Spurious relationships between photograph and painting pairs

December 31, 2012December 31, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

I have been requested several times to create another art book that includes pairings of my photographs and paintings. The difficulty with this task is that I don’t generally paint directly from one particular photograph. I sometimes paint en plein air and other time using my whole experience and a large handful of my own reference images will paint in the studio. The two approaches are simply used as tools to capture my impressions of the world around me – a world that emotionally and physically influences my everyday because it IS my everyday. Here is a pairing that demonstrates this almost spurious relationships between what looks like a natural pairing.

The photograph “Good Morning Galiano Island” was taken yesterday at about 9:30 in the morning.

(available for closer viewing and purchase HERE)

The oil painting “Far Shore” was painted in the spring 2010 using a set of very grainy reference images from an earlier afternoon day when the fog was so heavy that the sun could just barely break through lightly onto the tip of the rock face.

(available for closer viewing and purchase HERE)

Is there a connection between these two works? Yes, but it is likely that the photograph is more influenced by the previous painting than the other way around.

Here is another example. The sunrise was deep in bruised mauve yesterday. “Mayne Island Dawn Dec 30 2012” is one of my favourites from this shoot.

The oil painting “Winter Sun” which was also completed early in 2010 using a different location as reference yet the feeling is the same, the light is the same and I can smell the same cool sea air when I look at both the photograph from yesterday and this painting from a couple of years ago.

(available for closer viewing and purchase HERE)

Well, here we are. This will be our last Creative Potager post in 2012. Also, it is a post that hints at what is ahead. I desire to take you deeper into the creative process and life of this artist. Right down into the unfinished tangle of thoughts, unfinished ideas, quick sketches and daily explorations. The posts will likely be longer and full of musings, more of a shared record, if you will, of the history behind the finished work that will eventually emerge.

ALL THE BEST OF THE NEW YEAR MY FRIENDS!

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

Greetings Fir Tree and Your Simple Goodness – poem by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Storm Clouds over Strait of Georgia – postcard oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Reef Bay Mayne Island observation to painted experience (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

2012 Creative Potager in review

December 30, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 5 Comments

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 26,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals

In 2012, there were 101 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 424 posts.

There were 371 pictures uploaded. That’s about a picture per day.

Visitors came from 132 countries. Most were from the United States. Canada and the United Kingdom were close behind.

Click here to see the complete report.

Thank you all for your participation in another wonderful blogging year. May 2013 be all that you wish for and more! Happy New Year!

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

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)
Terrill Welch Painting and Photography Calendars (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Wait and See (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

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)

Reef Bay Mayne Island observation to painted experience

December 9, 2012March 26, 2013 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

When do observations transform into renderings of full experiences? This is the question I ask myself while I am gathering references for my next painting. I observe. I take a total of 57 photographs. Though all are important, one later becomes my primary painting reference.

What pixels actually hold the smell of the sea and cry of the gulls?

I capture a video just over a minute in length. Later I choose a piece of music to go with it.

At what point in this process of creating a video reference did I move from observing to experiencing?

I return to the studio and rummage through my blank canvases. Eventually, I choose an 11 x 14 inch and set it upon the easel. I squeeze out the oil paint onto the palette. I listen to the video. I glance at the photograph. I pick up my brush.

Quickly and without hesitation the landscape is blocked in. Swiftly my body engages in the visceral process of painting wet-on-wet. Swish, swish and swish. I move back and forth across the studio to peer at the forms sliding off my brush onto the canvas. I remember the gray dawn with its slimness of colour. I remember the sea, and the soft rush of water as it comes ashore. I remember the heaviness of the rocks and the salty dampness of winter seaweed. I feel the coolness of the air and the cry of the gulls. Which strokes will hold the promise of a this day? Which strokes carry the sounds and the material weight of substance? Which strokes follow the soft light across the seascape. Oh, how I wonder!

Then it is done.

Too soon my logic bullies. There must be more!

But, two days have passed. I have not touched the canvas, not because technical correction would not lead to a more accurate rendering of the physical setting. Rather I do not alter the painting because nothing more is needed to render the fulness of my experience. It is done.

REEF BAY MORNING EXPERIENCED December 7, 2012 – 14 x 18 inch oil on canvas

Oh, I will photograph it again once it is completely dry and on a brighter day. But the painting of the painting is done. If I want to do more it shall be on another canvas.

What observations are you currently rendering into the fulness of your experience?

It is December 9th today and the great room is in disarray with packages to be wrapped and shipped. It is the time for this artist to begin her holiday break. I shall be back in the New Year to share more painting and photography adventured.

For now, the best of the holiday season to you and yours – one and all!

ONLINE GALLERIES with Terrill Welch paintings and photography include-

Xanadu Studio Gallery for large original paintings

Artsy Home for most original oil paintings currently available

Redbubble for photography prints, greeting cards and posters

Current Local Mayne Island VENUES –

Green House Restaurant – small original oil paintings and photography prints

Farm Gate Store – one large painting

And by appointment at Terrill Welch’s home studio

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

SLICED WITH A TEAR autumn oil painting and process by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
What do original paintings of Emily Carr, A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris and Terrill Welch have in common? (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Open window and life

December 3, 2012December 3, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 8 Comments

September 20, 2012 I stop to look at the factory-come-studio building across the street. The various layers of inside-out with its partially open window are a symbolic replica of my life. Some aspects seem clear and concise until I try to look more closely. Then most knowing seems to disappear under my scrutiny. The various compartments and panes separating and holding together with equal and debatable success. Yet, I am charmed by the window – as I am similarly by my life.

Open Window – Ossington St. Toronto photograph by Terrill Welch

With rain and darkness filling most of the last twenty-four hours I opted for visiting today. Baking powder biscuits whipped together, served hot with my mother’s raspberry jam and strong dark coffee wrapped soothingly around great company. The heated tile floors were cozy as our laughter soaked into the far corners next to the unnoticed cobwebs.So nice to have a guest in our home.

Tomorrow, I shall paint. Today I shall be. A pleasant Monday to you and I wish you all much success during the week ahead accompanied by the ability to accept what is.

What did you see through the open window in your life today?

ONLINE GALLERIES with Terrill Welch paintings and photography include-

Xanadu Studio Gallery for large original paintings

Artsy Home for most original oil paintings currently available

Redbubble for photography prints, greeting cards and posters

Current Local Mayne Island VENUES –

Green House Restaurant – small original oil paintings and photography prints

Farm Gate Store – one large painting

And by appointment at Terrill Welch’s home studio

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

Wait and See (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Sunrise (jemj47.wordpress.com)

Greetings Fir Tree and Your Simple Goodness – poem by Terrill Welch

December 2, 2012December 2, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 6 Comments

Greetings Fir Tree and Your Simple Goodness

The briefness of winter sun,
Met by the upturned corners
Of my mouth.

Free, for just a moment,
From any monetary value.
Free from any request.
Free from all, except today,
A quiet Sunday,
A late rising dawn.

Greetings fir tree
And your simple goodness.

And, here is the tree and in the moment that inspired these words for a Zen Sunday.

All the best of today to you!

What simple goodness is greeting you today?

ONLINE GALLERIES with Terrill Welch paintings and photography include-

Xanadu Studio Gallery for large original paintings

Artsy Home for most original oil paintings currently available

Redbubble for photography prints, greeting cards and posters

Current Local Mayne Island VENUES –

Green House Restaurant – small original oil paintings and photography prints

Farm Gate Store – one large painting

And by appointment at Terrill Welch’s home studio

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

SLICED WITH A TEAR autumn oil painting and process by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
What do original paintings of Emily Carr, A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris and Terrill Welch have in common? (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Wait and See (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Storm Clouds over Strait of Georgia – postcard oil painting by Terrill Welch

November 30, 2012November 30, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 6 Comments

The oil on paper painting “Storm Clouds over Strait of Georgia” is such a small surface at 12 x 16 cm it ends up feeling abstract when viewed this close. I have smoothed down some of the meringue type edges since taking this photograph but this is basically it and it is now drying in preparation to be be shipped to the #twitterartexhibit in L.A.

To learn more about this event that was started a few years by David Sandum go to the Twitter Art Exhibit website: http://twitterartexhibit.org

Also…. PRECIOUS SECONDS – Mayne Island in Paintings and Photographs

To help make your holiday season merrier – here is a code that gives you $10 off my book: GIVE10 at:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2457715

Note: Offer valid through December 12, 2012 (11:59 p.m. local time). Valid for printed books only. A $10 discount is applied to your product total with a minimum purchase of $50. This offer is good for one-time use, and cannot be combined with volume discounts, other promotional codes, gift cards, or used for adjustments on previous orders.

Or you can just drop by and enjoy a browse through the full book for free… however, the browse won’t spark conversation like the hard copy given as a gift or resting on your coffee table. Do enjoy either way! 🙂

Plus… this weekend and every weekend until Christmas I am participating in Weekend Art Market Place on G+. What this means is I will be highlighting a painting on each day in the Artsy Home online Gallery with such incentives as free shipping over the weekend. You can check out the posts by circling me on G+ or having a browse through the comment section here each day.

Not sure how to begin purchasing original painting? Here is my personal collection of seven tips to making collection original art an easy and fun decision that you execute with confidence.

If you could wave a magic wand, what particular Terrill Welch painting or photograph would you like to add to your collection this season?

Have a most wonderful weekend!

ONLINE GALLERIES with Terrill Welch paintings and photography include-

Xanadu Studio Gallery for large original paintings

Artsy Home for most original oil paintings currently available

Redbubble for photography prints, greeting cards and posters

Current Local Mayne Island VENUES –

Green House Restaurant – small original oil paintings and photography prints

Farm Gate Store – one large painting

And by appointment at Terrill Welch’s home studio

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

SLICED WITH A TEAR autumn oil painting and process by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
What do original paintings of Emily Carr, A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris and Terrill Welch have in common? (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
New homes for Art and other studio musings (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

SLICED WITH A TEAR autumn oil painting and process by Terrill Welch

November 24, 2012February 25, 2014 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

There is something about autumn by the sea with the gray melancholy wrapped in fall colours.

Do you remember my recent post called “Autumn Sliced with a Tear” and the photograph of the maple trees by the sea?

Do you remember me saying – “today is one of those slow-baked, melancholy west coast Sundays, so moist and tender you can slice it with a tear?”

For about a month I painted and repainted this scene in my mind – maybe a thousand times. I adjusted and readjusted my approach solving one painting problem and then another.

Finally, I pull out an extra-large 36 x 60 inch canvas (that is 3 x 5 feet or just plain BIG) and begin with the underpainting.

They never look like much at this stage but I find it an extremely useful step particularly when working on large paintings. I can now start working up the painting…

The canvas is shiny with wet paint but I can already feel the bruised coolness of fall in the sky and on the water. I keep working and building up the paint.

Days have now past with my dreams waking me up early to paint for many of my waking hours. I am consumed with the transitions between light and shadow and form.

The details show the looseness of easy strokes with two and one inch brushes.

There is the leaves against the sky on the far top right. Nothing but swathes of golden colour added to the sky with a hint of branches to hold them in place.

Then there is the clatter of colour near one of the main tree trunks a the top near the left side of the painting, colours that must roll over and under each other bringing the leaves forward in the painting towards the viewer.

Up close, we see nothing but wild and loose, meandering brushstrokes across the canvas. I like to paint wet-on-wet or ala prima and work a whole canvas up at once. This is no small task on a canvas of this size. But it can be done though it is often not the only painting approached used just because of the grand scale of the canvas. For example, even using this approach it took more than one sitting or painting session to complete this painting.

Finally, my brush and the painting comes to rest. Let’s stand back and have a good look at the whole canvas and see what we find.

I think it is complete, finished, done. Now it must rest and I reserve the right to make any changes that come begging to me during this time. So it is not for sale yet. However, I will let you know when it is. In the meantime feel free to browse through current work that is available at the links below.

UPDATE February 7, 2013

Well, I thought it was done but over the past but over the last couple of months I have made a few changes. Here is the now completed painting…

It is not going to be released anytime soon for sale as I am keeping it in my Artist’s collection for now.
Sprout: If you could be anywhere under a fall sky where would you want to be?

P.S. This is an early warning that Creative Potager will be making some changes in the New Year. They are not big changes but ones that I hope you will welcome as I re-purpose the intent of this blog to reflect the changes in my own focus of providing an online studio experience of work for readers. More on this soon.

ONLINE GALLERIES with Terrill Welch paintings and photography include-

Artsy Home for most original oil paintings currently available

Redbubble for photography prints, greeting cards and posters

Current Local Mayne Island VENUES –

Green House Restaurant – small original oil paintings and photography prints

Farm Gate Store – one large painting

And by appointment at Terrill Welch’s home studio

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

Autumn Sliced with a Tear (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
What do original paintings of Emily Carr, A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris and Terrill Welch have in common? (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
my underpainting (sisterhoodofthemuse.wordpress.com)

Wait and See

November 18, 2012January 18, 2013 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

My last 2 weeks have been an emotional soup of events. Hence, you have not seen a new post on this Creative Potager blog. The story goes something like this….

Wednesday, November 7th – fell down the thirteen steps of the stairs from the loft and had to go to Victoria to get x-ray of arm to make sure it was not broken. Badly bruised on right side but fine.

Will my right shoulder freeze again from the trauma? I hope not and it feels pretty good right now but we will have to wait and see.

Saturday, November 10th – hung a new show of small oil paintings and photographs at the Green House Bar and Grill. There are seventeen works up one of which is this one…

(Navy Channel early November – 9 x 12 inch oil on canvas is now SOLD! updated January 18, 2013. Other paintings that are currently available can be viewed in detail and purchased HERE)

Will work find its way to new homes over the holidays? Maybe. We will have to wait and see.

Sunday, November 11th – received phone call at 5:45 am from son-in-law that new grand baby was on its way. Caught the first ferry at 8:45 am, arrived at the Duncan hospital at 10:50 am. Grandson born at 11:36 am. Ivor Lewis is 7.7 lb. Everyone healthy and well. I was there for the birth.

He meets is brother before going home the next day barely 24 hours old.

Will they be close to each other? We will have to wait and see.

Thursday, November 15th – Return home to Mayne Island arriving shortly after noon. A short time later receive call that life-long friend is gravely ill and in hospital. The next couple of days extremely intense as we wait and see if his condition will stabilize.

Saturday, November 17th – I write a poem.

Wait and See

Not all mornings begin with bright glorious light,
that soars across the sky,
offering a colourful welcome to a new day.

Some mornings seem to uncover the dawn,
with the quiet heaviness of damp wool blankets.

There is no immediate pleasure or drawing up of the spirit.

It is the kind of dawn that says – we will have to wait and see.
Sunday, November 18th – I complete the underpainting for a large 3 x 5 foot canvas.

What will the painting be like? We shall have to wait and see.

In all of this, I am thankful for the support and love of my husband David, my children and my step-children and their partners and my extended family. They are an amazing lot… full of strength, compassion with just the right amount of humour. My love goes out to those that are close to me as they face the challenges ahead. And just as I write this I received a phone call that my very close life-long friend is on the mend. Yippee!

Sprout: What might you be waiting to see?

ONLINE GALLERIES with Terrill Welch paintings and photography include-

Xanadu Studio Gallery for large original paintings

Artsy Home for most original oil paintings currently available

Redbubble for photography prints, greeting cards and posters

Current Local Mayne Island VENUES –

Green House Restaurant – small original oil paintings and photography prints

Farm Gate Store – one large painting

And by appointment at Terrill Welch’s home studio

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.