The 15th thing I learned again in 2025 -- my art group is so inspiring

Art Group Sketch 
from several years ago

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir ©

I love painting with my art group.  They are such inspiring, kind, 
funny artists. Our group happens every Tuesday evening in 
Forest Hill Collegiate -- the art space for both the Forest Hill
Art Club and the Don Valley Art Club. And it is so fun.

I am a very slow painter, but with the group I'm fast. My
husband drops me off at 7:30 and picks me up an hour later. 
I set up. There are breaks, I paint, then I take down my easel
and table, and clean up, and get a painting in that hour. 
Inspired by the artists, and the model. 

I think I might have had 30 minutes to do this painting sketch,

and I like it. Thank you to my art group for another year of
super inspiration.  Your work is beautiful, and I learn 
something every time I paint for such a short time with
you.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Yes Joy matters. The 14th lesson I learned again. Not religious, but Joy for the world would be the best!

 

The night of the tulips

Watercolour and marker

on watercolour paper

9 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Seeing this painting from years ago made me happy.  It's been a rough day--

still feeling under the weather.  So last year's post seems perfect. I thought
we've got to get some flowers in here because they are always an immediate
source of joy for me. We'll soon have Amaryllis plants in bloom, and that
will be awesome. And this is one of my favourite tulip paintings.

For the past couple of years on this day I talked about how Louise Hay
once asked what word you would use to define the year.  In 2017 I said
"joy", in 2023 "resilience", in 2024 I would use both "magnificent",
because so many parts of my life have been magnificent, and "surprise"
because it seems the surprises (mostly good, but some terrifying) have been endless.

For 2025 the word wonderful seems appropriate.  And that with the
world falling all around us.  I have had a wonderful year -- special,

fabulous -- a very good year.  I do miss Paris -- so next year.

And yes a great many people, events, beautiful views, flowers, music,
have given me joy. So I am very grateful.

Have a loving your life day. 

The 13th thing I learned again in 2025 -- it takes a village to keep an artist going

Me and my friend artist Georgia Fullerton
in front of the portrait of her daughter

India Morgan who posed for

the portrait Our Garden.

The painting In the City on loan for
my solo show The Art of Celebration

is the landscape in the photo,
and one of the first guests to the show,

artist and collector Ellis Berman sits on the couch
in front of the portrait.
Photo 
Peter Ramdeholl © 2025

First of all my husband, who is at every show, is my main supporter. 
He helps me with the heavy work of displaying art, and with the logic
of my thoughts, and process when I'm working hard on a painting.
My family are incredibly supportive. And I am so grateful. Love you family.

My friends are super kind and supportive of my work -- attending my
shows, buying my work when they can.  I am so grateful.

I am lucky to be a member of the Heliconian Club,  a delight

since I joined in 2019, and I'm a member of the Don Valley Art Club.
I've exhibited my work in recent years mostly in the beautiful space of the 

Heliconian Club when I'm not showing internationally. And the weekly
drawing/painting night at the Don Valley Art Club is a treat.
Last April I had a one month solo show of 55 paintings in the Heliconian Hall, and
it was wonderful. The Heliconian hanging committee did an exceptional

job of displaying my work, and Steven my husband, and Peter Ramdeholl
put up the largest pieces.

Then there is the wide community in the social media world.  I'll 
include Howard Wolinsky, Oprah Winfrey and Alyson Stanfield in my
list there.  And all of the people -- friends I've met at shows, friends 

from my community, and friends I've made online who like, buy,
enjoy, and support my work.

Maybe it takes an entire world to keep an artist going.  And please

know that I am so grateful to all of you.

Have a loving your life day.

(I added Pete Sinjin's Canal Street magnificent painting into
last night's blog.  It seemed right.  Still under the weather so
it's not the best photo.)

The 12th thing I learned over again in 2025 -- life is amazing!

 

Pete Sinjin, the Brooklyn plein air painter
I met randomly walking along the Seine in Paris
in May.  As we spoke awkward French
to each other about what he was doing (measuring
lines with his paint brush in the air), we
shared names, and he found out I'd
been one of a number of artists
who said that his work was 

great, when a silly art critic tried to put him down.

Instant friendship. Amazing!

Photo

Steven van Schaik (my husband) © 2024

Canal St., NYC
Framed oil on linen, plein air
16 x 20 inches
Pete Sinjin ©

I've told you the story of meeting Pete Sinjin in Paris before.  It was awesome.

This year surprise beyond measure, I got one of Pete's paintings for my 
birthday!  One of my favourites. And get this-- my husband ordered it in August
for my Halloween birthday! Yes I was blown away.  It's magnificent.

Then last week I met one of the stars of We Will Rock You at my art show

on the afternoon before Steven and I went to the show that evening.  So

magical.

Stay open to awesome happiness.

Have a loving your life day!

The 11th thing I learned again in 2025 -- Pets are amazing -- the sweetest

Monet the cat
It's the fourth
anniversary of her
adoption.

We normally (well three times) have celebrated Monet's adoption
anniversary today, but today was not the normal day.  So to honour Monet --
here's what I said last year edited for what's changed:

This is the fourth anniversary of our adoption of our cat, Monet.
She is a wonderful warm, intelligent cat.  My husband Steven
has his office in the basement.  He comes up to the kitchen for lunch,
and Monet comes up with him.  When he is ready to go back to
work, he says, "back to work," and Monet runs downstairs and jumps
into her basket on top of the dog's cage in Steven's office.

Our dog Sally will sing Monet a Happy Adoption song tomorrow night
because it's too late now for our neighbours. And afterwards
Monet and Sally will get a treat.

This year we lost our beautiful cat Fiona, who was 17 3/4 years old. 
We all miss her.

Sally the dog is lovely and 13, and having health issues.  She's blind and
deaf and totally cheerful. Love her. 

Monet needs another cat friend, so we will be on the lookout for a
Tortiepoint siames kitten.

Have a loving your life day.

This is # 10, and should perhaps be #1 -- I learned again to work on being happy!

Me with my painting

 Breakfast in the Skylight Diner NYC

30 x 30 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 

At Art Shopping Carrousel du Louvre

in the Louvre, Paris

June 2015

SOLD ♥ 

Does workimg on being happy sound simplistic, or like I'm ignoring the world.  No!  A friend even accused me of using "platitudes." But no. I acknowledge every way that I am lucky in my life.  And in the face of a world that seems to get
more messed up, and depressing by the minute, I try to notice and enjoy what's
good, heartening and enjoyable. 

As I said before, "I still believe that if we take action whenever we can,
and give what we can, to help with what we can, we owe it to those who
are suffering to appreciate how blessed we are." And I know I am.

My family is not enduring a senseless, devastating war.  We have food,
and shelter, and people who love us, and at the moment work. Plus
we're looking forward to a festive season with family and friends. 

I was extremely lucky to teach Positive Psychology at the college
level for 10 years. That taught me a lot about how to be happy.

Have a loving your life day.

 

#9 What I continued to learn in 2025 - humour is such a gift!

Steven and Me laughing
I know that I'm lucky I married
a man who loves to laugh. 
This photo was taken during the holidays 

quite a few years ago, but laughter remains a
major part of our family life with way more
stockings on the fireplace. Our whole family is lucky.
Photo
Chris Muir © 

It wasa very good year -- I had a solo show, and met so many lovely
funny people. so I'd have to say it was a great year -- so much love, 

for me great art shows. 

And the thing I continue to learn over and over is that funny people
(basically my whole family), make life so much better. That
doesn't mean that sorrow, loss, hardship aren't part of the picture.
It means the ability to enjoy life, and to see what is funny is 
so important.  Thank you for all of the laughter you gave me
in 2025.

Have a loving your life day.