Beauty within the Soft Light of Darkness — Terrill Welch by herself - issue #59
During the wee hours of Monday morning, I woke thinking it would soon be daylight. I had been fooled by the cloud-filtered strength of a full Hunter’s moon. I sat quietly at the kitchen table enjoying the soft light of the darkness. My eyes adjusted and rested lightly along the edges of familiar shapes with a breath that deepened beneath relaxed shoulders in the warmth of this much loved room. In our rural setting there are no streetlights, making it easy to embrace darkness as a valued half of any day. Now that winter is coming, it means there are greater opportunities to live within low lit wonders. It is in these full moon wakeful moments that fresh ideas flourish and sometimes escape, never to be remembered again. I find that there are so few memory aids in these wakeful shadows to anchor, categorize and file my fleeting exploratory thoughts. I know I could or should write them down. However, I prefer to honour my imagination’s need for this time to run wild without fear of ending up in one of my annual work plans. Not every idea requires that I do something about it. It can just be an outrageous notion. If something remains in the bright sunlight of morning, then I shall give the possibility further consideration. If not, it will vanish following the first light.
I have one of those lasting “somethings” for you that I will share shortly. First, let’s feature a few paintings from within the soft light of darkness.
FEATURE PAINTINGS
As many of you will know, I sometimes paint the beauty I discover in darkness. Usually, it has the glow of lights from somewhere, even if there is a moon or stars. Other times, it is just the night reflecting the mystery of its sky.
The first is a late night ferry trip home.
“Last Ride on the Mayne Queen” by Terrill Welch, 11 x 14 inch acrylic on gessobord
Artist notes: We got our own private goodbye with the Mayne Queen this evening. There was no cake but the Big Dipper was present and the steady rumble of that diesel engine gently lulling us across the calm water. I will miss this old gal and the views she offered up with humble assurance. Good night she whispers softly just ahead of the crackling of the announcement - This is Village Bay Mayne Island, Village Bay… and the deck lights come on. Safely home on this sturdy old ferry boat for the final ride. Thank you for your many years of service Mayne Queen as your November 20th 2022 retirement day draws near. ❤️🥂🍾
Here is the direct link to this painting in the online gallery at:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/terrill-welch/artwork/last-ride-on-the-mayne-queen
These next three seem to convey a whole universe in the light of darkness.
This triptych is one work. There is an overall title ‘Clamshell Travel’ and inventory number plus a separate inventory number, title and artist notes attributed to each painting as follows:
TW1697Aa ‘In the Dark of the Moon’ by Terrill Welch, 12 x 10 inch acrylic on canvas board.
Artist notes: Imagine the sound of the sea washing ashore in the dark of the moon. There is a web of history running over each clamshell that is measured in millions of years of ancestors. To think of knowing a place so thoroughly as this?
TW1697Ab ‘By the Light of the Moon’ by Terrill Welch, 12 x 10 inch acrylic on canvas board.
Artist notes: A clamshell is thrust high on the sands by the light of the moon where the tide rushes in rearranging everything in its path. As if in prayer, it seems to wait for my morning arrival. I find myself in the spaces between what might be next.
TW1697Ac ‘Travelling Through Time’ by Terrill Welch, 12 x 10 inch acrylic on canvas. February 25, 2026.
Artist notes: Travelling through time is the third in a series of clamshell paintings. The three together convey how everything changes but nothing is lost in the web and wash of the shoreline. Though this painting can stand alone it is more when sharing space with the other two studies. The concept of thousands of years is mostly lost to me. But sitting with a small butter clamshell that is weather and worn, it is almost possible to grasp.
Here is the direct link to these paintings in the online gallery at:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/terrill-welch/artwork/clamshell-travel
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SPECIAL SAVINGS OFFER
This is what came loping through the recesses of my brain in the middle of the night on Monday. As you may have noticed, a healthy number of paintings have been scooped up by art collectors over the past six months. This means I am in a good place to celebrate with you by offering one of my time-limited offers. High material and shipping cost for my art supplies means prudently keeping this offer modest. However, I know from my own experience that every savings is welcomed these days. So here you go!
For the Month of November:
10% savings on any original painting purchase with shipping included within Canada and half of the shipping cost for international destinations.
20% savings on any original painting purchase with shipping included within Canada and half of the shipping cost for international destinations - IF YOU SUBSCRIBE OR ARE SUBSCRIBED TO “Terrill Welch by herself”.
The Small Print:
These savings are on top of any of your ongoing art collector savings earned from previous purchases and apply to my complete available online inventory.
There is no shipping available to the United States at this time due to a 50% tariff United States that art collectors would need to pay to their U.S. government on imported Canadian Art. Someday this will hopefully be sorted in a good way for both our countries.
In order to keep growing the love for my paintings, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share this offer and newsletter with those you think might be interested.
This is it! Enjoy browsing my online gallery. You can select to view the paintings not only by what is available but also by price and size on the top right and by specific collections on the left. Also, if you know the title of the painting you want to find, you can use the search option. I have circled the various selection locations in red for you in the image below.
There is no shopping cart per se. You can use either the inquiry button or the purchase button to send me a question or request. Neither option will prompt a sale all by itself. Once we have connected and a sale has been finalized, then I will send you an invoice. I like to have a conversation with you and ensure we have everything in place that works best for you before that invoice is created.
And, here is the direct link to the online gallery for your exploration:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/terrill-welch/portfolio
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I am continuing to work on the newest painting and will share again when I have it finished. The painting seems to be quite content to lounge on the easel half finished for now. The weather has become cooler with, finally, a bit of rain to dampen the ground. Winds whip up shallow bays.
Yellow gold dollar leaves from the small grove of polar trees rest in tangles of seaweed at Reef Bay.
I slip in under their trunks and gaze out to the sea.
Our British Columbia election happened with a disappointingly low 48% voter turnout and with a change in government to a mash-up of former BC Liberals elected candidates with old Social Credit leanings mixed in with a tangle of a few more right leaning candidates in a political party that has been less than functional over the past year. It is the result I expected but not the outcome I wished for. However, the people have spoken. This may seem far away from my painting practice. However, as a small business offering original art to an international market, what is happening in my own province and country matters as much as, or even more than, what is happening elsewhere in the world. I have recently developed my 2027 to 2032 art business and painting practice plan and I will review it against these new provincial realities. I am not expecting big impacts — nothing like the United States tariff disruptions. Still, it is worth giving things a good going over and making any adjustments that seem relevant.
In the meantime, check out what is available with my time-limited special offer. It is a great selection of paintings in a variety of sizes and themes. You will be in good company this year with paintings purchased by United States, Netherland, Prince Edward Island, Ontario and British Columbia art collectors.
All the best as always,
Terrill 👩🎨❤️🎨
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