Here's a lovely former blog post about Paris

 Neighbours across the street have come over a couple of times in the 
past couple of days to talk about Paris.  They took their two teenage
sons there a year ago.  Before they left they asked us about what we
liked about Paris, and we tried to be concise, although our answer
could easily have been everything.

So here's a happy blog post from 2016 about showing in the Louvre.
The best time. Enjoy!

"

Me with Alessandra Masha Mascitti

in front of my painting in the Carrousel du Louvre Exhibition

Dream Selfie -- Wonder Water Image #7, Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2016
SOLD ♥

Travelling for art shows is not free.  Immediately people

I know who always know what to do in every situation
chime in with, "you could do this...or you could
do this!"  The facts are -- yes I know very well what
the options are, AND, I'd still like to do it.

Notre Dame in Paris before it 

suffered a fire. (Now it
is open again in 2025.)

So.  Today if I were throwing a dart at the globe spinning
before me -- I would choose Paris.  I am straight up with
no holds back in love with Paris.  I feel for Paris taking
a hit on its iconic cathedral -- Notre Dame, and I would
really like to go there again.

Me with Miranda Brouwers in front of

her painting in the Carrousel du Louvre 

exhibition in 2016

The Russo brothers were wonderful to exhibit with in
their EA Effetto ARTE Gallery booth at the Carrousel du Louvre,
and I their curator, Alessandra Masha Mascitti is a friend.
Yes we would want to see her very much. (Editor's note -- we
saw Alessandra this summer, in 2025, and we had so much
fun!)

I love the people, the Louvre, the Musée D'Orsay, gallery,
the Seine, the food.  In 2016 when we were in Paris we hung
out with our friends Miranda Brouwers and Rolf Leemeijer and their
sons Marnix and Hugo, and had the best time. I would
love to do that again too."

As  the holidays approach, it feels like it's time to travel,
and to plan the delights of the coming season.  Paris.  I miss you.
Maybe spring 2026!

Have a loving your life day!

Dipping into the pansies

 

Untitled
Acrylic ink and marker on
watercolour paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

Today I focused on small works in preparation for the Off The Wall show,

opening on November 29, at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave.,
in Toronto from 2 - 5 p.m. I love pansies, and acrylic ink is such a
pleasure to  work with.  The colours are delightfully rich.  So it was a fun day.

Very busy too --a meeting in the neighbourhood this morning, painting
all day, and painting with my art group tonight. Crazy. And fun.

Plus my friend helped me revive what I thought was a dead Fitbit, so
I'll be counting my strides again.  Oh yeah! The best!

Have a loving your life day!

Looking through possible work for the Off The Wall show

The yard in snow
Maison De Haute Couleur
Charvin watercolour and marker
on Fabriano watercolour paper
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

If this painting isn't in the box of paintings not sold a year ago at the Off
The Wall show, back it goes.  Last year even during the period of the
Off The Wall show, I was getting ready for my solo show in April.  That turned

out to be 55 works. 

I love this painting, and am glad to say the yard doesn't look that way
today. No snow.

A day of mutiple medical appointments.  I'm tired but happy.

Have a loving your life day! 

A beautiful day -- sunny and no snow

 

Winter light Cherrywood
Acrylic on birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Steven and I had a delightful day today. The sun was out in the morning. 
And as we headed down to Lake Ontario the brief dark cloud cover
dissipated, and we were treated to brilliant clouds and blue sky.

And quite a lot of wind.  So we had a fabulous walk by the lake.

The park we go to is so beautiful, and everyone we met was
cheerful today.

This painting makes me think about winter -- glad we had no snow today.

Love it, and --.

Time to get back to work.

Have a loving your life day!

Inspired by everything

 

Morning light

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

It's movie night, and I found an older post that perfectly describes 
my feelings today:

"This week I'm completing paintings, painting edges, naming,
signing, making labels and lists for the Off The Wall show.  It
should be overwhelming, but I was having a super time.

Scrolling through an old blog I found this image of the morning light
on our bedroom dresser, and I like it.  Not sure if it was sold, or painted
over, (if not, I'll revise it and put it in the show). It made me happy
just seeing it. Wishing you a great weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

Monet's birthday

La Grenouillère, 
Claude Monet, 1869 Tor

Today is Claude Monet's birthday, and I want to celebrate him here.  I love
his work.  When we go to Paris, we always visit the Musée de l'Orangerie, which
has a spectacular exhibition of large paintings by Monet.  Wow!  The work
just dazzles, and moves everyone there.  Such a love of life!

So our cat who is a Tortie point Siamese, which means she has impressionistic 
colouring on her very beautiful face, is called Monet.  Perfect name for a 
Siamese cat.

I hope you're having a wonderful day.

Have a loving your life day!

Inspiration everywhere

Clouds above our local park

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2025

The great thing about being an artist is that the world is so exciting.  Our 
eyes carry us from one incredibly beautiful scene to another -- and even
images that would not inspire someone who wasn't an artist -- inspire us.

This was a walk with my favourite -- spectacular clouds.  In fact we drove 
towards the clouds after our walk, and I'm glad I wasn't the driver because
I just kept exclaiming, "Wow, wow, wow."

Have a loving your life day!