Terrie Shaw talks about her book Garden Journey
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Season 4, Episode 3
Terrie Shaw’s journey in words and watercolours
Artist and gardener Terrie Shaw has spent more than a decade journaling in words and watercolours. In her new book, Garden Journey, she captures not just the look of her Sherwood Park garden but the feeling of it. Readers can almost hear the hum of bees around her grapevine café, see the colours of calendula and sorrel, and picture her grandchildren inventing stories around a mysterious purple door in the yard.
Sketching life in pen and ink
Terrie sketches everything — plants, recipes, and family moments — in pen and ink before adding watercolour. Since 2013 she has filled five journals. The early ones show tentative lines and simple drawings. Later volumes reveal her confidence and a richer style.
Her journals chart more than her growth as an artist. They reveal how everyday beauty unfolds from planting to harvest. They also show how sketching can become a way of seeing more deeply. Drawing in pen slows her down and makes her notice details. For Terrie, the result is calm and connection — the same feelings that gardening inspires.
From private pages to published book
The road to publication was not easy. After one disappointing experience, Terrie eventually found support at Wild Skies Press. There, her journal pages could be reproduced with clarity and colour.
Terrie hopes readers, even those who are not artists or gardeners, will see that wonder is always close at hand. A flower, a walk, or a quiet moment in the yard can bring insight and joy if we pause to notice.
Sharing lessons and joy
In this episode of the CLG Podcast, Shauna Dobbie talks with Terrie about her journey. They explore her creative process, the stories behind her garden “rooms,” and the role of family in her art. Terrie shares what she has learned about resilience, creativity, and positivity.
At its heart, her story is about finding joy in the everyday — a message the world needs now more than ever.
