Storm Watching and its progress on a large canvas

December 9, 2013March 21, 2015 / Terrill Welch / 13 Comments

At 10:00 am today the morning light was not strong enough to work without the studio lamp. It is heavily overcast and last I checked there is a wee bit of snow expected. However, I was able to put the finishing brushstrokes on this large 30 x 40 inch oil on canvas painting this morning. It may be weeks before I can get a decent photograph of it so we will take a look now at the shiny-wet resting point of STORM WATCHING.

We may think that this painting began with this quick painting sketch on the canvas.

But we would be wrong. It all started on Friday December 6, 2013 at about this same time of day when the power went out. I was surprised as there was little wind at la casa de inspiracion. But then the email notifications started coming in with Ferry boat cancellation and they were for the Inside Passage which is not common at all. So I knew then that there had to be wind somewhere and took a guess that it was on the east side of the island.

Sure enough it was blowing a bit out there. But this isn’t the spot we need to be. We have to walk out to Campbell Point in the Gulf Island Park Reserve because the waves are break on the rocks in a big way. Let’s go and have a look. Dress warm and still expect to the wind to go right into a person’s bones and starts sawing away with an ice-cube.

Scrambling out onto a rock ledge the wind whips my big lens and me around with the same ferociousness as the sea. But I am determined. I hunker down low and steady myself against the roar. WILD SEAS WITH MOUNT BAKER IN THE DISTANCE

(Detailed view and quality prints available HERE.) There was no chance of using a tripod in these conditions. It was all up to my stabilizers and years of practice of framing and shooting waves. There wasn’t much time because I would get to cold to be able to work the camera and it was no place to be getting stiff and wobbly when I stood back up from where I was crouching. So steady does it. FULL STOP

(Detailed view and quality prints available HERE.) BREAKING OVER TWICE

(Detailed view and quality prints available HERE.) Sunday as in yesterday I pulled out the large canvas and placed it on the easel. I wanted the immediacy of this moment while it was still fresh to me on a cellular level.

The continuous motion of the winds and the sea stir sea-spray high up onto the cliffs above. I want that. I want that feeling of stirring and motion. I decided no underpainting so that spray would have the advantage of the white underneath. I had noticed the spray shadow in one of my reference images and took advantage of this to create additional depth. I worked on getting the painting down with as few brushstrokes as possible.

I want us to be slightly queasy from it as we are swayed in the waters and crash against the rocks within our viewing of this painting.

At the core there is a knowing and a thimble-size of silence which makes it bearable. This too shall pass. This is the stage that the painting rested overnight. This is where I started earlier this morning and finished at the first photograph which will not be its final of course. For this we must wait for better light.

UPDATE OCTOBER 13, 2014: Link to detailed viewing of the completed painting with purchase information and a link a short (less than six minutes) video where I talk about this painting can be found on the Terrill Welch Artist website HERE.

In conclusion, my Monday morning blessing is patience, admiration and determination. If we are willing to try we can most often do more than we believe we can. A large wave from a large canvas as you forge through the week ahead.

What are you determined to accomplish this week even if the winds of doubt are fierce?

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

Farm In Fog – pastoral landscape painting (terrillwelchartist.com)
Seaside Mayne Island – Large Canadian Landscape Oil Painting (terrillwelchartist.com)
Chasing October Sun by the Sea – an en plein air oil painting (terrillwelchartist.com)

February 21, 2013February 21, 2013 / Terrill Welch / 5 Comments

New west coast winter Canadian landscape painting FOG INSIDE PASSAGE released today…

Related articles

At Dusk a small Canadian landscape painting (terrillwelchartist.com)

Evening and the Arbutus Tree – a large west coast oil painting (terrillwelchartist.com)

Sliced with a Tear – a large autumn Canadian landscape painting (terrillwelchartist.com)

Unraveling the artistic influences and intentions behind the painting EVENING AND THE ARBUTUS TREE (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

Terrill Welch

Winter fog in the southern gulf islands is often dense and close to the sea. Islands appear and disappear as the ferries take passengers through the inside passage. The mysterious landscape has a beauty that is hard to know unless one lives with it for the long winter months of off-season quiet. This 12 x 24 inch oil on canvas is my rendering of this tactile west coast Canadian landscape experience.

FOG INSIDE PASSAGE

ONLINE GALLERIES include –

ArtWork Archive original paintings and acrylic sketches

Redbubble photography and painting prints and merchandise

Work in progress BLOG –

Creative Potager – first place new work is unveiled. Subscribe to stay current.

CONTACT THE ARTIST DIRECTLY

If desired, original work can often be purchased directly from Terrill Welch. Please contact Terrill for personalized service.

Winter Afternoon West Coast Ferry Home oil painting

View original post 56 more words

Head in the Clouds

August 25, 2011August 25, 2011 / Terrill Welch / 17 Comments

Usually if someone says “oh, she has her head in the clouds” it is a sign that the commenter believes the person is being unrealistic. As a naturally optimistic creative human-being, these sentiments are something that I have often endured . I easily shrug them off. A life of joy is simply too much fun to allow such sour grapes to over-ride the obvious. So here are fourteen photographic good reasons for having your head in the clouds.

It all started with these wild and wonderful mares tails that I spotted at Village Bay as we left for Victoria yesterday.

Wouldn’t you just like to swing on these wisps for awhile? Which do you prefer – portrait

(Yes, I left that little bit of tree and hill in on purpose.)

Or landscape…

with just clouds?

But these are nothing compared to what is to come. On our return trip, the sky at the Swartz Bay terminal really starts to dance.

Who is trying to peek at us?

It is getting late and a bit of colour is breaking through.

The Mayne Queen is loading. Let me get Miss Prissy aboard so we can head up on the top deck and see what we can see. Are you ready to do a twirl or seven?

Again, landscape?

or portrait?

I want you to remind you that I am taking these on a small moving passenger ship in very low light. A tripod, even if I had one with me, would be useless because of the vibration from the diesel engine and the ship’s rippling movement over the sea. So enjoy the soft focus and relax.