New Oil Painting Orange Sea

January 28, 2011January 28, 2011 / Terrill Welch / 22 Comments

Do you remember when my post “Dramatic Seas” from the end of December 2010? Well, it is the inspiration for the third painting I have been working on and I have now finished.

The underpainting starts with something from my memory.

But I decided to print a photograph to loosely assist as I built up the vibrancy of Orange Sea. I boldly go with the oranges of orange and started working in some cloud and mountains in the distance.

Finally it begins to take shape.

The painting comes to rest still surging with movement.

I think I am done. I post it on redbubble. I look again. Darn!

I change the painting slightly but it is crucial to the overall work. I dislike it when I find something that needs editing only after viewing it when posted. But I have come to respect that it is a different part of my eye that sees the image once it is up – kind of like seeing your home through the eyes of your guests.

Besides, that is when I was invited.

Now for the final, final painting of Orange Sea.

(prints may be purchased here.)

12” X 12” by 2 inch birch cradled gessobord original impressionist oil painting – $400 Canadian.

Sprout question: If you could paint something orange in your life what would it be?

Best of the weekend to you!

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

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

Hot Coals

January 14, 2011January 14, 2011 / Terrill Welch / 24 Comments

Original oil paintings in progress…

First painting.

Forest 1

Forest 2

Forest 3

Forest 4

Second Painting.

Orange Sea 1

Orange Sea 2

The best cooking fire is hot coals because they provide a body of even heat which will penetrate and cook without burning your food. Sometimes painting is like this for me. At first the flames of an idea blaze with excitement and I paint away with nothing but burnt remnants to show for my efforts. But sometimes I need to build a good fire first so that there are enough coals for a long cooking process. The painting Forest needs a good bed of coals to accommodate its density. The painting Orange Sea requires that I steadily add a stick or two at a time so that it can simmer without boiling over. Neither painting is finished. They are still cooking.

Sprout question: What kind of creative fire are you cooking with 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

Winter Waves

December 28, 2010December 28, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

Leaving Vancouver B.C. to catch a ferry back to Mayne Island on Boxing Day there was a slice of early morning sun coming through the heavy rain clouds. I was early. I took a left at Tsawwassen and headed for Boundary Bay Regional Park. This park is a seaside wetland sanctuary for birds and bush bunnies like me passing through on their trek home.

To day the wind and sea were both high as waves rolled up and sometimes over the sandy beach.

The scene was dramatic. The contrasting colours between sea and sky were unusual. The light changed fast as it rose above the sea towards the cloud bank. If I had painted it, the viewer would have had a hard time believing its authenticity.

Even with a photograph… you might think “she did it with Photoshop! You can do anything with Photoshop.”

But I didn’t. I just happen to be at the right place at the right time with camera in hand.

Sprout question: When is life grander than your imagination?

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

Edge of the Sea

November 25, 2010November 25, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 17 Comments

Standing close, feeling the softness of the smudged edge of the sea, being washed into a possibility.

(view and purchase full resolution here.)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our USA Creative Potager friends… may your year be bountiful with simple abundance and love. It is a perfect day for us all to take a moment and count our blessings.

Sprout question: What are you grateful for today?

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

My Top 10 Gratitude List (tricitypsychology.com)
G is for Gratitude (speaking from the heart)

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

Rising

October 15, 2010November 3, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 7 Comments

From dark thick beginnings “Rising” has been sculptured into existence as the sea gives way to the rising sun. An 8 X 10 inch water miscible oil painting on gessobord with two-inch birch cradle.

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Sprout question: What has you flying with your intuition for wings?

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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

Whisper

October 13, 2010November 13, 2011 / Terrill Welch / 17 Comments

(prints of this painting may be purchased HERE)

I’m calling all sages to the edge of the sea. Rest your weary mind and nurture your soul as these rollers roll towards shore. Softly the whisper breaks your inner silence. Softly it calls and becomes the only sound that is heard – outside and inside. Softly… softly… softly… softly….

A 12 X 12 inch gessobord with two-inch birch cradle water miscible oil painting. More background about this oil painting can be found at Beginnings of a Whisper.

UPDATED MARCH 3, 2011: This painting is now SOLD

Sprout question: What softly calls your creativity?

Last day for….

SEA, LAND AND TIME MAYNE ISLAND calendars . For a week at redbubble, until 11:00 pm Thursday, October 14^th London time, there is a promotional sale. Get three calendars for 15% off or six for 25% off. Retailers can contact me directly to order at wholesale price for more than six 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

Beginnings of a Whisper

October 8, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 14 Comments

October 8, 2010

This week I managed a good solid day of painting and have two smaller pieces on gessobord with two-inch deep birch wood frames in progress. This material and thick box-framing are a joy to paint on. Here are two images of “Whisper.” It is twelve inches square.

In the beginning I just want to get some paint on the board.

Now the painting is resting before I go back in and tidy. I need to muse on it for awhile and add my signature. But not too much musing… otherwise the magic will disappear as if at the end of a whisper.

Remember all those photographs you loved from my solo exhibition? Twelve of them have been chosen for SEA, LAND AND TIME MAYNE ISLAND calendars . For a week at redbubble, until 11:00 pm Thursday, October 14^th London time, there is a promotional sale. Get three calendars for 15% off or six for 25% off. Discounts will show up in your shopping cart. These calendars are big, beautiful and solid making them great for keeping track of appointments and family whereabouts. Go ahead. Have a wee bit of Creative Potager and Mayne Island with you everyday of the year – with three or six calendars you can share the peacefulness. Note: retailers can contact me directly to order at wholesale price for more than six calendars.

Sprout question: What creative whispers are you hearing?

Note: Monday is Canada Thanksgiving. I will back with a new submission for your reading pleasure on Tuesday. Also, Thursday’s post broke all records as the most read post and the most views here on Creative Potager ever. Please drop in to “Where Line and Paint meet with Jerry Shawback” and bring your hot cuppa of your favourite beverage as it is a longer read.

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

On Mayne Island, a home that provides raw moments of beauty (theglobeandmail.com)

A Fall Day on Mayne Island

October 6, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 12 Comments

It occurred to us as we were eating lunch that it might be sinful not to take a long leisurely walk in the warmth of this most glorious fall day.

I am always fascinated by the ribbons of blues that stack up like exotic candy layers as I look out to the meeting of sea and sky. I drift and dream on the waves as the seagulls squawk and fish from the rocks. Mount Baker is almost visible in the haze of the far shore – if you know it is there. I sense that it is time to move on.

I flatten body-to-earth on a sunny knoll next to the deep cool shadows of maple trees as they undress, dropping one crunchy brown leaf after another. We do not get much colour here on Mayne Island in the fall.

Mostly things turn brown and drift downward, sometimes holding themselves up as if to say “no, not yet! I’m not quite ready yet.” But the rains will come, silencing their whispers. These large brown leaves will be mulched into the earth to feed the first sprouts of spring.

Sprout Question: What are you letting go of to sprout new creativity?

Important: If you want gift cards, calendars, photographic prints before Christmas, October is the time to place your order at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch. Original oil paintings can be purchased directly from me by sending an emailing to tawelch@shaw.ca .

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

August Mist

August 10, 2010August 10, 2010 / Terrill Welch / 10 Comments

Today, Tuesday August 10^th, is one year since David had his stroke. He has almost completely recovered – so much so that you may not notice the difference from before and after. There are little things he is still working on. But aren’t we all? I give thanks for the continued gift of his company, his love and his full engagement in life.

Sunday. I walk alone.

Through the mist flies a great blue heron over the quiet sea. Time reaches into infinity and wraps us in the moment…

View and purchase full resolution image here.

A driftwood stump waits for the next tide to continue its journey. Fog and misty rain keeps us both company.

View and purchase full resolution image here.

Meditative careful steps along the shore as hushed resilience springs forth.

View and purchase full resolution image here.

It is morning, in the misty rain on the west coast of Canada.

Low tide.

Humid.

August.

Sunday.

Sprout Question: What are you noticing today?

Note: Creative Potager has a new page Artist Biography and yesterday I posted an announcement for my solo exhibition “SEA, LAND AND TIME.” Please share both as appropriate.

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