A Brush with Life - Issue #49 The Courage To Paint

“I think Mother Nature is telling us to pay attention to what truly makes us happy, and I think your art is one of those precious things.” - from an art collector to artist Terrill Welch.

Receiving notes like this, gives me the courage to paint even during these are extraordinary and challenging times. I have let you know that all of my work can be viewed online just for your pure enjoyment or for inquiry and purchase. You are welcome to copy an image as a screensaver or to tuck away an image of a painting in a special album that brings you joy and comfort. However, some fans and art collectors are also sharing favourite paintings with their family and friends on social media and via email as a way of supporting each other during these weeks of staying at home. Thus has been an additional pleasant surprise and one I hadn’t considered. Whether you own originals or have a collection of virtual images, I hope these contemporary landscape paintings bring you peace, resilience and strength. And I shall keep my courage to painting and continue to offer work for your private art collection of originals or virtual images. Thank you for your ongoing validation in so many different and creative ways.

Now for the full quote from an art collector on March 26, 2020 - “It’s not a good time to be spending money - my retirement savings are taking such a hit, but on the other hand, I think Mother Nature is telling us to pay attention to what truly makes us happy, and I think your art is one of those precious things…..”

I almost cried reading her words. Then I exhaled and put the last brushstrokes on this seascape painting which isn’t available yet but will be soon. Don’t lose hope. We will get through this!

The latest painting…

Artist’s Notes: The sunrise at Gordon’s Beach on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island is often stunning and fills our hearts with the hope for a new day.

I don’t often step in front of the camera. But every once in a long while, I feel compelled to do so. In this case, I have used this video format to introduce this latest painting and to speak a little about what is happening in my world as an artist and a human being from my home studio on Mayne Island in British Columbia, Canada. Enjoy!

And off goes another Terrill Welch painting! Well, soon anyway. This small seascape study that I introduced to you last issue will wait to travel until the current extreme social or physical distancing challenge is behind us. Or, if this appears to be taking a while, the painting sketch will be shipped by mail to the art collector. We are just hoping that we might get a chance for a coffee and visit together. We will have to wait and see.

Several of you have been sharing my paintings with family and friends this week. Though I have chosen this one example, I want to thank you all! 

About the time I am beginning to second guess myself, around my perspective and orientation to my paintings and how they can help us navigate our current circumstances, I receive a text message from a long time friend and a collector of my work. He is sending me a link to a BBC interview by Will Gompertz with artist David Hockey who is in lockdown in Normandy, with his dog Ruby and two assistants, painting spring…

You can see his sketches and iPad paintings and read the rest of the interview by clicking in the article link below. I think you might enjoy it as much as I did.

The Terrill Welch Gallery continues to move forward with selecting west coast landscape paintings and establishing a presence online for new artists it is representing. Allow me to present Glenda King and share with you one of her three landscape paintings that will be in the first group show in the new Arbutus Room of the Terrill Welch Gallery.

Artist’s notes: An arbutus garden along the St John’s Point park. These beautiful trees stretching out across the path may capture your eyes & your heart. 

Additional viewing and purchase information in online gallery HERE or feel free to just email the gallery directly to inquire.

Biography: Glenda King was born in Montreal and moved to the west coast before she became a teenager. She has travelled and lived in other areas of British Columbia and Canada but finally has been able to relocate back to B.C.. This is where she feels rooted, with its mountains and the ocean. Since settling on the west coast in 2010, her love for wildlife and local scenery has grown through her photography and painting adventures.

Glenda began developing a serious oil painting practice in 2016. She has shown her work in student shows, regional art council shows, a three artist show, Envision Gallery group shows and is currently represented by the Terrill Welch Gallery on Mayne Island. Her work is in private collections in western Canada and the United State. Glenda continues to explore the bounty her natural world has to offer.

Artist Statement: Living on Mayne Island allows me to have so many possible beautiful compositions, whether it be a seascape, landscape or wildlife & birds. There is so much life & beauty surrounding us everyday that sometimes we just need to stop & paint it. I capture nature’s intensity, beauty and energy in my work. These paintings are completed using my own photography reference studies and notes as well as plein air when our west coast weather allows. Hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I have enjoyed creating them. 

View other paintings by Glenda King being represented by the Terrill Welch Gallery on our new work-in-progress website page at:

I am excited to begin sharing with you the west coast landscape paintings from Glenda King and the other new emerging artists that are being represented by the Terrill Welch Gallery. I know all of their work well! These artists are my former students and they have been developing and honing their skills for several years. Each has perfected their individual voice on the canvas and yet, I think you will find an overall synergy between us that will speak to you. As emerging artists, art collectors also have an opportunity to purchase their work at entry level prices. When you visit their individual online portfolios, you will see that many of their paintings have already sold, including work that has been added to my own personal collection. I will introduce Jody Waldie and Jennifer Peers individually as well in the next two issue. Insider tip: if you check the work-in-progress website page/tab periodically, you can see their work even sooner. 😉

Yesterday, Art brought present and past together on the end table in our great room. I received these daffodils as a gift on Wednesday and put them in the same vase as the one in the painting. Then I set them together to enjoy both in this special relationship with time and presence. 

Artist’s notes: Spring! I can still hear the sounds of the room and the smell of the flowers of the day this was painted. Pure joy!

View the full painting in detail and purchase information HERE.

May we have the courage and grit to do what we need to do and the one thing that will make a difference, beyond the work of our many fellow human beings risking their lives delivering essential services - stay home and be well. Virtual hugs and gratitude for being you just as you are, in this moment on this day.