Terrill Welch

At the close of each year, I reach back and pick up the best bits and toss them forward, leaving stepping stones for the year ahead. In this way, I am fortunate because this year, I have so many solid and elegant gems for tossing.Gathering a monk’s collection of polished simplicity, I find myself pr

There is the holiday hustle, the slipping out the back door to the pub, the pulling the covers over ones head, the avoiding of all malls and family gatherings, the baking frenzy and a bazillion other ways to navigate the month of December. But for me, it is the last minute relaxing during the holida

What is a west coast winter like? Well, sometimes there are high winds, lashing and drizzling rains or fog and mist. Always, when you can see it, there is the low-angle of sunlight and on rare occasions snow - first in the mountains and then settling into the lower elevations. But since, snow is not

What is it like to step into our physical world rather than observe it? What is different? These are questions that occupy me almost daily. Partly, this is because when I step into my physical world there is limited language to express what I am experiencing. When I am fully immersed in natural surr

Long shadows stretch across the valley before supper time. A light is already on next to the table. The studio lamps remain set up, even for daytime painting. Our northern hemisphere winter season is upon us. This is always a time for review, reflection and development of a work plan for the year ah

An artist’s life is often filled with transitions, pauses, reflection and bewilderment. Where do I go from here? What is next? Is this the right path? These moments can create the most severe anxiety if one does not learn the practice of “sit and wait”. During these times I often ask myself - what i

Great art is the work of thieves! In fact, Pablo Picasso is attributed with saying “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” And, if he didn’t say this, he should have because he was a master thief as well as a great artist. So what is the difference between copying and the concept of stealing I am

September, with its golden light, breaks into dashes of warm hues that come cascading down through my imagination onto large canvases. I cannot stop them - even if I wanted to try which, of course, I do not! I will start teaching oil painting classes next week. The students are more than ready to be