International Women's Day

 

My friend the artist, Nicki Ault

took this photo of me with two of

the paintings from my Ocean series

that I brought to show the other artists at

the Ayr exhibition in 2011 -- a wonderful
celebration of International
Women's Day.  And so many women
I met there are still friends.

It is International Women’s Day, and I'm grateful to all of the 
wonderful women in my life — starting with my mother. and my
sister, and extending to all the women in my family, all of my friends,
and all of the amazing women I’ve met in my working life in art and
in teaching. This year seems especially hard for celebrating with the 
insane and horrific wars, increased misogyny in so called "democratic
countries," and endless tragic news about women and children.

I believe the beauty that artists make is all the more vital. We need

to reject hatred, and work hard on loving one another.

I feel extremely happy to have joined one of the first Women's art
clubs in Canada -- The Heliconian at 35 Hazelton Avenue in
Toronto.  I've met such wonderful women artists there.  I recommend
the current Abstraction art show and sale.  Come out this Wednesday
between 4 and 7:30 and you'll be dazzled with the beautiful work. 
No I'm not in the show.  I'm painting for a show in April opening
April 3, called The Colour of Light.  You'll love that show too.

Have a loving your life day!

Flash back and Happy International Women's Day tomorrow

 

Aren't we lucky!
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

A year ago on this day I talked about working on this portrait
of the wonderful model Ruko.  She posed for me in my
studio, and it was such a pleasure creating the painting.

Tomorrow is International Women's Day, and I want to
thank all of the wonderful women in my life.  You make
my life sing.  Tonight is TV night, so this is going to be

short.  Plus the clocks jump ahead an hour tomorrow, and
that is a bit of an adjustment.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

How do you feel about snow?

 

Sam dreams of a snow day

black marker on bond paper

14 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 

A week ago it was - 10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) in Toronto,
felt like - 16 (3.2 Fahrenheit), tomorrow it will be +16 Celsius
(60.8 Fahrenheit).  

Today it was Zero (32 Fahrenheit), and already the huge 
mounds of snow all over the city are melting, and grass is showing

up here and there. Most people are delighted, but how do the kids
feel who had more than one "snow day" this winter?  Kids seem

to love snow. I do too. Not the difficult traffic, but the beauty.

It has been beautiful. 

So this drawing tonight of my son wishing for a snow day. Yes
I get it. 

Have a loving your life day!

Stay Happy -- it helps

Steven and me dancing in the studio
(former living room)

Photo

Chris Muir ©

I know it's the wrong time of year, but it's the right time for this.  There's been 
some sad news this week, and we're trying to hold on to joy.  Tonight
we had dinner at our favourite IKEA (I kid you not the salmon is so good)

and met such nice people.  Three great friends, parents with babies, a

woman organizing a new set up.  And later in Loblaws I met a fashion
designer.

On the way home the great song Imagine by the Beatles came on, and I

nearly cried, but I didn't. Peace is what we need.

Have a loving your life day!

Keep going

 

Wonderful news

Watercolour and marker
on watercolour paper
9 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025
went home from the Off The Wall show
SOLD ♥

Austin Kleon is coming out with a new book soon, and I recommend
reading everything he's written about creativity. The book Keep
Going (see link attached to his name) would be ideal for the present
moment, when the news seems to be more horrific daily.  As an artist
painting in my studio I do feel powerless about the famine and murderous
war in Gaza, and now the U.S. Israeli war involving the whole middle
east -- which seems beyond insane. It feels like we've learned nothing.

But as artists we do have a purpose.  Mine is to highlight the beauty and
joy and kindness I see. That's pretty simple, and some people would
think simplistic.  But that's it. If we are not living in a war zone we
are lucky. 

Have a loving your life day!

Trying to let March be The Month of Exuberance

Irises in bloom

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2021

(When I first posted this photo my artist
 friend Daniel Bordi had been
talking about the importance

of details on Instagram. I

am working on a large
Paris scene that has so many
details I need to take deep
breaths and walk away every now

and then.  And as Daniel
Bordi said, sooner or later
they will add up to art.)

It has been a good day. I had to fast while I was painting 
because I had a medical appointment.

And yes as I drank the allowed water I thought of people
all over the world who are experiencing famine because
of insane wars and cruel policies.

These Irises are one of my favourite flowers.  And as I've
said before flowers hold out hope.  In my own world, in

my studio, March is the Month of Exuberance and has to
be as I'm in a show in April with two other amazing
artists. 

Now it's out for short walk to try and be in the now.

I wish you a very happy day tomorrow. Your work and
your exuberance make me feel great joy. A pretty amazing
accomplishment in these strange times. 

Have a loving your life day! 

Super busy -- and I love resting between bouts of painting

After the nap

Black marker on Moleskine paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I did have a nap today after painting all day -- in this bed.  Trying to
stay positive -- the curly part in this drawing fell off this morning.
The bed is a heirloom, probably 100 years old, but it seems like
me reading is too much for it.  Now the exciting part of figuring out
how to put it back together.  I'm glad I married a carpenter (one among
his many other skills!)

I labeled a piece about the drawing The Art of Exhaustion, and I'm
going to share what I wrote in that post tonight:

"Is the art of exhaustion a real thing?  I don't know.  I've been painting
all day on and off, and when I stop, I've been lying down or reading --
and sinking into exhaustion.

What I've been working on is not ready to show you. So Please accept a
drawing I quite like of my bed after a nap," (before today's temporary
damage.)

Have a loving your life day.