Snow Clouds

November 16, 2010November 16, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 20 Comments

It doesn’t snow very often on Mayne Island but it does all around us. Some days I can smell snow and people frown when I say so. Raising one eyebrow, they will say “I didn’t hear of a snowfall warning.” Then I have to explain that I can smell it from where it is snowing on the mountains around us… 30 or 40 miles away.

Sometimes I look up and say “those are snow clouds.” It is not just the look of them. It is how they feel… and smell.

Sprout question: What smells in your neighbourhood?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

An Artist

November 11, 2010November 11, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 22 Comments

My daughter, Josie Olszewski, took these photographs of me last weekend. I am collecting a couple of images of me to accompany a new youtube video of my recent work which I hope to finish in the next few months with the help of a musician in Europe.

I sometimes ask myself “what makes me an artist?”

It seems to be a simple enough question. However, I never find a satisfactory answer as I am taking the insides out of the squash in preparation for dinner or stripping the bed of its sheets for the laundry.

These photos should make Wulan at Lemon Zest very happy.

Sprout question: What makes you an artist, writer, musician, photographer?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Hurry, Hungry Seattleites! There’s Still Time to Be a Part of Sprout #2 (seattlest.com)

Visiting Baby O

November 10, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 24 Comments

Sunday at 8:15 am I was on the ferry to Swartz Bay. By 10:30 am I greeted my daughter and her husband at their home in Mill Bay. I was just in time for a waffle brunch.

My mom and dad, each of my children and me each have one of these cast iron antique stovetop waffle irons. They were designed for using on top of a wood cook stove but we use them on any heat source.

They make the best waffles.

Afterwards we went on a hike in Maple Bay.

Baby O has had quite the adventures before entering the world from long hikes, rock climbing, cycling, kayaking and snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico. I will laugh very hard if once here, we are introduced to a couch potato who says… “Oh, been there done that!” to all outdoor activity.

Leaning on a beautiful arbutus Josie is her usual relaxed and happy self.

I am particularly fond of this black and white.

Baby O is 22 weeks or about half way to time of birth.

Sprout question: What creative subject has your attention today?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Redbubble Portfolio Sale

November 5, 2010November 15, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

Yesterday, redbubble started shaking bells and sending the Christmas spirit along by offering a 15% discount on all of my work. Even on this newest image of Mount Baker.

View and purchase full resolution here.

Even on my 2011 calendars. Even on all my most popular images. The whole works actually. Everything! What is a photographer and artist to do? Let you know of course!

To receive your discount, put in the following code when you go through the checkout process TerrillWelch_is_on_sale_9565

Note: this discount is only available for those that order my work directly online at redbubble.

And apparently, though I have been unable to confirm, this offer ends November 14, 2010.

Please, have a good look around my redbubble storefront at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch. Your favourites are all there.

Sprout question: How well do you roll with something that is unexpected?

P.S. Remember to change your clocks. This Sunday, November 7, 2010, Canada, US and Mexico FALL BACK to standard time.

Best of the weekend to you all!

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

RedBubble (scottpaterson.org)
Dentist Doctor and Birthdays (creativepotager)

Within

November 1, 2010October 29, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 16 Comments

This wave won’t take your breath away as it crashes to shore. It is going to swish over the sandstone and reach in near your heart, gently releasing, easing back to sea, only to reach forward again, and again. Let your worries and fears go with it. Fill with its strength each time the wave reaches forward. Be within.

Sprout question: What is your heart wanting to create?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Getting Better – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (travelpod.com)

The Distance Between

October 29, 2010October 29, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

The distance between summer and winter is the glorious colours of fall. The leaves on Mayne Island make for very subdued frocks compared to other parts of the world. Still we are not left out.

The maple trees are the biggest and brightest dancing and spinning before the winds and rains undress them.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased my redbubble calendars this week. You know who you are and I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did creating them. For those that are still interested, take your time, there is no rush yet. It is still a couple of weeks before redbubble sends me a notice to say they can’t be sure that a delivery will get to its destination before Christmas.

Speaking of redbubble, they just had a major re-design. Here is a link with a thumbnail of my All-Time-Popular images shown together http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch/portfolio/art . Very cool.

Sprout question: What creative seed are you planting so it will sprout for spring?

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

294 of 365 is a autumnal maple leaf #Inkscape #drawing (365sketches.org)

The Duck That Came Wagging Its Tail

October 28, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 13 Comments

Yesterday we went for our usual afternoon walk and were greeted by an unexpected new friend.

The duck came talking and wagging its tail up to the property fence to say hello. I am sure one of the regular passersby must have offerings in their pocket. I was sorry we didn’t. What a delight. The duck had the softest voice and the most pleasant desire to have a good tongue wag – or rather tail wag…. bringing new meaning to the jingle “it’s not the size of the tail that matters but how you wag it.”

Of course we stopped to visit for a bit.

Sprout question: What unexpected creative guest has come wagging its tail lately?

Psst! Sam let us know on yesterday’s post that he has purchased a calendar – says he doesn’t think he will write in his either. Laurie said she isn’t either. I suggested that the large images on the heavy card stock can likely be framed for years of enjoyment – or as Sam and Laurie suggest the calendar can be kept as a piece of art in itself. Such fun!

If you are still thinking about ordering a calendar, here is a quick link to all three http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch/shop/calendars

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

It’s not the size of your tail, it’s how you wag it (adpunch.org)

Sweeping

October 27, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 13 Comments

Winds come in off the water, bending and moving the tree’s branches. Even still, these branches are sweeping, catching wisp of songs on the lips of the Salish Sea.

View and purchase full resolution image here.

The composition of this image is unusual, bringing the eye in from the left to the silhouetted trunk and closer as it crosses the frame on the sweeping branch, dropping down on the rocks and out to sea, only to come back again onto the far hill of misty trees. The sight line is an angled backwards Z. Like a piece of complicated music, it requires time to gather in its intricacies. This type of image, like a sentence with several parts connected by commas, is often broken down into smaller bites so we can devour it more quickly. I resisted. I kept its complicated-sweeping-whole and place the image in the Mayne Island Tree Spirits calendar’s month of June. It is there for me as much as I placed it there for you.

Sprout question: What creative principle have you resisted recently?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Tree Blocks: A Natural Building Toy that’s Easy to Craft (craftingagreenworld.com)

Mayne Island Tree Spirits

October 22, 2010November 29, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 28 Comments

Mayne Island is a magical place and in the rolling fog off the water it is even more magnificent. The dryads, fairies, nymphs and tree spirits are just out of sight or maybe not? Let’s have a look.

The fog is thick and little can be seen along the shore trail.

The pine seems to bend back to let us past.

One branch reaching forward with pine needles harboring hope of something special… do you see anything?

Let’s head inland for a bit.

Light in coming through the mist.

A sense of missing.

Resting.

Reflections of trees caught in webs.

Watchful. Present.

Distant beauty.

Traveling into the mist.

Together.

Trees growing together.

Tall wonder.

Many of these images are part of Mayne Island Tree Spirits 2011 calendar.

Shall we stay awhile, wondering back through the trees to the shore? Maybe the old crone will be out on the point with her camera. She is often here – squinting when the light is bright.

Have a great weekend!

Sprout question: Do you know of a place that is filled with tree spirits?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Gulf Islands in Fog

October 21, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 16 Comments

View and purchase full resolution image here.

Ferry whistles wake me this morning as they navigate through the thick fog. The haunting sound is like that of a moving a fog horn being answered by another a little further on.

When we were out for our walk yesterday, I took this image of rolling fog in Active Pass. This morning we are still above it here at la casa de inspiracion but it is creeping towards the valley next to Heck Hill as it moves in off the water. We are only about a third of the way up the cliff side or 81 really large steps on the stairway to heaven but it is enough to escape the fog – for now.

I hope to have more images for us tomorrow of the fog in the trees. It was amazing.

Sprout question: What is your favourite experience of fog?

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada