Saturday, November 22, 2025

Happy Monthaversary Steven

 

Steven and me in the lights
of Times Square

We love New York City,
and hope to visit again someday.
Today is our Monthaversary
of 
our first date.
No we weren't in Times Square.

A run around day -- we went to the market, exchanged one of my
birthday gifts, bought more sunscreen, went to the art store for
hanging clips for framing, and had a great take out lunch staring
at Casa Loma lit up and blue when most people would be 
eating dinner. 

Now it's movie night.  We had a very happy Monthaversary of
our first date.  Bizarre, but we celebrate that day every month,
and our wedding Monthaversary two days later.

In this hard world, we need to appreciate our good fortune.

Have a loving your life day!

Friday, November 21, 2025

Friday feeling

 

The heart of the party
marker on bond paper
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

Here's a little drawing I'm putting in the Heliconian Off The Wall show (framed).
I drew it from a sweet random photo I saw online, and love the woman's look
of contentment holding a baby and a dog. I may have added the hearts
(you think!) If you know me you know I love hearts.

It was a very busy day, lots of tasks, some very sad news, and meeting some
super people when we were out getting frames.  Including an abstract artist
and her sister. And their parents, and the artist's husband -- a writer.  

Wonderful people everywhere in Toronto.

Have a loving your life day!

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Getting ready for the Off The Wall opening on November 29


Moody Beauty drawing
Coloured pencil on bond paper
10 x 10 inches (framed)
Barbara Muir © 

Today a friend helped me with framing some work for the Off The
Wall
show.  It was so nice to have someone with me in the studio,
helping with decisions, and the framing work.  She calmed me down.

I love this drawing -- which lead to a large painting of the same
name. I love the scenes in Nova Scotia. 

Off The Wall is a small drawing and painting show, with a top
price of $200.00 (This will be quite a bit less.) The idea is that
people can buy work and take it with them.  We had a great time
 last year.  The beautiful array of super artists' work would all
make great holiday gifts. 

Have a loving your life day! 

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

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!

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

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!

Monday, November 17, 2025

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! 

Sunday, November 16, 2025

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!

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!