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!

World Art Day

 

In the right place at the right time

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016
SOLD ♥

I love the concept of World Art Day honouring artists, and I feel very 
lucky to have seen some great places in the world through my art, (Paris,
Florence, Italy, New York City) and to have friends in places I haven't
visited (yet) through art. One of my best friends is in the Netherlands,

where I haven't been yet, and she got this painting into an exhibition
there. Miracles happen through art. That friend and I met at the
Florence Biennale. And this painting is of a nature conservation
area called The Worp in the Netherlands. It sold last year to a 

collector in Toronto.

To all my artist friends, and all the wonderful collectors and art
show curators -- thank you so much.

Have a loving your life day!

Pansies are back and 10 reasons to be happy!

 

Market pansies in a cream jug
Acrylic ink and marker
on watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 

10 Reasons to be Happy

Those of you who follow me know I love the exercise I
started when I was teaching Positive Psychology -- so

here goes:

1.  The pansies are back and I have two pots of the 
beauties on my front porch.

2. It was a gorgeous rainy and sunny day today and
Steven and I took lovely drives to get lunch and dinner.
(Steven knows I love the sound and feel of water 
splashing up against the car when we drive through

puddles.)

3. Steven is taking the week off, so I am joining him
as much as possible, and having fun.

4. We saw a dear friend today who we haven't seen for
months.

5. We had coffee with family and laughed and talked
about everything.

6. I got new sunglasses for just about nothing, and
hope they work.

7. We sat eating lunch in the car in a beautiful spot by water as
the rain fell down, and as the rain slowed down we 
opened the windows and heard every kind of bird 
singing. It was sweet.

8. I am enjoying reading a great novel. 

9. I am more than delighted that you come and support me here.

10. Tomorrow is another holiday day -- a miracle after
two months of solid work preparing for the super show

The Colour of Light, on at the Heliconian Hall, 35
Hazelton Ave. in Toronto for the month of April. 
Please come to the next opening April 24 from 1-3 p.m. 
Free coffee, cookies, treats -- and of course the show is

free.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Spring -- a gorgeous day!

 

Looking forward to full on spring
Daffodils from the farm
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

It was a beautiful day today.  I worked with a friend trying to get images ready
for an exciting project that's coming up. (More on that later).

Steven and I took a sweet drive while I did endless cloud research.
The clouds today were magnificent.  It's late and we are just going
out for dinner.  So more tomorrow.

Have a loving your life day!

This painting made people happy

Spring beginning
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
BarbaraMuir © Revised 2026

This painting got a lot of attention at our openings, which made me happy. 
I revised the painting changing quite a bit for The Colour of Light show,

because the colour of our backyard is always inspiring.

It's been an incredibly busy weekend. We attended an event about the
Heliconian artists from early last century on Friday night, an opening
yesterday.  And today was family art day -- working on decorating 
boxes and collage.  A lot of fun.

Sorry I don't have a better photo of the work. I'll get one and post it

soon.

Have a loving your life day!