Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Opening for World in a City


 

Tomorrow is the second opening for the May show at the Heliconian
Hall, World in a City, and it's a beautiful show.  It's all about our
city, Toronto and wow it is really something.

The opening runs from 4:30 - 7 p.m. at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue,
in Toronto.  There will be treats and coffee, and as always it is free.  I'd love
to see you there.

Have a loving your life day!

Monday, May 11, 2026

Mother's Day continues

 

Mother and Child
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Some of my favourite paintings are of parents with their children,
and this is one.  This collector loved my work and I'm so happy
I could create meaningful work for her.  

I'm not sure whether I have enough paintings to celebrate a Mother's
Day week.  But I'm going to try, because I think mothers and
fathers too deserve more than one day a year of celebration.

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. I knowI did.  

Wishing you a joyous spring week, 

Have a loving your life day!

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Happiest Mother's Day

 

The Writer's Life
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing mothers.
I feel so lucky to have two sweet sons, two lovely,
kind daughters-in-law, and a growing family.  Mother's 
Day is the best for me every day. My family is the a treat,
and my friends who mother me, and who are mothers
are also so fantastic.

I miss my mother who's been gone for thirteen
years -- I love you and miss you Mommy.  You are with me
every day in my heart.

In a former post this is what I saiid about this painting:

"This is one of my favourite paintings.  I just love how
the painting captures the mother's love and devotion to
her baby son, and her persistence -- to keep on working
while keeping the baby happy.  The woman in the painting
is a very successful novelist."

I hope you had a super Mother's Day.  I did. I had time with
my family, and enjoyed friends calling in. 

Have a loving your life day!

Saturday, May 9, 2026

This is what the whole thing is about

Christopher Sleeping 
(journal drawing)
marker on paper
Barbara Muir © 2012


Baby Sam
8 1/2 x 11 inches
black marker on bond paper
Barbara Muir © 2009

This is what it's all about -- Mother's Day weekend.  Whether we
get to be with our children or not, they are 100% on our
minds, and in our hearts. And so are our mothers, whether
we can be with them, or call them, or if they've left this world--
they are in our hearts for the whole weekend.

I feel extremely grateful to my mother for being so kind,
generous and inspiring.  And I'm sorry she's no longer with us. 

My family dropped off beautiful roses for me today, so I am 
lucky and grateful.

Have a Happy Mother's Day weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

Friday, May 8, 2026

The joy of the blog's history


Picture with an archer (detail)
by Vasily Kandinsky
1909

One of the great pleasures about writing a blog is that it
holds the history of where I've been, and what I've 
been interested in.  Today I looked at this day in 2010.
I had been in a show in New York City, and while
we were there had enjoyed visiting the MoMA. 
Such an amazing gallery. I was impressed by 
Vasily Kandinsky's bright colours.  I think the subject
matter escaped me.

Here's what I wrote in 2010:

"While we were in New York we visited the MOMA
(Museum of Modern Art) twice. As an artist with
an exhibit in New York City, I got a special artist's
membership for a bit more than the price of a one
time admission, so the second time I went in free.

What can I say? There was so much to see that was
wonderful in the MOMA. 

But one of the things that I liked was the painting
Picture with an archer by Vasily Kandinsky. I took
several close up pictures of the painting, trying to
capture its intensity and texture. (Photos were permitted.)
It completely entranced me. The colour was so rich,
I know no photograph can convey what I saw. But
check it out next time you're at the MOMA."

Wishing you a great Mother's Day weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Remembering Paris (yes this could go on and on, and will!)

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

Two years ago today we were getting ready to leave Paris 
after a wonderful visit.  On the afternooon I posted this
image two years ago, we'd visited artist friends in their
apartment and they served us a beautiful wine apertif,
and delicious pastries. 

We had an amazing and exciting conversation about everything
happening in the world -- quite a job for me and Steven,
as Jean Philippe and Sophie Barbara were speaking
very fast, intelligent french -- and so much fun.

Like today in Toronto the weather was perfect -- a little bit cool,
and sunny. The whole city seemed happy. Torontonians are
so keen for summer right now, that many are wearing shorts in
10 degree Celsius, 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  Very Canadian.

Have a loving your life day!

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Happy Birthday to my wonderful brother

Shorelines, The Gatineau River
My Brother Andrew
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir ©

It's my wonderful brother's birthday today, and I wish
I could be with him and his wife and Steven singing
Happy Birthday. We will sing for sure -- over the
phone with our dog Sally singing her favourite song --|
Happy Birthday means a treat. And she loves treats.
It would be a treat to be with Andrew and his sweet
wife Lina. We will get together soon
Here's what I said in a former post: 

"My brother Andrew and I support each other in
our artistic efforts (He's a writer, was a host on an
Ottawa talk show about art, a conceptual artist,
an excellent painter, and a photographer).
We've also worked together on numerous projects
writing and editing articles, speeches, websites.

Andrew is one of the funniest people I know.
Working with him was like all the best
working relationships because we laughed so much
no matter what we were doing.

This painting of Andrew is one of my husband's
favourites. The painting is a 12" x 12" square.
It looks less vibrant here 
than it is in real life.
One day I hope to paint 
similar paintings of everyone
I know, and clip 
them together to make one huge work."

I like the dream I had then. Nice idea.  Right now
other ideas are in the works.

Happy Birthday Andrew.

Have a loving your life day!

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!