Happy Month of Love

A Lovebird acting as a banner.

The original (on the left) is 

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir ©

A few years ago, I decided to think about February as the 

Month of Love, not just the month for Valentine's
Day, but for a whole month of hearts, which I love, flowers and
happy thoughts when possible.  That can be a serious challenge. 

I sold some cards featuring my Valentine's paintings 
at the last opening of the Off The Wall show. Thank you to
the people who bought them.  Yes there are more!

So please spread love wherever, and whenever you can. People
need love and affection. Your posts and work make me happy, and
help make me love my life, even when the news is grim. Thank you.

Have a loving your life day.!

One great thing about International Art Exhibitions

 

Journal Sketch
of my friend Miranda Brouwers
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

We hung out with wonderful family artists today after visiting the
Brickworks market, where we very much miss seeing Jens Eller
and Cole from Marvellous Edibles farms. Tonight is movie night
and it's already late. So this post from last year seems perfect.

"If you ever get the chance to show in International shows,
I hope you do it.  Of course there is so much to learn -- how
to navigate, what to send, how to manage shipping, where
to stay.  But the most wonderful part of the whole experience
is the friendships you make that last.

This is a really rough, fast sketch of one of those friends
for me -- Miranda Brouwers -- an amazing artist, and 
fabulous friend.  We met in Florence Italy at the 2015 
Florence Biennale, and formed what we called The Happy
People group, to cheer other artists on through the 10 days
of exhibiting.

We showed together again at the Louvre in 2016. And have
kept in constant touch ever since. Miranda is currently
devoting her work to beautiful cards, T-shirts, invitations,
and art that helps people celebrate the important moments
in their lives. I will do a more refined drawing another time.
Meanwhile have fun Miranda."

I'm still friends with people I met in Florence, Paris and in
New York City who come from all over the world.
Miranda and I have seen each other in Europe again too.
And every time we talk on the phone (once
a week most of the time) -- the conversation starts with both
of us laughing. Such a treat!

Have a loving your life day!

In a world that can be terrifying -- I thank you for my happiness!

Tea Alone

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013,

revised 2023

(This painting seems right for tonight!)

10 Reasons To Be Happy Today

I used the exercise 10 Reasons to be Happy that
I made up, (but it may not be original), with impressive
results when I was teaching Positive Psychology. 
At the start of a class I'd pick 10 people to go the
front of the room and start a sentence with, "I'm happy
because", and then say why.  I'd explain that the
reason could be very small -- as in, "I'm happy
because I caught the bus on time."  It was
amazing to see that the people who came to the front
of the class, said why they were happy, and let the class
clap for them -- got happier. It sounds like psychobabble magic,
but in fact it's the same principle as blogging and
showing work for artists, and as writing in a journal
and then reading it aloud to friends or people
in a writing group.  It gives people a voice.

Having a voice in art and in the world matters.  Getting a
chance to think about what makes you happy,
shifts your focus to the positive, and as I've told
you before, the former happiness teacher at Harvard
University, Shawn Achor, says that when we are
happy we think not only more creatively, but
better.  Here's today's list:

1. My wonderful husband.

2. Our family -- Christopher, Megan, Sam, Emily, 

Alice, Madeleine and James.

2. Our animals -- Sally the dog, and Monet the cat.
3. My friends both here in Toronto, and around the world
through the art world.

4. My life as an artist.
5. Our walks at Lake Ontario when it's not -18 Celsius.

6. Our neighbourhood.
7. Our city -- I love Toronto.

8. My good health.

9. The art groups I belong to -- The Heliconian club,
and The Don Valley Art Club.

10.You! 
I'll add a couple:

11. The wonderful people who cleared our
street today.

12. The people who collect my work.

Thank you for everything!!!

Have a loving your life day!

I like this now, and working on the behind the scenes

 

Toronto Man

Charcoal, acrylic ink, and

acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

I showed this Acrylic ink drawing on canvas in the Drawing from
Life show last year at the Heliconian Hall. At the time I was not
happy with it compared to the sketchbook drawing that inspired it. 
I like it now. 

The man is wearing a trench coat, because last year at this point
in the winter we had had mostly rain.  This year in January alone

we've had 88 centimetres of snow.  And that's a lot.

Behind the scenes in art for me? -- preparing canvasses with two
layers of gesso, searching through my references for inspiration,

organizing an art show. All good.

Anyway Toronto Man -- thank you for being an inspiration.

Have a loving your life day.

A short one tonight -- Happy rest of the week

 Ken's flowers

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Sold

A lot going on today -- plus painting, but the current piece is not
quite ready.  I dug my car out of the snow, which was quite a 
task.  Plus after work Steven helped me with the rest.  Hey I got
my steps -- so great.  

There will be more to say soon.  We're trying to organize an
April show.  Still a few details to sort out.

Have a loving your life day!

Snow, snow, snow

 

Snow in the backyard

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2026

A couple of days ago we had two feet of snow. Although it makes
many things more difficult, it's a good thing because in recent
winters we've had almost no snow in Toronto, and that is not 
good for the environment.  We need winter.

So despite the cold, and the inconvenience, Torontonians are of two minds, because they have no idea when it will disappear.  I haven't dug my car out yet, but the side roads are not much fun right now.  Two lanes don't exist, so each trip is a matter of intense negotiation.

Here’s a look at the backyard in this beautiful snow. Of course we
artists are enchanted, but it sure is cold.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Birthday to a great person and allow yourself to be happy

Market pansies in a cream jug
work in progress
Acrylic ink and marker
on watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Today was an amazingly beautiful day after 2 feet of snow fell yesterday.
And today was our young family member's birthday. We're glad she's
a winter freak, and had a wonderful day!

I'm thinking about happiness because aside from constantly finding in
research that it's good for your health, it feels like a form of resistance
now.  As I say every time I express this, I mean that if we are living in
comfort -- have a roof over our heads, food to eat, enough money to
pay our bills -- we are blessed in a world full of turmoil, and need to
be grateful.

As artists our rebellion involves sharing the beauty we see. As people
we can rebel by doing everything we can to help others, and by
appreciating our joy.

It feels like a good moment to share this information from
a former post.  I taught positive psych as a college prof for
10 years.  Loved it and learned so much. I edited this a 
bit for the current moment.

"The Happiness Trick

Is there a trick to happiness?  Yes.  People have written books
about how.  But there is a secret to being happy.  We have to
allow it.  I heard about this phenomenon called the "Nocebo
response".  In medicine it is related to telling a patient that
they will not get better. This message apparently has such a
profound effect on the person's mind that she shuts the door
on hope, and may get rapidly worse.

My great happiness magic for today is to talk yourself out of
it.  Of the depression you could get because in this city many of
our cars are buried in snow banks, and digging them out takes a 
long time. It's been quite grey but today it was quite sunny for a while in

Toronto. And in painting of the fear that you can't do it.

Try this.  Instead of freaking out about what you can't do,
start with "This is easy!"  Just repeat that a few times, and
watch your shoulders quit tightening into a vice grip.
As for painting or drawing -- we need to take a look at how
tough things are in the world, and let ourselves know how lucky
we are to be compelled to make something, and to have the
 freedom to create."

Have a loving your life day!