Saturday night is movie night -- memories from Stuttgart

 

Four Trees

Claude Monet

Oil on canvas

1891

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 

New York City

(The paintings at the

Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart were similar. I remember

crying telling Steven about them, and

how thick the paint was, and how Monet

went back as many as 60 times to

get the mood and lighting right!)

I found this wonderful post I wrote about seeing one of Monet's
paintings in a beautiful gallery in Stuttgart, Germany. It seems
perfect for tonight.  I've been painting all day, and everything
is "almost" finished.  So I will show you the pieces in the
next few days. Meanwhile here it is updated in places for
the current reality:

"I've been working on a large painting (currently working on
several large paintings)for most of the past week for a show
next weekend.  For me sometimes painting is a back and forth thing.  
This is one of those times.  But I came upon this image today,
which reminded me of the time Steven and I were in Stuttgart,
Germany because he had a work assignment there, and I went to
visit the Staatsgalerie alone. It was a beautiful gallery, with an
incredible collection.

I love the work of Monet, in fact we named our cat after
him (a girl cat), and I am always blown away when I see
his work.  But when I saw his poplar series (this is one of them)
in Stuttgart I was deeply moved.  The description on the wall at
the gallery said that Monet had returned to the sight as many
as 60 times to get the light and colours exactly right. The paintings
were very thick with paint, and I was so touched at his devotion.
I just read now that the trees were going to be cut down, and Monet
had to pay for the trees so he could finish his paintings. Amazing.

So back to my project(s).  Yes I can do it. Thank you Monet."

Have a loving your life day.

Flowers for you -- almost finished

 

Flowers for you
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 18 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026

Every day of the week before an art show is a busy one. I work from a 
long check list, and today has been a very good day.  Plus despite the
cold it was sunny out, and Steven and I sat out on the back porch 
drinking a coffee during his lunch break from work. (He works at
home.)

This painting is of a beautiful bouquet I bought from the farmer
at Marvellous Edibles at the Brick Works market last summer.

It will be one of my paintings in The Colour of Light show
at the Heliconian Hall, opening on April 3, between 2 and 5 pm.

I'd love to see you there.  Cookies, coffee, snacks,chocolates and it's free.

Have a loving your life day!

What do artists do?

 

Pansies welcome spring
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I'm using this painting as my image tonight because it made me
happy to see it, and it was a good day.  We do a lot behind the
scenes. My great helping friend and I made a list of the paintings
nearly ready to go in the Colour of Light show opening next weekend
on April 3 from 2-5 p.m., and April 4 from 2-5 pm., and April 8 from
4 - 7:30 p.m. at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto.

And as we organized the paintings (most need a bit more work), I
felt so happy to see how they look together even though they are
all unique.

I look forward to seeing you there.  I will show you the work here when it's
ready.

Have a loving your life day!

Thank you everyone for your support -- The blog has passed 3 million views!

 

For David Lobenberg

Self portrait
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 

The news tonight is simple and short.  Today I reached the
milestone of more than 3 million views, which in the blog
world is a big deal.  And I just want to thank all of you,
who have read and supported my blog. 

You can see me on Instagram too, but I do write a daily blog

here.  So this was exciting, because I think it took more than 16
years to get to 1 million views, and in the past 2 years it's gone

up to more than 3 million.  Thank you!

Have a loving your life day!

Super busy day for the Monthaversary of our wedding

 

Small is beautiful

Watercolour and marker on

Arches watercolour paper

6 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

Today was a busy day for our wedding Monthaversary. Steven was working
away in his office, and I was in the studio getting art ready for our
show (Vivian East, Henrietta Walmark and me) at the Heliconian Hall,
April 3, 4, 8 and 24.

Luckily it was a productive day, and I had a short, sweet meeting with a
friend. Then back to painting.  I do feel happy about the work, which
is great.

Steven and I celebrate the Monthaversary of our first date, and the
Monthaversary of our wedding day two days apart.  Today it was a
beautiful day.  We went for a short walk under the stars and were 
quite delighted that the snow, at least for now, is gone.

Have a loving your life day!

Getting ready for the show -- 10 days to go!

 

The King's Breakfast 

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(I put this painting up today because it's

one of my favourite paintings --nothing
sweeter than room service breakfast in a hotel

with the one you love. Sold now,
but it might be loaned to me

for The Colour of Light show.)

The count down to an art show is both exciting and worrying.  You
paint like crazy, and make list after list.  Those are super helpful,

except at the end of the day when you just want to go and watch
TV with your mate, and there are still so many things not

crossed off on the list.  Reason enters like a gift, and says,
"Don't worry we'll get those done tomorrow."  

I hope you are having a super time.  Today was both moody grey,
and brilliantly sunny. Such contrasts.  The sun made everyone happy.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Monthaversary of our first date to my sweetheart

 

A favourite photo of me and Steven 

Happiest monthaversary of our first date to my wonderful
husband, Steven. How did we celebrate today? We had a quiet
day doing chores in the house, went out for takeout  lunch at our
favourite café, then went for a great walk in a historic neighbourhood
with magnificent century-old buildings.

Tonight, we’ll hang out with our cat and our dog and watch our
TV show – a detective series.

I couldn’t be more happy that we fell in love on our first date, and that
we are still in love. 

Have a loving your life day!