it take you to paint that painting? (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
HAYING original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
An interview with Terrill Welch by Charles van Heck (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ALWAYS ROSES still life oil painting by Terrill Welch (terrillwelchartist.com)

July 13, 2012July 13, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 9 Comments

ALWAYS ROSES is a 24 x 36 inch oil on canvas still life painting

Terrill Welch

ALWAYS ROSES is a 24 x 36 inch oil on canvas still life painting

Here are a couple of images of details as well.

and the second one…

I will be finishing the edges on this painting in a few days and then it will be available for purchase. I will update this post when the painting is posted. This is a sneak preview for those who follow and love my work. If you are interested in buying this painting and you do not want to wait that long, please feel free to contact me directly.

I haven’t painted flowers in the past few years but I have done so on other occasions. It seems I paint whatever I am involved in during my daily living. For example, this week I painted a scene from the local haying I had been asked to photograph for a client (that painting…

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An interview with Terrill Welch by Charles van Heck

July 2, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 4 Comments

Every once in a long while someone reaches out and gently grasps your elbow to steer you over to a quiet spot where they can ask evocative questions. Such has been my experience in being interviewed by writer Charles van Heck! When someone is really listening in a deep and meaningful way I often have lots to say – so this in not a short read. However, I hope you will find it an interesting one. Enjoy!