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)
Wait and See (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

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…

View original post 610 more words

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!

Impression and Perspectives from Mayne Island
An Interview with Terrill Welch

at Whitman Pond Charles van Heck – Woodhull Arts Journal

Whitman Pond is the website of poet and author, Charles van Heck. Welcome to Whitman Pond, a fictional place that has had a long gestation.

I know that for those of you that regularly visit here you will enjoy discovering Charles van Heck’s website and his writings and interviews.

SPROUT: Who recently asked you such good questions that you didn’t realize until afterwards how much you had to say?

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

Mayne Island Super moon on May 5 2012 (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Squared to the Sea – new painting series by Terrill Welch (terrillwelchartist.com)
Seven Tips for Buying Original Paintings (terrillwelchartist.com)

PEARS BY THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch

June 22, 2012October 29, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 15 Comments

A strange relationship really, pears and the sea. However, it was a joyful occasion on the day they were wedded in my en plein air painting. How did this all come about you might ask?

Well, one day not too long ago I got to thinking how the lovely pear has been painted and photographed for what seems like forever. They are a powerful symbol of abundance, cultivation or agriculture and culture. I want to marry them – at least for a while – with the sea because the sea is, at least for me, a symbol of eternal change and continuity. My desire is to go more deeply into our human relationship to our environment. A study of pears by the sea seems like a good place to start as any.

I set up my easel as the light changed quickly.

It was a grand day by the sea!

As the sea embraces the sky – and my pears of course!

Would you like a peek at the work in progress before I show you the completed painting? Yes? I thought you might…

I may paint another still life of pears by the sea but for now – this 12 x 12 inch oil on canvas is it…

(Updated October 29, 2012: this painting is no longer available)

SPROUT: What is your most favourite unlikely relationship?

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

ALONE BY THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch (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 (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Mayne Island Early Evening At Georgina Point

June 14, 2012June 14, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

This is a long story from not too long ago, far off on the southwest coast of Canada. The rain has been raining and we have been having grey days well into what should be summer in middle June. But on this particular evening about 6:30 pm or so the sky clears and the sun shines as if she hasn’t been missed. We look at each other. I grab the camera bag and David his sweater. We scramble into my old blue ford truck, Miss Prissy, which right now gurgles more loudly than usual with a small hole developing in the exhaust. About 10 minutes from our home on Mayne Island, Georgina Point Heritage Part and Lighthouse are our destination.

No this photograph was not taken on this particular evening. It is from late in May at about noon. I just wanted to show you where we are going to be situated for this particular story. You can park yourself on that bench there between the lighthouse and the flag pole beside David or you can wander along the rocky shore with me. Either way, it is a quiet evening with the flapping of the Canadian flag overhead being the loudest sound to be heard.

The grass is getting tall and is in full bloom. For those with allergies you will be glad the wind calm. I notice a rather large cedar stump has been marooned on the shore.

It is oh so still.

The sun is warm on our back and shoulders as the smell of the sea water drifts lazily upwards. It is a time of noticing simple pleasures like the crevices in the sandstone.

David seems to be enjoying his time on bench and blends nicely into our surroundings.

I seem to see a few of you have joined him there on his perch overlooking the Strait of Georgia at the entrance into Active Pass. No pushing now! Shhhh. We seem to be the only ones here. But this might not be entirely so. I decide to go back up by the stairs.

Did you notice them in the first photograph of the lighthouse? No this is not the way I came down. That would have been far too sensible. For those that followed me it is a good thing you had sturdy non-slip shoes on.

The large swinging yellow blooms are gone from the tree now but it is still lovely in the early evening light.

Not much to see really.

The sandstone is as always a constant muse and of pattern and light. We sit awhile picking up small sounds and movement that tell us we are not alone. A couple of seals cough and snort a little to the left.

They always seem to have a cold! A Great Blue Heron glides past…

landing at a favourite fishing hole a little farther off.

A shadow moves overhead as a young eagle sores past in the opposite direction.

It circles around and lands in a tall old fir tree and calls out to another feathered friend hidden in a tree a bit farther over.

The sun is warming the stillness as it seeps into those damp crevices down deep where you thought now weary water could reach. Shall we just sit awhile? Ah yes! So lovely.

Wait! What is that over on there on the rocks. Could it be? Yes, I think it is!

Do you see it? Near the top left! It is about the size of a small house cat but with shorter legs.

We are a pretty far away and these animals are fast and timid so lets use a little paintography to get you a closer look.

It is a mink. We have seen them before but never with a chance to raise the camera up and see what I could capture. They are very red here on the coast rather than the dark chestnut that I am used to seeing in the interior of British Columbia. Now for a little seaweed rub.

Who knows what it has gotten into. These fellows are always up to sneaky mischief. It is a good thing there isn’t a hen house near by! Well, one last look our way before it scoots off across the rocks.

Oh good gravy! Look at what time it is – way past your bedtime. Now off you go and if you are coming with us tomorrow remember to set out your raincoat.

SPROUT: Who last told you a long story just for the pleasure of telling?

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

Mayne Island Super moon on May 5 2012 (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
European Fallow Deer Mayne Island (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Washington County lighthouse near Jonesport up for auction (bangordailynews.com)
Future dim for lighthouses across Canada (cbc.ca)

European Fallow Deer Mayne Island

June 11, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 5 Comments

We had a nice surprise visit late yesterday afternoon on the valley floor below our house. These two buck Fallow Deer stood long enough for me to photograph when we whistled at the them. You may wonder what European Fallow Deer are doing on Mayne Island off the southwest coast of Canada and it is a good question. Sometime in the 1990’s they were brought here to farm and eventually a few got away which has led to the foreign immigrants becoming wild inhabitants on the island. Though they are extremely pretty they are not favoured by locals as they compete with the native deer for limited food. They are also much more fearful and wary. This is the best photograph I have been able to get in five years. Enjoy!