ALONE BY THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch

June 9, 2012June 10, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

Don’t even ask what I was supposed to be doing this Friday because whatever it was it isn’t done. Instead, I worked on this new 20 x 20 inch oil on canvas painting that is of East Point on Saturna Island and one of Canada’s newest national parks. I took some artistic license and made the building slightly taller than it is in real live. Other than that the scene would be most recognizable to anyone who had walked out to the end of the point during a low tide and then looked back towards land.

This painting is in answer to a request by an admirer of my paintings. She asked if I could paint something with bright colours and maybe more contrast. We exchanged several posts as I remarked on how my subject – the southwest coast of Canada, is often quiet and the contrasts subtle. But I accepted her request as a challenge and asked that she leave it with me. I have been wanting to paint this particular scene for a while and I thought it would be a perfect with its deep shadows under the bank and in the crevices of the sandstone. It was a good painting problem and I greatly enjoyed saying one of artist Gabriel Boray pieces of painting advice over and over as I worked – exaggerate, exaggerate exaggerate! This led to a whole other internal dialogue about my propensity to understate. So when all the tensions, struggles and musings had finished playing themselves out on the canvas this is what I am left with. Oh I might play a little with it yet but mostly I think it is ready to be set aside to rest. Enjoy!

UPDATE June 10, 2012: I played with the painting more than just a little based on the following feedback from colleague and artist Lena Levin –

In your painting, the building looks a bit like a child drawing. I think it fits, in a way, — in that it kind of conveys your feeling of it sticking out, as though a man has been childishly modifying the nature, which looks mature and much more solid and eternal.

But just in case this look wasn’t intentional and you want to change it, it is due mainly to distortion of perspective (horizontals of the building don’t converge on the horizon line) and, as far as I can see from the photo, the lack of variation in the red of the roof (also probably the fact that two planes of the building are of the same value, as though it’s flat).

I did want the building to enhance that feeling of temporary tension between human habitation and the landscape. However, I also wanted the building to be somewhat believable. So I went back in this morning and made some minor adjustments which then led to a few other changes leaving us with what I hope is now the final painting. The building now looks much more like the actual building on this historic site. My thanks goes out to the Lena for her critical observation.

I also had a nice surprise this week. One of my small paintings “Morning” sold at the Green House Bar and Grill. I hadn’t even had a chance to show it to you yet. However, I am going to do a separate post showing just the small paintings and will include it with these.

SPROUT: When was the last time you were glad your Friday went sideways?

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

Midday in Navy Channel 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)

STORM COMING THROUGH original painting by Terrill Welch

April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

Winds howl as the rain slaps driving mist across the landscape. It takes fortitude, girt and a bit of foolishness to be out on a day like this. With shoulders hunched I yell against the beastly day with no effect. The sounds are carried away, across the water, through the trees – gone, like the day that will end in nothing more than a short, perpetual early dawn. Such is a winter storm in January off the southwest coast of Canada.

I’m not ready to make this painting available for purchase just yet. The painting and I are still discussing its current state of completion. If you want to know more about how this conversation is going you can read my account of the dialogue HERE on one of my G+ posts. When we have reached a mutually agreeable conclusion, the painting will be posted at the Artsy Home online Gallery with my other paintings that are currently available.

This a 24 x 36 inch oil on canvas and is my second attempt to capture one of these storms on canvas. Here is the first smaller study I did of just a section of this scene

(available for purchase HERE)

Pssst! May is just about upon us and you know what happens to me between May and September – even October right? I am less frequently online and in front of the computer. It is just the way it is. I wish you the best for the summer and will post as the opportunity presents itself. May you be digging your toes in the sand, tossing your hair in the breeze and enjoying the few short months of fine weather.

Good morning and the best of Wednesday to you!

SPROUT: If you could do any creative project you wanted this summer what and where would it be?

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

Coastal Winter Storm original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
RAINY DAY OUT ON THE POINT original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
New paintings by Terrill Welch in the Artsy Home online Gallery (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

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

April 11, 2012 / 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.

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

RAINY DAY BY THE SEA oil on canvas study by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
A distant detail of painting in progress (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
In the Rain at Cattle Point Victoria B.C. (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

A distant detail of painting in progress

April 10, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

It is Tuesday and my larger painting of “Rainy Day by the Sea” has been “resting” since last Thursday. The long Easter weekend has come to an end and I have a long list of petty tasks to do. But first one must paint don’t you think?

Here is a 3 x 5 inch distant detail from the 16 x 20 inch painting I am working on. It was never intended to be viewed with such up-close scrutiny but I like doing this sometimes. The marks of paint only lightly suggest their subjects leaving lots of room for our imaginations.

SPROUT: What do you see or think you see in these fleeting strokes of paint?

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

Looking Over My Shoulder in the Studio (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
RAINY DAY BY THE SEA oil on canvas study by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

RAINY DAY BY THE SEA oil on canvas study by Terrill Welch

April 4, 2012April 4, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 21 Comments

Do you remember my recent photograph of “In the Rain at Cattle Point Victoria B.C.“? Well, I have been musing about painting it.

I don’t often do a study before tackling a larger painting but I was painting and repainting a particular idea over and over in my head so I knew there were painting challenges I was having trouble working out. So this morning, I decided to do this greeting card size palette knife study on a 5 x 7 inch gallery wrapped 1.5 deep canvas.

(to purchase contact me via email: $150.00 – once it dries 😉

One of my aims is always to let paint be paint when I am working on a canvas. Nothing helps with this more than a palette knife. I have the most gorgeous, small and springy knife that was a gift from my parents when I was fourteen years old. I have a newer one but it just doesn’t have the same flexibility and the same balance as my first. Kinda like a good saddle, once you find one that fits you and your horse, or this case me and my canvas, a person doesn’t desire another.

I didn’t work out all of my painting challenges but I did find an answer to some and enough so to continue on to a larger canvas.

And none of you caught me in my error yesterday but the Studio Spring Sale Event doesn’t end until tonight. Sorry about that. Me and dates often have a rather fluid relationship 🙂 I have it corrected now.

SPROUT: What is your creative “study” practice in preparation for larger works?

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

THE SEA TO ME original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ROCKS AT SUNRISE original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
REACHING THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
In the Rain at Cattle Point Victoria B.C. (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
New paintings by Terrill Welch in the Artsy Home online Gallery (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

The Story of the Nightgown and the Paintbrush

March 31, 2012March 31, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

The nightgown sighed heavily on the sales rack. Will she ever make up her mind? Calculating, calculating – I am a nightgown for heavens sake! How difficult can it be? I look like the other two she bought more than three years ago. I am white. I am cotton. I have no itchy lace. I am the right size. I am ON SALE. I am perfect! Still she feels and rubs me raw between her painterly fingers and hesitates. Ah finally. She is lifting me up and taking me carefully to the counter – still frowning mind you. But the decision has been made. There, $40.32, that wasn’t so painful, was it? If only I could get her to smile now instead of muttering that she really doesn’t need me.

The large bristle paintbrush laughed and shouted to all the other brushes on the art store shelf. Stand back boys. She is coming for me! I can see that glint in her eyes. I will put money on it. She will have me in her hand before the store door closes itself behind her. Yep! Here she comes. The paintbrush puffs himself extra bristly and tall.

The little brushes rolled their eyes and want to slap him silly. They have seen this before. An artist walks in and doesn’t even check the price tag on this boastful beast. They just pick up the big bushy brute and head for the counter.

They can hear the clerk heard saying “that will be $41.45 please.” The artist laughs lightly, hands over the cash. No, no a bag won’t be necessary. She puts the new brush in with her nightgown and is already thinking about the first painting she is going to paint with this sashaying dandy.

SPROUT: What buying habits are influenced by your creativity?

P.S. If you haven’t already, do dropped by and mused over or shared the link for the Spring Studio Sale as this artist has her eye on another dandy brush or two 😉

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

ROMANCING SUMMER BY THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Coastal Winter Storm original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
New paintings by Terrill Welch in the Artsy Home online Gallery (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ROCKS AT SUNRISE original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

New paintings by Terrill Welch in the Artsy Home online Gallery

March 4, 2012September 18, 2014 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

Getting on with the painting of being an artist never seems to be an issue. But getting them out and available for you to purchase is as inspiring as sweeping cobwebs off the sealing. It is not that I don’t want them to be available for purchase. It is the tediousness of filling in all the boxes for posting that often has me saying to self “maybe I will just paint one more and then post them all together.” And we both know how that goes – one more becomes five more before I settle in to a quiet Sunday like today and start adding new work.

So just in case you have one of my original paintings on your “wishlist,” I now have a few more of my new paintings available on the Artsy Home online Gallery including this 30 x 40 inch oil on canvas –

REACHING THE SEA (Note: this painting is no longer available)

The full gallery of my original oil paintings currently available can be viewed at http://www.artsyhome.com/author/terrillwelch

Yes, there are still a few more to add. I am in the process of editing the photographs right after I post this for you. But there is one new one that will not be released until Wednesday. I promised to keep you posted 🙂

SPROUT: What is your very most favourite Sunday creative family rated activity?

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

GREETING DAWN original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ROCKS AT SUNRISE original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
SPILLING OVER original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ORCAS IN EVENING original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
WEST COAST SUNRISE postcard painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
MANAROLA WINTER AFTERNOON original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Coastal Winter Storm original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
THE SEA TO ME original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
REACHING THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

WEST COAST SUNRISE postcard painting by Terrill Welch

March 1, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

This painting is a 4 x 6.5 inch oil on special paper postcard that I did for David Sandum’s #twitterartexhibit fundraising project. It will be going in the mail to Moss Norway as soon as it dries.

This project is an amazing collaboration between artist David Sandum, twitter artists and the Moss public library in Norway. This year the funds raised will go to support The Women’s Crisis Center in Moss, where abused women and children can get help. The center also provides a 24 hour phone-service, counseling, food and shelter etc. It but has lost a lot of funding the past year and the staff has been cut from 19 to 11. This is a very important cause, not only for the women in a crisis situation but also for their children.

If you are an artist, have a twitter account and want to participate here is the link for more informationhttp://davidsandumart.posterous.com/call-for-artists-2nd-twitter-art-exhibit-in-m

SPROUT: What is the tiniest creative work you have ever done?

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

REACHING THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ROCKS AT SUNRISE original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ORCAS IN EVENING original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Coastal Winter Storm original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
MANAROLA WINTER AFTERNOON original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
THE SEA TO ME original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
GREETING DAWN original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
SPILLING OVER original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

GREETING DAWN original painting by Terrill Welch

February 8, 2012February 10, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 22 Comments

As the seagull tucks its head around the morning light sings out a warm greeting. This oil painting is 6 x 6 inches with a 2 inch wood cradle and is the smallest painting I have ever done. No frame required. This very small richly textured sunrise seascape is part of a new series “Squared to the Sea.”

GREETING DAWN would enhance a bedside, small bathroom wall, examining room or waiting area giving rise to serenity and peace.

UPDATE: February 10, 2012 This painting is now SOLD and off to Dakota U.S.

SEED: I am enjoying exploring this expanded sunrise and sunset palette of colours in both my painting and photography. I wonder what secrets these colours hold for us? Do they have a special place in our heritage of colour experience? I am starting with this children’s website for Weather Optical Illusions.

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

ROCKS AT SUNRISE original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
Coastal Winter Storm original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
THE SEA TO ME original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
REACHING THE SEA original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
SPILLING OVER original oil painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
ORCAS IN EVENING original painting by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)

For the Love of Brown-Eyed Susan

January 9, 2012 / Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

The gray and rain of January give a person a chill that can only be warmed by thinking of summer while sipping a hot cup of mint tea. This and a photograph of a clump of Brown-Eyed Susan taken during my August trip to Saturna Island are providing a zing to my Monday.