Bittersweet Brilliance in Autumn — Terrill Welch by herself - issue #60
The brilliance in any moment casts a predictable shadow of impermanence. This natural pairing of contrasts is what motivates my desire for a considered life, structured around purpose and intent.
I still frequently entertain outlandish dreams or unrealistic expectations. However, I also continually question and evaluate what is working and serving my underlying purpose and intent. Sometimes, the most important thing to be done is watching the afternoon sun glide across the yard filtered through the branches of the fir trees. This reminds me of a Japanese word. Japan has a word, 木漏れ日 (komorebi - pronounced kō-mō-reh-bē) for sunlight filtering through the gaps between leaves and branches. Due to a pinhole camera effect, dappled light is often round like the sun rather than shaped by the outline of the leaves. It changes continuously and no moment can ever be repeated. In Japanese culture, komorebi is often associated with nature, the changing of the seasons, and the passage of time. There is no equivalent English word. We will say dappled light or filtered light but it doesn’t have the same depth of meaning as kormorebi. Komorebi is a way of seeing:
It reflects a sensitivity to impermanence,
and a deep awareness of time passing.
This sensitivity is often described as mono no aware —
a quiet recognition of the beauty and sadness of things that do not last.
Perhaps this is why moments like komorebi feel so meaningful.
In noticing them,
we are not only observing light.
We are learning how to live with what cannot remain…
It is not only light between branches,
but a small piece of language shaped by attention,
offering a sense of calm,
and a quiet emotional resonance.
(Huang, 2026)
I have a few paintings that have been deeply influenced by my observations of komorebi. I will just share the one that came to mind first when I was reading these words.
Artist notes: I can feel the sandstone, worn bare of moss, under my feet as I stride the undulating path. Bits of arbutus bark leave warm orange-red foil colours in grooves under the curving trees. Forest as accessories. There are sea lions braying on the distant Belle Chain Islets. An eagle flies overhead just as a deer bounds through the trees. Sunlight dapples the path. Trees, I truly see you.
Komorebi and mono no aware are borrowed Japanese words for a congruent and harmonious life within nature. Sometimes we need to reach across cultures to find the words because the concept of noticing what we are observing was so important to them that they created a perfect word for it. I will leave a list of references for you to explore further if you wish.
Reference List:
Erdmann, M. (2023). The fascinating meaning of the Japanese word ““komorebi.” [online] mk.erdmann. Available at: https://www.matthewerdmann.com/post/the-fascinating-meaning-of-the-japanese-word-komorebi [Accessed 2 Nov. 2026].
Huang, O. (2026). Komorebi meaning: The beauty of sunlight through trees in Japanese aesthetics. [online] dans le gris. Available at: https://danslegris.com/blogs/journal/komorebi-meaning-the-beauty-of-sunlight-through-trees-in-japanese-aesthetics [Accessed 2 Nov. 2026].
The Beauty of Komorebi: How the Japanese See Dappled Light. (2026). [Video] Directed by Dans Le Gris. YouTube. Available at: https://youtu.be/cnKdrjqtj_c?si=gMyRYrBA9MXDnDTd [Accessed 2 Nov. 2026].
NEW RELEASES
There are two new paintings to release this week. The first you might remember when I shared it still on the easel in an earlier issue. and the second is the new painting I have been working in. Both of these paintings are on high quality archival stretched linen and come with ¾ inch edges which means they will need to be framed. This is not likely something I will do right away because many art collectors have their own framing preferences and styles for harmony between the various pieces in their collection.
Artist notes: I had just come from visiting a friend in the hospital and we stopped to have a picnic dinner in the park beside the marina at (what is now called) All Bay in Sidney, British Columbia. I took some reference images because the shapes and colours felt hopeful and there was a peaceful, reflective, deep calm about munching on sandwiches and looking out into the bay. In this painting investigate the big gestures and emotions in this moment without getting caught in the weeds of visual or thought preciseness.
Additional detail images and room views are available with the online gallery listing at:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/terrill-welch/artwork/harbouring-hope
This second painting still feels fresh and is just now dry to the touch.
Artist notes: A timeless yet temporariness envelopes these familiar woods along the Creyke Point Trail of East Sooke Park on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. There are faint hints of hidden figures in this ecosystem offering a glimpse into my 30 year history with this place, captured with a full range of interwoven figurative abstract mark making.
Additional detail images and room views are available with the online gallery listing at:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/terrill-welch/artwork/the-forest-keeps-its-borrowed-moment
So far this year, I have completed 21 new paintings and 14 have left for homes of their own in Europe, in the United States and across Canada to Ontario and Prince Edward Island with many settling on walls in the cities on the southwest coast of British Columbia. A couple have even stayed on Mayne Island this year! That is two-thirds of the number of newly created works, from across the available inventory, that are now in the stewardship of art collectors. My deepest thanks to this amazing group of art collectors! When I review this information, I realized that I can pause and maybe paint a couple more paintings in 2026 if I wish. But it is not necessary. I can likely better use this time to dig deeper into why I paint what I paint to find a further growing edge to investigate and explore. I can also focus more on presenting work that is available for my November Special Savings. And, this is where you can assist. If you know someone who might be interested in having their own “Terrill Welch painting” do let them know about this offer. Many thanks as always for your ongoing support in all ways that work for you.
NOVEMBER SPECIAL SAVINGS
Before I forget, my November special offer is happening for anyone who is interested. The specifics for the 10% and 20% savings can be found in last Friday’s issue at:
I have this great collection of recent small painting sketches available that are definitely worth having a closer look at…
There is also a nice collection of arbutus tree paintings available. My full collection of arbutus tree paintings contains 48 artworks and there are about 15 still available. It is interesting to see some of these together. Can you spot the two newest ones?
With a specific look at the two newest arbutus tree paintings and an older painting from 2023, I have concluded that my painting expression itself has stayed fairly consistent over the years — regardless of my two years of research and study of the seafloor for my MA Fine Art degree. I am not terribly concerned about this consistency as I have spent over 50 years developing my painting practice. Still, I also haven’t been prepared to accept this reality. Because my thinking about my painting practice has become deeper and more refined, I expected more of a visible impact on my work. So far, this doesn’t appear to be so. I still paint exactly like me.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
In this fast paced world of change, I waited until yesterday to write my concluding comments because I wasn’t sure what it was I was going to want to say. I didn’t realize, until they were over, how much I had been holding my breath waiting for the results of the United States mid-terms. I feel like humanity won on the strength of decency, respect and shear determination that no amount of money from millionaires and billionaires could destroy. Democracy held. There is still lots, in a good way, left of the United States to build on after this past two horrific years. It won’t be easy and there is no going back to our Canadian and U.S. relationship from before. But there does seem to be a hopeful path forward, at least it feels that way today. I will take it! Congratulations to my United States art collectors and friends who worked so hard for this win. You did it! As a Canadian artist and human being , I am celebrating right along with you. Your efforts have made this world truly a better place.
All the best as always,
Terrill 👩🎨❤️🎨
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