A Brush with Life - Issue #132 Shoulder Season Secrets
From around the final week in August until early November, Mayne Island is a landscape painter’s dream location. No longer is it required to get up ridiculously early to catch a sunrise or pin your eyes open to watch it set. The weather can be warm right into late October and, if we are lucky, we might even catch a storm or two. On a good day, nature trails are still dry enough to hike without waterproof shoes. Most of the summer people and tourists have left for work and school. Shops and food venues shorten their hours and sometimes even take a couple of weeks off while the weather is still nice. I just need to hike the trails and beaches then settle in with my paints and enjoy the warm golden light. It is the most decadent time of year and a shoulder season secret on the southwest Coast of Canada.
I woke on September 24th to the muffled sounds ferries whistling through the autumn fog. The bedroom is damp and yet warm, even with keeping one of the big windows open all night. Padding barefoot to the kitchen, I reach for the hand grinder and soon the fragrance of freshly ground coffee beans over powers the scent of forest with just a hint of sea. We are inland on our small island but the sea is never far away. Our neighbour’s sheep graze in the field and I can see that the still life bouquet I was using as a painting reference in the studio has wilted. Thankfully, I had finished it the day before.
Fall is here and I have our final and 132nd issue of “A Brush with Life” newsletter to write. I have found ending this newsletter a tough decision but I need to streamline my commitments for the next couple of years to be able to do my Master’s in Fine Art without completely dropping out of sight with my art communication. For the next decade or so, the “Terrill Welch by herself” newsletter is more suited to our needs and it makes sense to now make this newsletter free. So that is your win. The quarterly “A Brush with Life” will be retire but the monthly publication of “Terrill Welch by herself” will now be free and publicly available. So let’s get to it, shall we?
BEGINNING MY MASTER’S OF FINE ART
We seldom know with certainty when we will paint our last painting. Until this unthinkable event occurs, I shall keep learning, exploring, studying and putting brushes loaded with pigments on surfaces. I completed my first adult oil painting course in 1972/73 when I was fourteen years old. Since then, I have continued self-directed art study through community and college non-credit courses that have included charcoal drawing, figure drawing, watercolour painting and oil painting. During the past two years, I audited “Contemporary Landscape Now,” “Paint Like an Artist” and “The Canadian Landscape” through the Vancouver Island School of Art in British Columbia, Canada. For several years, I taught oil painting at my local Mayne Island Community Centre. I also completed an undergraduate degree with a major in Sociology and a minor in Women’s Studies in 1990 and earned a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching in 2003. My hunger for learning and pushing my creative edges through disciplined research and contextual study continues, and brings me to The Open College of Arts in England where I am beginning my MA of Fine Art online this fall.
My part-time, at 25 hours a week, for two years, Master’s of Fine Art programme starts October 21st though I will have access to their online platform on Monday, October 7th. The programme has 10-12 students in each cohort and there are three units. The first, Research and Practice, is October 21, 2024 - April 4, 2025. The second, Context and Perspective, is June 6, 2025 - November 24, 2025. The final unit, Resolution, is February 2, 2026 - July 27, 2026. Thankfully, I have the amount for the first two units and supplies already in my savings from the profits of painting sales during these past two years, following my purchased of the gallery pod. However, if art collectors and serious fans are wondering what I need for birthday and Christmas between now and January 2026, it is to have you keep adding “Terrill Welch paintings” to your art collection and to keep sharing my work, as you always do, with family, friends and strangers you meet on planes and trains and buses. This educational adventure is going to be a lot of hard work but also exhilarating! I am looking forward to what this international programme brings to my painting practice and the opportunities it opens up in the future. I promise that I will see if there isn’t a something of interest each month to share with you without boring you to tears.
Note: The images in this section are some of ones I selected to show my work and painting process when submitting my application.
WHAT HAS SOLD
Though I suspect this final quarter of the year will be slower, it has been a good solid year for finding homes for paintings so far. Five more paintings have sold since I last wrote. Can you figure out which ones they are in the room view below?
Art collectors have thoughtfully considered and purchased significantly more larger paintings in 2024.
Art collectors have shared my paintings with their networks online and brought their friends and family to visit the physical gallery and the Mayne Island Resort where there are 32 of my paintings exhibited in their lobby and conference rooms.
Art collectors have browsed, generously commented in the gallery guestbook, signed up for my newsletter and asked numerous intriguing questions while I have shown them around both the gallery and my home studio.
Some paintings have stayed in magnificent homes on Mayne Island.
I love the reflect of the larger painting in the mirror beside the smaller work.
And some have gone out of country, like this one that has nestled itself into a lovely home in Portland, Oregon.
For all of this, thank you! I do not take your decision to steward one of my paintings for granted - ever! During what has been a challenging year for many, thank you for your continued patronage and may my paintings in your art collection bring you many years of viewing pleasure!
WHAT IS NEWLY RELEASED
In the past issue published in July, I had 22 paintings completed for this year and commissions to do. I now have 30 new paintings released, if we include completed commissions. It doesn’t seem like a lot really. Yet, most days I have had a brush in my hand more often than not. The easiest thing to do is provide you with the link to my full portfolio and you can have a browse through everything new as you wish.
Three more paintings are now with Opulent Art Gallery and listed on ARTSY. I chose to add three of my favourite new still life paintings this time. Here is the link to my portfolio there:
Also, if you could be so kind and “follow” and request an alert when new work is uploaded on ARTSY it will greatly help the visibility and my credibility on this large platform. This does require opening an account with a password but other than this, it is easy to go into notification settings and taylor what you receive from the platform which offers art educational coverage as well as art viewing. This is one of the top gallery platforms in the world and as an art lover, I believe it is well worth considering having an account - and it is free.
WHAT IS SHOWING IN THE TERRILL WELCH GALLERY POD
Join me at the Terrill Welch Gallery Pod (428 Luff Rd, Mayne Island, BC) for the "Bouquets of Time" exhibition, featuring my still life paintings. Here is scoop!
1. Opening September 13, 2024 this exhibition is up until November 18, 2024
2. Walk in Self-browsing: Daily 11 AM - 4 PM
3. Highlights:
- New "Summer of Flowers" series
- Still life paintings from 2012 onwards
- Newly debuted shell and plein air landscape paintings
4. A total of 24 pieces: 21 oil and 3 acrylic on board
Immerse yourself in Terrill Welch’s vibrant tribute to summer. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant, sun-drenched world of Terrill Welch’s "Bouquets of Time" exhibition. Experience the delicate interplay of chance and artistry that brings each painting to life and discover the timeless beauty found within the simple elegance of flowers and fruits.
Do make your way to the Terrill Welch Gallery Pod to explore this radiant celebration of summer through the eyes of a masterful artist.
The exhibition will be up until November 18, 2024.
More about this show is available in our private viewing room at:
MADE ON MAYNE FALL TOUR NOVEMBER 8-10, 2024
As usual, I will have both the Terrill Welch Gallery Pod and my home studio open for the Made on Mayne Fall Tour that will open 10 - 4 Friday November 8th and finish Sunday November 10, 2024.
I am keeping the “Bouquets of Time” up in the gallery pod because it is so bright and cheerful. The house will have a display of landscape paintings including some of my new seafloor and seashell series. I will also most likely have a work in progress on the easel. If I am feeling really ambitious, there will be freshly baked cookies to nibble on as you browse and we visit.
For those that will be on island, I managed to scoop the brochure for you and have circled where I am at number 8 on the map. You can also go directly to the Art on the Island website more inforMarion.
I also want you to note that I have circled number 22 on the map and if you look at the second image below, you will see why….
Jody Waldie, Glenda King and Maeva Lightheart are showing together at Jody’s home this year. Many of you will remember these artists from when I represented them at Island Time Art and in the Arbutus Room before that. Please do drop by and see some of their latest paintings. I know you will not be disappointed. All three of these artists continue to take classes and study to strengthen their painting practice. It is definitely worth having a look!
REDBUBBLE PRINTS AND PRODUCTS
I don’t often mention it but today, I would like to thank all the fans of my work that order prints and products of my work on Redbubble. Recently, requests have been filled from France, United Kingdom, United States and Canada. Just know, that if you are interested in a specific painting image, I usually only add them by direct request anymore. That said, I am happy to do so if asked.
Here is the direct link to my storefront images if you want to take a browse:
https://www.redbubble.com/people/TerrillWelch/explore
There is a second way to view what is available if you click the “Shop Products” instead of the “Explore Designs” option I have provided. Either way works, it just depends on your personal preferences. Do reach out if you can’t find what you want.
REFERENCE GATHERING DURING SHOULDER SEASON
There are so many ways to embrace our best west coast light of the year at the beginning of shoulder season.
We do not get much for autumn colours but this doesn’t diminish the golden island light of September and October. As a landscape painter this is my favourite light of the year. Summer light is often flat and over exposed, unless a person gets up at five in the morning… and in general, there are usually too many people trying to take in our natural wonders. But now! Right now, it is decadent with just that tiny twinge of melancholy letting me know I am alive and well….
Afternoon hiking of west coast trails beside the sea often lead me to gratitude…
and possibly material for later painting references. 😉
Someone had draped bull kelp around the trunk of an Arbutus tree. I am not sure what the reason was but the light come through was exquisite!
The weather patterns shift with such strength that a diagonal line can be seen in the cloud pattern and the seagulls again gather in abundance on the reef.
I search for interesting shells to photograph for later painting references, a practice that, if I am honest, has become a bit of an obsession.
I can’t resist capturing a feather as it flounces on a soft breeze in the filtered sunlight.
I went up high on Henderson Hill and walked the ridge with a friend. It is not a long walk but is always worth the climb this time of year. I have painted this Garry Oak in the past, more than 10 years ago. I am pleased to see it is still doing well.
We were fairly early in the morning so the light was just starting to come around to catch the arbutus trees.
They are always lovely no matter the light but September and October are my favourite times to visit up here.
And then the fog rolled in with clear skies above. I was ready for it from the first deep ferry whistles early in the morning. I waited until it was just about to break and headed out.
There is just about not enough information for my phone camera to take this photo through the fog of the Springwater Lodge at Miners Bay. Still, I like it anyway. I have painted this view as well several times and recently when the weather was similar to this, though no two days are ever the same. You can see the painting in the lobby of the Mayne Island Resort or in my online gallery.
At Reef Bay, I walked along the shore a bit to get my phone out of the bright sun to be able to play with the light and mist rolling along the shore.
Next, I parked the car at Georgina Point where David had a view (though not much of one on this day with the fog). When I got out, closed the door and turned, this is what I saw.
Still at Georgina Point and looking away from the lighthouse, I love the length of the trees in the mist.
Finally, we are at Oyster Bay and a favourite view that I have painted many times and just might do so again.
I hope you have enjoyed meandering with me.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Well, this is all my news for this time! I am on my way up the province to visit my parents next week. David’s son is coming to stay with him and they will open and close the gallery pod for me while I am away. Now, without a backwards glance, we shall say a fond goodbye to “A Brush with life.” I look forward to welcoming you all next month to “Terrill Welch by herself” that is published on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Make sure you take time to walk in the woods and stroll beside the water be it, sea, lake or river.
Warm regards as always,
Terrill 👩🎨❤️🎨
“I know of a cure for everything: salt water… in one way or the other - Sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.” ~ Karen Blixen, a Danish author who wrote Babette’s Feast and Out of Africa (two of my favourite movies though I have not yet read the books).
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