Mar 8, 2019 9 min read

A Brush with Life - Issue #21 Smack Dab in the Middle of Everywhere

One might think that a landscape painter on a small island off the southwest coast of Canada would be isolated and separated from all that is relevant and important to art collectors and the art world. After all, even her subject area and approach are possibly more mid-century in style (you are suppose to raise your nose slight skyward as you read this last sentence). In some aspects, these observations are partially true. For instance, I have yet to have an article written about my work in the New York Times. I will keep working on that! However, in other aspects these observations are just simply dead wrong!

Opinion Piece

The subject area of our natural environment has, yet again (such as it was for cave and agricultural people of the past), become profoundly part of our awareness. If we want to survive as a species, we best be “getting it” and paying attention. The difference now is that just over half of world’s population are urban dwellers and have limited familiarity with the natural landscape’s intricacies and rhythms, even under usual circumstances, and there is nothing much usual about our current circumstances. Therefore, a translation is useful between urban life and undulating ground of a hiking trail, a sunrise with the sea gulls and seas, a hand pressed up against the trunk of an arbutus tree or an unexpected winter storm with a long February cold snap. This is where my paintings create a bridge, an opportunity to feel like you are there, that you understand and that you are also understood. The paintings are one method of accessing a sense of inner harmony during a time of uncertainty. I suspect that the larger art world and its art collectors will soon catch up to what we, as the painter and the readers of this newsletter, already know about the power to create sensory bridges with paintings about an ordinary in our natural environment.

So yes, I humbly conclude, my landscape paintings, which use all of my seasoned information in their creation, are not only relevant to our contemporary living but are also vital to keeping us engaged in our present circumstances with the singular purpose of finding solutions in a physical world that is undergoing immediate and dramatic change on several fronts. The paintings offer hope, belief, possibility and a strong grounding to our convictions that we can and will navigate the uncertainties ahead. We can and will do this. At, least this is what I hope you are receiving from the work. This is my intention, my wish and possibly even my prayer. If this painting bridge is not for you... then at least it is a bridge for me. And maybe that is enough.

As for being isolated from international art collectors and the art world, well technology has a way of equalizing the playing field in ways that keep evolving - such as this newsletter, online art galleries and even the latest 3D virtual gallery experience which I am going to introduce in this issue, along with other physical solo exhibition of my work for the 2019 season.

Hence, I conclude that I am actually more likely to be - smack dab in the middle of everywhere! Now how fun is that!?

But you need not just take my word for it...

As a collector of Terrill’s art since the mid 1990’s, I love how Terrill’s brushes can bring natural magic to the canvas. Visiting Terrill’s bright and airy Mayne Island Gallery is a sensory and art lover’s delight. The Gallery is nestled in a stunning old home, full of beautiful natural light, with wooden floors, and subtle light to highlight its walls natural treasures. The perennial garden that the Gallery overlooks is a stunner too. While I often enjoy seeing Terrill’s new creations on line, I enjoy a relaxing trip to Mayne Island before I make a final painting decision. I often get to hike the trails or visit the sights of Terrill’s paintings. I come home relaxed and rejuvenated with many years to appreciate my new landscape paintings. – Katrina, CEO, Langley, B.C.

Terrill’s paintings of sea and shore are particularly special to me. Some reflect the occasional quiet on a still day where the water laps gently on the rocks and invites one to explore just a little further into what comes next. The paintings I find most engaging are those evoking the wind and spray, the boundless ever-changing energy that clears one’s mind and enlivens one’s spirit. There is a timelessness to Terrill’s sea paintings, as timeless as the sea itself, and as mysterious and soul-stirring, bringing me to stand in spirit on the rocky shores and treasure each moment.

– Rev. Gini Smith, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA

More reviews, and general information about the Terrill Welch Gallery, can be found can be found on the BC’s Guide to Arts and Culture website at:

Art of Terrill Welch Gallery | Art-BC

Canada's westernmost province is home to some of the last wild, untouched landscapes on the continent. It's difficult not to feel inspired by British Columbia's jagged mountains, icy fjords, abundant wildlife, and stunning coastlines

2019 season Terrill Welch solo exhibitions

For the first time since 2010, all of my physical solo exhibitions will be curated within the Terrill Welch Gallery. Since I have only had the gallery two years in August, this isn’t really too surprising. However, it is shift in approach, and if this presentation does well from an annual perspective, I may do it again.

For now, group exhibitions and online presence with other international galleries such as the Laguna Art Gallery in Laguna Beach, California or Gallery 104 in New York, New York (who share my work in the Artsy Gallery with its world wide reach), this will continue along side the Terrill Welch Gallery physical solo exhibitions.

So let’s have a look at what the 2019 solo exhibition has in store for us shall we?

Between Here and There - May 17- July 7, 2019

Paintings about a life lived within the landscape between the Southwest Coast to North Central of British Columbia by internationally collected, contemporary Canadian artist, Terrill Welch.

Earth, Sea and Sky - July 12 - Sept 1, 2019

Step into the west coast landscape one powerful painting at a time with internationally collected, contemporary Canadian artist, Terrill Welch.

Paintings of the Salish Sea Nov 1 - 10 2019

Small and large landscape paintings, by internationally collected, contemporary Canadian artist, Terrill Welch, brush an ancient song in painting notes of movement and mystery across the canvases.

3D Virtual Gallery Solo Exhibition

There is one more solo exhibition that embraces new 3D technology and brings you a virtual gallery display. I have been working on learning how best to use this technology or a couple of months and now have a show ready for you to explore. There are two aspects to this technology. The first is exploring the art work in a virtual gallery setting. The second is something called augmented reality where you use technology to view the painting to scale on the wall in your own home or office. I am going to introduce these two approaches separately.

Please note, this technology is not meant to replace my current website and online gallery or my physical gallery but has the value added advantage of providing online visual size reference for both the work itself and also for the space you might like to put it.

A few hints before you enter the 3D virtual gallery:

A laptop or tablet seem to give the best viewing experience but several people tested the gallery using their phones and enjoyed the experience as well.

Once you “enter” the exhibition it may take a few seconds to load.

Small movements in the gallery with cursor or finger have a big impact. So take it slow until you get the hang of the space.

You can move around the gallery at will or you can have a guided tour. The guided tour doesn’t give you much of a feel of scale but it does show you the work.

To see a work in detail and access information about it just tap or click on the painting. On the right, there is an “i” in the row of options that you can click for more information about a piece.

When you are done looking at a specific painting you can scroll left or right or hit the “x” at the top right to exit and again move around in the gallery space.

General instructions are also available at the website...

Contemporary Canadian Landscape Painter Terrill Welch Solo Exhibition - 3D virtual exhibtion by Terrill Welch Gallery | art.spaces | KUNSTMATRIX

View the Exhibition: Contemporary Canadian Landscape Painter Terrill Welch Solo Exhibition . Curated by Terrill Welch Gallery. View the world large or small in our natural landscape with internationally collected contemporary Canadian landscape painter Terrill Welch. This virtual gallery show is presented by the Terrill Welch Gallery. The physical gallery is located at 478 Village Bay Rd. Mayne Island British Columbia on the southwest coast of Canada. Further information about the gallery can be found at TerrillWelchA

Augmented Reality viewing

Now let’s move on to the second aspect of this grand new adventure. Right now there are the 24 paintings, those that are in the solo exhibition above, available for viewing in your own home or office space using the KUIO augumented reality app. However, I can add other paintings by special request and as needed.

A few hints before you try using the augmented reality technology:

Start by clicking on “get app” in the link provided (you don’t need to “register”. That is for the Artist or Gallery to set up an exhibition)

Once you have the app installed on either your phone or IPad, the exhibition number is 184111 for access to my work.

But first you will need to download and print the “marker” as this is what allows the technology to display the paintings in the correct size. One “marker” for all the paintings. You don’t need a different marker for each painting.

You can either use your phone or your iPad to view or take a photo of the painting in the desired location in your room. Have fun and if you have the time, I would love to hear what you think.

Here is the link to access the app:

augmented reality apps for art | art.augmented | KUNSTMATRIX

KUNSTMATRIX is the developer for both the 3D gallery space and the augmented reality and is based in Berlin, Germany. I suspect this technology will become more streamlined and fine-tuned over time and in a couple of years we will simple take it for granted. For now though, it is kind of exciting to be on the developmental edge of its implementation.

In other gallery news, I have completed the painting that was introduced in the Opinion Piece of this issue and other works as well. But I am holding off sharing them until they are dry and I can get a good photograph. Next time!

What I am reading

Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day so I thought I would share a very brief biography by Doug West PHD. that I am read about the Astronomer Cecilia Helena Payne-Gaposchkin (née Payne; May 10, 1900 – December 7, 1979). In 1925, Payne discovered that the sun and stars were composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Her findings were initially rejected because at the time they went against the promenant conclusions of other Astromoners. However, eventually, further independent studies found her proposition to be correct... though, as you may guess, the credit for this finding is generally given to the male scientist who confirmed her findings - even though he correctly and specifically gave her credit when publishing his own research confirming her findings. Against great odds, Payne succeeded, with many “firsts” for women scientists and professors - often with the asssistance of her male colleagues who saw and continue to see that she gets the recognition that she deserves, regardless of her gender.

Just in case you think we have wander away from the art world, Cecilia Payne’s mother, Emma Leonora Helena Payne, was a skilled painter. Emma worked as an artist (and musician) and sold her paintings to help support her family after she was widowed. Cecilia was just four years old at the time and her mother had three children under the age of five to raise. I could however find no images of Emma’s paintings to share with us.

Also, as very young girl Cecilia Payne, “while standing in front of a transplanted evergreen, she made a vow to the universe that she would dedicate her life to the study of nature.” (Introduction)

Does this sound familiar or like anyone you know?

This quick read is not really satisfying enough but combined with the scientist’s wiki profile gives the reader a sense of who she was and why we might want to learn more about her life and work.