Kindness is key

 

The cards  --
(some of the cards
I've written every night
for 1460 days --
which Steven has saved.)

Alyson Stanfield says talking about being busy is not important, and
I agree, but sometimes the reality is work takes up a huge percentage
of our time.  And that's a good thing.  Today I am still working on my
big painting, and it is not ready for me to show you.  So talking to
some of the kindest people I know got me thinking about kindness.

Scrolling through my blog I found a former post that is still significant
 now. I am still writing these cards, and Steven still wants me to
continue.  So I do.  Why?  I love the man.

"Kindness hit me as a principal requirement in my life when I
experienced such high levels of kindness at the 2009, and 2015 
Florence Biennales. I've been lucky to be treated kindly for most of my
life, but people at the Biennale, as one of my friends described
it, raised the bar. They did everything they could to help
each other, and life long connections happened.  We all still care
about the people we met there.

So I wondered -- what are your kindness practices? One of mine
is to write a note for my husband every night to leave in our middle
bedroom where my husband gets ready for work in the morning. 
Because I was a night teacher for almost a decade, I am in the
habit of going to bed much later than my husband, and he gets
up much earlier than I do.

This practice started in January 2022, when both of our cats
-- the 14 year old Tortie point Siamese, Fiona, (who has since
died sadly) and the three month old Tortie point Siamese kitten,
Monet, stopped eating. The kitten had gastroenteritis, and the
older cat had a gum infection.

I started writing the notes to let Steven know whether or not
they'd eaten their night snack, and then as they got better, I'd
write about what happened in the day, and thank him for all
of the nice things he'd done for me.  And guess what happened?
He didn't want me to stop -- so I haven't. And he has saved every
one of these notes that I write on cards that feature my art.

What are some of the things you do to add more kindness
 to your life?"

Have a loving your life day!

Some women I admire

Some of the important women
in my life that I've
painted and drawn. 
Plus a portrait of
my mother by Chris Muir (my son)

I didn't even realize I was one
of the faces. (Super tired) I'm not
important, but I do like my 
portrait.
© Barbara Muir
(To do this properly I need 1,000
more of these at least. Thank
you everyone!)

Talking to an artist friend today, and it was such an enjoyable conversation.

All of us have trepidation about our work.  But the support we get from 
family, friends, and clients makes a huge difference and helps us to keep
being creative.

I know so many wonderful women, and meet new amazing women every
day. I hope you know that you all make my day -- make my life an awesome
experience. You bring light, art, humour (humour is huge to me), kindness,
understanding, support, and inspiration.

If you're not in this blog photo, come and pose for me, or send me a 
photo, and you will be one day.  I am slow at painting and drawing,
but I'd be happy to paint you after I get this April show together.

Have a loving your life day!

Thank you!

 

Another shout out to wonderful women!

 

No Question about it -- one of my top sheroes is Oprah

Oprah Winfrey Skype Sketch

(from the show Skype Around The World)
I am the 7th photo.

Willow charcoal on 

Canson Mi-Teintes paper
11 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

Me drawing Oprah on 
The Oprah Winfrey show

It feels right to add to my International Women's Day post.
Last year I talked about some of my Sheroes. What I wrote
seems even more appropriate with what's happening now.
"This year I feel like every woman alive who is kind and
loving is my Sheroe. Women stay strong through unbelievable
hardships, tragedy and loss. Through war and
illness. Hugs to all the women living through hard, or
impossible times.

And to all the women who keep their families, and friends happy
because of their love — you mean the world to us. 

So Happy thinking about Sheroes Monday. 

Stay safe, strong, courageous and confident. We need you! And
any time we can help, we will.

Have a loving your life day.

International Women's Day

 

My friend the artist, Nicki Ault

took this photo of me with two of

the paintings from my Ocean series

that I brought to show the other artists at

the Ayr exhibition in 2011 -- a wonderful
celebration of International
Women's Day.  And so many women
I met there are still friends.

It is International Women’s Day, and I'm grateful to all of the 
wonderful women in my life — starting with my mother. and my
sister, and extending to all the women in my family, all of my friends,
and all of the amazing women I’ve met in my working life in art and
in teaching. This year seems especially hard for celebrating with the 
insane and horrific wars, increased misogyny in so called "democratic
countries," and endless tragic news about women and children.

I believe the beauty that artists make is all the more vital. We need

to reject hatred, and work hard on loving one another.

I feel extremely happy to have joined one of the first Women's art
clubs in Canada -- The Heliconian at 35 Hazelton Avenue in
Toronto.  I've met such wonderful women artists there.  I recommend
the current Abstraction art show and sale.  Come out this Wednesday
between 4 and 7:30 and you'll be dazzled with the beautiful work. 
No I'm not in the show.  I'm painting for a show in April opening
April 3, called The Colour of Light.  You'll love that show too.

Have a loving your life day!

Flash back and Happy International Women's Day tomorrow

 

Aren't we lucky!
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

A year ago on this day I talked about working on this portrait
of the wonderful model Ruko.  She posed for me in my
studio, and it was such a pleasure creating the painting.

Tomorrow is International Women's Day, and I want to
thank all of the wonderful women in my life.  You make
my life sing.  Tonight is TV night, so this is going to be

short.  Plus the clocks jump ahead an hour tomorrow, and
that is a bit of an adjustment.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

How do you feel about snow?

 

Sam dreams of a snow day

black marker on bond paper

14 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 

A week ago it was - 10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) in Toronto,
felt like - 16 (3.2 Fahrenheit), tomorrow it will be +16 Celsius
(60.8 Fahrenheit).  

Today it was Zero (32 Fahrenheit), and already the huge 
mounds of snow all over the city are melting, and grass is showing

up here and there. Most people are delighted, but how do the kids
feel who had more than one "snow day" this winter?  Kids seem

to love snow. I do too. Not the difficult traffic, but the beauty.

It has been beautiful. 

So this drawing tonight of my son wishing for a snow day. Yes
I get it. 

Have a loving your life day!

Stay Happy -- it helps

Steven and me dancing in the studio
(former living room)

Photo

Chris Muir ©

I know it's the wrong time of year, but it's the right time for this.  There's been 
some sad news this week, and we're trying to hold on to joy.  Tonight
we had dinner at our favourite IKEA (I kid you not the salmon is so good)

and met such nice people.  Three great friends, parents with babies, a

woman organizing a new set up.  And later in Loblaws I met a fashion
designer.

On the way home the great song Imagine by the Beatles came on, and I

nearly cried, but I didn't. Peace is what we need.

Have a loving your life day!