Victoria

Late Summer

/ Terrill Welch / Leave a comment

We are now solidly into what islanders call “the shoulder season”. It is the time of year that we book our eye and dentist appointments and check all our batteries and fill the pantries for winter storm power outages. Those that have wood stoves are stacking and splitting and those of us with propane back up heat check the gauges and determine when we will need to ask that the tanks be refilled. Sunflowers and other late summer flowers shine brightly. Our tomatoes and cucumbers are in abundance and various apples are ripening. I always like to do a little extra for winter this time of year.

A pan of tomatoes, eggplant and peppers with garlic, African basil and rosemary are roasted for toast and frozen in small packages for mid winter with the taste of summer pasta.

I do up a basic pickle brine and stuff two jars with a cucumber, carrots and apple. These brine pickles will last unsealed and refrigerated in their sterilized jars for over two months and are ready to start using after two days. Besides, they look so pretty. A person can add dill and garlic if they wish but I didn’t.

We made a trip to Victoria on Monday for my new lenses and had time to stop in Sidney for supper and then a walk window shopping to the pier.

The late ferry arrived at dusk and the ride was uneventful and on schedule.

Yesterday, I worked with our gallery artists to pull together a new show for ISLAND TIME ART and we used the new gallery pod that was closed for the day as a handover for work returning and a staging area for the new show that was going up. Look at that colour!

Then a couple of hours later, it now looks like this and will open tomorrow Thursday, Sept 15, 2022 at 492 Dalton Dr., Mayne Island, B.C. in the ISLAND TIME ART room within Dragonfly above the ferry terminal. I invite you to drop by and see for yourself. Browsing is welcomed and encouraged.

Day trips from Victoria are relatively easy now that we are in the shoulder season and visitors even come for the day from Vancouver sometimes. The ISLAND TIME ART room is generally open 10-5 Wednesday through Monday though it is closed this Wednesday for some electrical work in the building. The Terrill Welch Gallery Pod at 428 Luff Rd also on Mayne Island is open 11-4 Thursday through Monday for the shoulder season and by arrangement at other times.

And speaking of large still life paintings, “August Still Life with Cezanne and Matisse”, a 36 x 24 inch oil on canvas, has found its forever home and is now sold.

I have always loved this painting and had hung it in our hallway for the open home studio days that accompanied the opening of the new Terrill Welch Gallery Pod. One of the gallery’s art collectors took this painting home on trial to consider purchasing and decided to make their relationship permanent. Many of my paintings have a specific job to do in the home of art collectors and this one is no exception. I am honoured that it was chosen for the important work it has been assigned in rememberance of a very special human being I have also had the pleasure to know.

I do believe this catches us up for now and I am off to work on the next issue of our “A Brush With Life” newsletter and get the wall labels ready for the new show in ISLAND TIME ART. Take good care and we shall chat again soon.

ONLINE GALLERIES include –

ArtWork Archive original paintings and acrylic sketches currently available

Redbubble painting and photography prints and merchandise

Website: TerrillWelchArtist.com 

Rubbing Shoulders with Art Ghosts

/ Terrill Welch / 7 Comments

Down this historic alley in Victoria, British Columbia, there is a door to my past. Yesterday, I strolled along on a quiet January Monday rubbing shoulders with the ghosts of time. 

 

Fan-Tan-Alley-Victoria-BC-by-Terrill-Welch

Sure enough, the name of my favourite art teacher is still on the door of his old studio. For a moment, the door opens in my mind. 

We shuffle up the steep steps with our portfolios, arrange ourselves elbow to elbow on the easels provided. We take off layers and visit companionably while we wait for the model. I search the room to see if I can discern what this brilliant teacher has been painting this week. The room is crowded but organized for working. There is the scent of charcoal dust, oil paint, wax and old brick building. Warm lights shine on the platform in the middle of the room and the space heater glows. Then, just as the model takes her first short pose and the teacher gives us his instructions in brief, often unfinished, sentences… the image fades. 

The door reappears. Solid. Closed as a tomb entrance to a treasure buried in a past life. 

Glenn Howarth 1946 – 2009 

Glenn Howarth taught seminars and courses at art schools and universities across Canada after he graduated from UVic’s Visual Arts program. In 1987, he began the Victoria Drawing Academy in his studio in Fan Tan Alley. Howarth participated in both group and solo shows across the country and represented Canada at the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1982 and at Expo 86. (UVic legacy gallery)

I am so ever grateful to have taken several classes with him in the early 2000s. He refined my understanding of what happens between our subject, our bodies as the artist and that of the viewer in profound ways that I am still exploring. 

What might YOU be waiting and preparing for at the same time?

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ONLINE GALLERIES include –

ArtWork Archive original paintings and acrylic sketches currently available

Redbubble painting and photography prints and merchandise

Website: TerrillWelchArtist.com 

 

The Plum Tree and the Brick Building

/ 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?

 

© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

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

/ 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.

© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

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Say Yes Whenever Possible

/ Terrill Welch / 15 Comments

I love YES! YES is the best way to open up and free energy in the most synergistic way both personally and with others. Take for example a sunny Sunday morning on April 1st in Victoria B.C. The morning ferry arrived 1.5 hours before our primary stop to pick up two chairs opened. What possibly could a nature, land and seascape photographer say YES to at this time of day and week? How about a walk on Dallas Road? Of course, yes, I do have my camera. Shall we?

Oh it is a most glorious day don’t you think?

(image is available for purchase HERE) 

And finally the sea!

Before we leave to go pick up those chairs, a reminder that today is the second to last day of my

Spring Studio Sale – Art is not ART until it is SOLD

event. The sale ends at midnight P.D.T. Wednesday April 4th for the five oil paintings and they will return to their regular price and be included in an increase to all of my original paintings as of May 1, 2012. There will be a large showing of my paintings and photography  for the Mayne Island Home and Garden Tour this year followed by an Open Studio day July 1, 2012. I will combine these opportunities with another online showing so stay tuned if you have your eye on collecting one of my original paintings. In the meantime current work is available on the Artsy Home online gallery – just scroll down a little the paintings are just below the my bio.

I hope you have enjoyed this latest event as much as I have and thank you to everyone who shared my work with others, who showed their interest in specific paintings and who offered words of support and encouragement. Thank you!

SPROUT: How are you going to say  “YES”  today?

© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

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In the Rain at Cattle Point Victoria B.C.

/ Terrill Welch / 9 Comments

With much harder rock formations than the sandstone found on Mayne Island, this urban seascape in the rain caught my attention yesterday when we were in Victoria. The clouds are low and soft rain is falling but the mid-day sun is pushing through a gentle light from above.  Last evening’s high winds have passed and this heavy peace remains sprawled over the point.

(image available for purchase HERE) 

As the name of this park suggests, this point was historically used to unload cattle for upland farms on Vancouver Island.

And an update on

Spring Studio Sale – Art is not ART until it is SOLD

As far as I know Sam Juliano from Wonders in the Dark did not win the big 500 million U.S. lottery last night so at the time of this posting all five paintings are still available for purchase. Thank you everyone who has shared the link to my spring studio event and for your kind words and interest in these paintings. There is still the better part of five days left and still time to decide or share the link with someone else you think might be interest.

 

All the best of Friday everyone! I see the sun poking through here in the Mayne Island quiet so sending a little your way.

 

SPROUT: What was the last rainy day moment that captured your creative energy? 

 

© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

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Holding the Sea

/ Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

The rain is steady this morning and the forecast is the same for at least the next five days. I have woke early, very early – 4:30 am to be exact. I have decided something. I have decided to shift my creative routine.  Change it up if you will. Oh you might not notice to much of a difference as there is always something percolating to share. But I will notice the difference in my work flow. It feels a little like this photograph of the sea – holding.

before it rushes forward with a recognizable pounding rhythm.

(image available on my new pro smugmug gallery HERE) 

I want to step back and look at my adventure from the cliff-side of my creativity.

I want to sing to the sea of its flow while I organize, file and scrub the vessel that holds my daily works and my place of eating and sleeping.

Then I will be renewed to begin again with fresh eyes and replenished spirit.

It is time. Could it be spring?

 

SPROUT: What are the your notable signals your recognize that time you it is time to shift your creative flow. 

 

© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

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Make the Most of It

/ Terrill Welch / 16 Comments

The morning had got off to a bad start. I went to put luggage in the truck parked on Arbutus Way after staying over night in Victoria. On the windshield was a $75.00 parking ticket because of… Alleged infraction 220. No Person May Park Or Leave A Veh in A Park Except For The Bona Fide Purpose of Visiting The Park.

The street sign did not say I couldn’t park in that spot overnight which was a through street from downtown at the edge of the park.  The signage said nothing about park use parking only. The sign said I could park for 3.5 hours between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm. Like the other streets around it, I assumed the limit ended at 6:00 pm and night parking with no time limit until 7:00 am began. I was $75.00 worth of wrong.  I felt like I had been unfairly tricked. I could likely argue the ticket but it just seems such a waste of my time. I decided I will pay and tag the City of Victoria in my post instead. After all, my arguing, even if I win, won’t help someone else from making the same mistake. But my blog post might.

Adding to this minor insult the day was heavy with cloud and gloom.

(image may be purchased here.)

But we didn’t let any of it get to us and spoil our fun. We made faces and laughed as we walked and took a break on the park bench for the baby to nurse.

You got it! We were visiting the newest grandson Isaac who is now 7 weeks old.

Now isn’t that a happy grandpa for you?

Giving him lots love.

Looking into this face who wouldn’t feel like the sun was shining and they didn’t have a care in the world?

Who cares about the City of Victoria and their silly old parking tickets or the heavy clouds over our head? Not us. It matters not one smidgen! We are making the most of it!

Sprout Question: When was the last time you made to most of it?

SPECIAL NOTICE: There will be no Creative Potager post on Monday. It is Canadian Thanksgiving and I shall be away visiting the other two grandsons while David keeps the home fires burning.

But we shall have an extra special post on Tuesday with a guest interview appearance with Jeff Stroud. Please do stop by then and say hello.

AND the second part of Leanne Dyck’s interview with me will be up tomorrow morning at THE SWEATER CURSE.

Best of the weekend everyone and happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers.

© 2011 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

At Dusk

/ Terrill Welch / 27 Comments

Some weeks just seem to have a life of their own. I am going fess up first thing and let you know – not one print or painting was properly cataloged into my inventory. There. I have said.

What I did do was get an awesome chance to go “Hunting Waves” which, if you haven’t seen the photographs yet, you may enjoy. I picked up a couple of tubes of paint for my study of blues and two new brushes.

I took some shots at dusk that I am happy with. I fear they may too personal to have wide appeal but I thought I would share them with you anyway.

Mountains above the clouds.

Ferry Wake at Dusk.

Going Home.

(image may be purchased here)

Homeward Bound

(image may be purchased here)

Sailing Home

Passing Pender Island

These images are the exact tone and feel I have been working to get through my new learning with Kat Sloma in her photography e-course “Finding Your Eye.” I wanted to capture just the right amount of light to feel the dusk and still be able to make out some of the detail. I wanted the viewer to feel that lull – the hush before darkness overtakes the day.

I didn’t paint this week but it was still amazingly creative.

Sprout question: What new learning did you apply to your creativity this week?

Best of the weekend to you! Oh, just in case you didn’t notice we went over 30,000 views here on Creative Potager. Thank you for the pleasure of your visits.

© 2011 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

Emily Carr Mystery Solved

/ Terrill Welch / 6 Comments

View and purchase full resolution image here.

Yesterday’s “Can you Guess?” post was so much fun. Yes?

It is indeed Emily Carr.

The statue is located in the Victoria, British Columbia harbour near the Empress Hotel which you can see in the back ground. The specific location is on the corner of Government and Belleville Street diagonal to the legislative buildings.

Looking up is Emily’s dog Billie. He is looking at Woo Emily’s monkey who is sitting on her shoulder.

The artist/sculptor who was commissioned to create the Emily Carr statue is Barbara Paterson.

I took these photographs the day after the unveiling of the oversized Carr statue. People were still frowning at it as they passed on their way to work in the morning. I didn’t take their pictures as they were so unguarded in there peering at this statue of a strange woman with a monkey on her shoulder. I didn’t want to embarrass anyone. I believe it is safe to say that most of them couldn’t have guessed who the statue represented either and they live in Emily’s home town.

The evening before we had seen a screening of a new documentary film Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirits of the Forest by Michael Ostroff which I reviewed on the “Emily Carr My Kindred Spirit” post in October. I was in full Emily Carr remembering when I took these photographs. I have read her diaries, her stories and viewed her art work for much of my life. I regard her as a mentor.

Why did I wait so long to post the photographs of the statue? It is because my heart sank when I saw the statue. I was filled with a deep sadness – not because of the statue itself. The statue is beautiful, thoughtful and skillfully created. I was sad because the location chose for the statue presented a mystery for me. Emily would hate it. I just know she would. Stuck in the buzz of city traffic and tourists, with people peering at her while she is left sketching one miserly branch of the great forest she loved would have been torture.

Why would anyone choose to put a statue of Emily Carr in such a counter position to her whole being? I thought and mused as I invited Emily to walk with me out of the noise and commotion down a path along the harbour shore. I am sure her feelings were hurt as much as she was angry.

I know because as we stopped to look up at the totem pole along the path, she seemed to be saying:

“Why couldn’t they have just tucked me a little ways into the peace of the rose garden where at least the birds visit?”

“Why didn’t they put me in Beacon Hill Park where it is quiet and the glorious big pines still stand?”

“Oh bother! Why didn’t they just forget about this old fool?”

I feel compelled to tell her that she is important to art history in Canada and especial in British Columbia. Though people may have not chosen the best spot for her statue in relation to her love of the woods, their hearts were in the right place. They loved her. She sagged a bit under the weight of it all and seemed to weary to fight the mistake… for surely it had to be a mistake, wasn’t it?

After weeks of considering, my conclusion is no, it is not a mistake. It was the right decision even as heartbreaking as it is to think of Emily sitting there stuck so far from the peace of her woods. It is the right decision because the statue isn’t for Emily Carr. She lived her life, created her art, wrote her stories and her spirit is free to be where it chooses – which is not on the corner of Government and Belleville Street I can assure you. The statue is for those of us who have yet to discover Emily Carr. For those that do not know of her great art and her books. The statue is a clue to a mystery that waits to be discovered by tourists, workers going to work and the three year old on a walk with her dad who draws him into the world of Emily as the child pets Billie and they both smile up at Woo. Maybe then they will seek out Carr’s paintings and wander into the great forest to see the trees as she saw them. I hope so because this is where they will find her spirit joins them as they sit on a log in wonder at one of the greatest mystery of all – the forest.

The statue is only a clue to solving a great mystery. Maybe someday the world will know Emily Carr and her woods well enough that this clue can be removed deep into the forest where we can sit together with her as kindred spirits around a small fire discussing other creative mysteries.

Sprout question: How do you resolve creative sadness and disappointment?

Or an even better sprout question offered to us by Leanne Dyck: What artist of the past would you like others to discover today?

Thank you Leanne:)

© 2010 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

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

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