A happy day!

 

These were my entries in
The San Fernando Valley Arts
and Cultural Center's
Food for Thought show in 2022
Some have sold,
some have been revised.

(The upper left corner
work is revised and in The 
Colour of Light show 
going on at the Heliconian Hall.
You can see it Friday from
1-3 pm.)

I went to see a good friend today, and as always we had fun.
Plus I spoke to a dear artist friend in The Netherlands. So
I saw this image in my posts, and it's a perfect, sunny spring day,

so it seemed right for today. The French toast image in the lower right
corner made me especially happy because Steven, my husband,

brings me a breakfast in bed -- French toast, maple syrup and coffee
every weekend. So fun. Happy Monthaversary of our first date to Steven.

And Happy Earth Day. Let's try to save this beautiful planet.

In 2022 Stand back for the pie in the upper left corner
of this image won first place, and I won  $500 American 
in the contest with the San Fernando Valley Arts and
Cultural Center in California in a virtual exhibition.
That was fantastic. Super exciting. 

It's been a very busy month.  I hope you've been having
a good time .

Have a loving your life day!

Please come and see The Colour of Light show this Friday from 1-3 pm.

 The last opening is listed at the bottom of the

invitation -- Friday, April 24 from 1 - 3 pm.

Free -- and free goodies and coffee

Hi everyone I'd love to see you at the last opening of  The Colour of Light
on Friday April 24 from 1 - 3 p.m. at The Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton
Ave., which looks like a church, but isn't. We will have delicious goodies. There
may be some music happening.  Yes the show is what's on our minds
around here. It's one of the most beautiful shows I've been in and |
we're all pretty excited, so we can't wait to welcome you!

Hope you're having a great week, and I'd love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day!

We miss you Patti-Anne

 

Patti-Anne

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Our friend Patti-Anne died suddenly two years ago.  Today's post

is a combination of things I've written about her.

"One of the powerful truths about portraits is that they make the
person feel present when you look at them, I wish Patti-Anne
was still with us, she died way too young, and if her doctor had
been more knowledgeable, it probably wouldn't have happened.

I'm combining some blog posts about Patti-Anne and the painting
today. Patti-Anne died  of an aneurysm.  She'd been experiencing severe 
headaches for more than a week.  The doctor gave her Tylenol on her first visit,
and when she went back a week later still with severe headaches, the doctor
prescribed an antibiotic. Here is the post I wrote last year slightly edited.

"I painted this portrait of Patti-Anne Fitzpatrick before I started my blog,
16 years ago, and before I understood that I needed good quality photos
of my work.  Patti-Anne died yesterday when she was taken off life
supports after suffering a severe aneurysm.  She is profoundly missed.

I thought I'd share this blog post I wrote about her when I had so much
fun painting her portrait. It was long before COVID and she sat
and posed for me in my studio.

"Patti-Anne, my former boss Frank's wife, is what Frank would
 describe as, "beyond gorgeous," and a very funny woman.
One of her favourite expressions is,"too funny!" as she cracks up
watching a comedy skit. She is also a pro golfer, so when Frank
asked me to paint her, I knew I had to honour her love of the
outdoors.

Of course she posed in my studio, but I placed her on my back
porch, with a sunny, abstract floral background. I love the energy
in the painting -- her athletic strength and femininity coming through,
and the clear expression of the sparkling sense of humour I enjoyed
so much while she sat for the portrait."

Goodbye Patti-Anne, we miss everything about you." 

Have a loving your people day!

A remarkable day

 

Some guests at the happy Wedding Anniversary
(which was packed)

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2026

Don Thompson pianist and Kye Marshall cellist
at the from Bach to Bop concert

at the Heliconian Hall this afternoon

(a fantastic concert)

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2026

What a day! First a delightful afternoon party for our friends' wedding 
anniversary -- with delicious treats, wine, cake and champagne.
It was so much fun seeing friends from the neighbourhood, and friends
who have moved away. Sweet.

Then a concert at the Heliconian Hall that was wonderful with
Kye Marshall and Don Thompson. And Kye
Marshall introduced we three artists in The Colour of
Light Show at the intermission.  So fabulous.

I hope you had a fantastic day.  Please come out to the last 
opening of our show The Colour of Light on Friday, April
24, at 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, from 1 - 3 p.m.

Have a loving your life day!

And suddenly it begins-- spring

Mario's Forsythia

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2026

Now that we're back in the city (Toronto), we're happy to be back
with our animals and in our familiar house that looks better than
 ever since we've been away. Ottawa is on the verge of spring,
 but it's not quite happening. And there is still quite a bit of snow.

Today on our drive to the market we saw forsythia everywhere and 
blue scilla or bluebells blanketing lawns and hills -- so beautiful.
Plus we saw some white magnolia trees coming into bloom.  I was
laughing with joy as we drove along.  The whole city is a visual treat.

It's movie night, so that's it for today.

Have a loving your life day! 

Sweet holiday -- now the work begins again

 

The Blue Sweater
acrylic on canvas
24" x 36"

Barbara Muir © 
(Happy Birthday to this
wonderful woman!)

Of course artists don’t get holidays. I wrote my blog every day and
posted on Instagram. But Steven and I spent a few days in Ottawa
while he worked on contacts for a new contract. And for me just
being away from my studio which, yes I love, was a holiday.
Also the drive was so inspiring that I have hundreds of reference
photos for new paintings! Wow!

If you’re in Toronto please come out to the fourth and last opening
of The Colour of Light on April 24 between 1-3 pm. As always the
show is free and there will be goodies, cookies and coffee. We’d love
to see you. And it’s a beautiful show! 

Have a loving your life day!

Visiting relatives and staying happy

Loving the kitchen china

Acrylic on canvas

24" x 48"

Barbara Muir ©

SOLD ♥ 

It's late and we just got home from a delightful visit with 
family.  This former blog came up when I was scrolling and
it seemed right for today so here goes:

"Reading the paper there's an interview with a woman knocking
the current desire to stay young when in fact you're not.  She
is slamming the whole concept of staying fit and eating right
as an aid to growing old gracefully.  Okay.  As a writer I know
that this is a writer's trick.  You can research and find evidence
to back up any theory. And a book going against a trend is always
going to provoke controversy.  But I prefer the anecdotal.  The people
I know, including close relatives, who have followed the stay
fit and eat well formula are living fairly great, vigorous older lives.

I'll add one though -- staying happy.  Another journalist did
a book about how bogus the positive thinking idea was.

Is it?  I don't think so.  I think happiness is one of the (most) important
goals in life. So I believe if we do our best to stay fit and to stay happy
we may have a shot at enjoying life now, and when we're older.
I have had hardship in my life.  I had a near fatal illness 10 years ago.
Very close family members have been ill.  Both friends and family have died.
But I think happiness after grief has diminished is both a choice, and
a job.  Take today.  My desk is piled with papers.   my email inbox
needs attention, I have painting work to do.  But what's at the core
of this activity and this life? Me.  If I don't take care of me, I will
be...not.  So every now and then I tell myself a slightly distorted story,
and say I have nothing to do.

Am I crazy?  No I am probably one of the sanest people you know.  And
for the next half hour I'm sticking to my story and reading my book.
Then I'll contradict myself, make my list and get on with it.

P.S. I taught Positive Psych for 10 years, and learning how to be
happy definitely helps people have more fulfilling lives."

Have a loving your life day!