Keep on editing, then be happy!

 

An inside look at journal pages
I created when I taught an art journal
course. This is a collage of a mix
of images, coloured stars
sign maker's gold, marker and
watercolour crayon
(The message reads, "It's funny
this preoccupation with angels
because I don't believe in angels
except in the way of, "Be an
angel will you darling and
bring me a cup of coffee
please.") 

I got a kick out of finding this piece about teaching art journaling 
to an art group.  The advice I shared is particularly helpful to
me right now. I have been working on paintings for our April
show today, and am happy to share what I said in my former post
with you.  There are so many art journal writers.  One of my favourites

is Austin Kleon, who has written many books on the subject of
creativity.  And the young woman who helps me with my tech
and studio issues is an amazing art journal maker, but hasn't gone public. 

Here's what I said in the former blog:

"As a college professor I've taught writing and presentation.  The
 key in both cases is somewhat the same as in painting
-- edit, edit, edit.

In writing try something, if it doesn't work, delete and
write it in a different way. In art try something, if it doesn't
work, rub it out, or paint it over. Try something else. Part
of it works, part doesn't?  More editing on a visual plain. 

Back and forth.  And fingers crossed -- eventually you get
it right. If anything making art is harder than writing, which
would surprise people."

Have a loving your life day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

Steven and I dancing with

glow sticks in our

 kitchen St. Patrick's Day party

I love this photo from years ago of me and Steven dancing in
the kitchen with glow sticks we bought for the St. Patrick's Day
festivities we have whenever possible with our family.

Today we had dinner with each other, and our son Sam was on the
phone.  We drank a little bit of green champagne. As different
as it was celebrating alone, we had so much fun talking to Sam
as he wished us the luck of the Irish.

I love how this photo is like abstract art.  We put  up a garland of
large Shamrocks last night, and the kitchen looks very festive.

If you like celebrating St, Patrick's Day, I hope you had a great time.

Here's a quote from a former blog:

"No I am not Irish, but way back some of my ancestors
fled France for Ireland, and then Ireland for Canada.
So in fact I'm more French than Irish.

One year when my children were small we bought them 

green toys and hula hoops, and green candy and had green

ginger ale, and green champagne for the adults, and a tradition

was born." So Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Have a loving your life day.

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day and Painting

 

Lucky Shamrocks

acrylic on birch,

5 x 5 inches

 Barbara Muir © 

SOLD ♥

Today I've been painting like crazy, and picked up our beautiful
invitations to the Colour of Light exhibition in April at the
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. I will be handing those out
wherever I go until the are last opening is over.

Meanwhile Steven and I are also getting ready for a Happy St. Patrick's Day.
It will be a small dinner this year -- just Steven and me, but we're decorating 
tonight. This painting (sold) shows shamrock flowers which are delicate,
not the hearty, shiny green people decorate with for March 17--

St. Patrick's Day.   My mother said that the Poindexters, our "Irish"

relatives were Huguenots, who fled France for Ireland, and then fled Ireland 

for Canada settling near what is now Perth, Ontario. By that time they were 

Pounders. I don't know any relatives with this name. 

Those ancestors lived in harrowing times fleeing persecution and famine.  
Our family made up of Scottish, English, Irish, French and Italian on my side,

and Dutch and Indonesian on Steven's side started celebrating this

day when the children were little.  And because children have

fabulous memories you can't have a special celebration once, so

we continue to celebrate every year. And will again tomorrow!
Green champagne and some green food -- salad or broccoli. I hope
you have a good one.

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow..  

Bedazzled again

 

Boy in a red tie on a starry night

watercolour quick study

watercolour on Arches watercolour paper

10 x 14 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(I think it was the quick part of

Laura Starett's idea of the

20 minute study that appealed

to me. Time is so short this week.)

I posted this painting in 2010. That's 16 years ago, and a lot has
happened since then, but I like the fact that I did the painting 
in 20 minutes.  So cool.  My beautiful older son as a kid.

I am working on something that's taking weeks. Maybe that's
appropriate, but the speedy person inside me is impatient.
I will get it finished.  So much detail.  

Sixteen years ago in this day I was dazzled by the night sky. 
Today Steven and I went for a long walk by Lake Ontario. 
There was a very strong wind, and the waves were magnificent
-- leaping against the shore.  Magnificent.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Pi Day

 

 Stand Back for the Pie

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 

So happy to realize that it's Pi Day, because I love featuring this painting.

Today we went to the market and enjoyed getting our various tasks 
handled driving and walking through sunlight on brand new snow.

Yes it snowed again yesterday. Tonight is movie night, so I wll happily

quote a former blog for Pi day:

"On this date I usually feature this painting, because not being a 
math freak, Pi reminds me of pie, and Steven makes the best
cherry pie I've ever tasted. I may forego having pie today. 
Tempting though.  We had a little conversation about the
math behind Pi at lunch today.

In 2022 this painting won first place, and I won $500 
(American) in a contest with the San Fernando Valley 
Arts and Cultural Center in California in a virtual exhibition.
That was fantastic. So exciting!

In a former post I shared this information on Pi Day:

Last night Jimmy Fallon did funny routines about his
audience reciting all the numbers of Pi. And they were
still at it 20 years from now -- it's a long number.

"According to the Huffington Post Pi Day is named after the
Greek symbol π which is the ratio of the circumference of
a circle to its diameter. The first three digits in Pi are 3
 (this is the third month) and 14 (the fourteenth day)
= 3.14 or Pi.  What better day to eat pie if you get the urge.
 And any way you slice it you will not be alone in your
pie indulgence.

I live with a mathematics fiend, (Steven) who has been
known to sleep with a Calculus text beside his bed at the
ready should he feel like reviewing it with his morning coffee.
He also makes a mean cherry pie -- the point of the
painting. The pie."

Have a deliciously-happy-Pi-day. 

Here's our invitation to the Colour of Light show in April

The top piece is the front and the bottom the back of the invitation we'll be 
handing out next week.  The show is free and in a beautiful space -- The
Heliconian Hall, at 35 Hazelton Ave. in Toronto, and runs fromApril 3 - April 29.
The opening dates, with food, coffee, and beverages are listed above.  Please
note the building is not a church. It became a women's art club in 1909.

Vivian East is a fantastic painter, and does wonderful drawings.  Henrietta Walmark
is a photographer who captures breathtaking images.  And you can see my work here,

and on my website -- barbaramuir.com.

I hope we'll see you at the show.

Have a loving your life day!

What does the blog give me?

 

McIntosh Apples
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Writing my blog is one of the things I do every day.  I'm not on Substack,

and so far I don't have a podcast.  Writing my blog is one of my daily practices.

I've posted for 4,402 days, so it's a pretty constant process.

Today I worked all day, and could work all night on a complex scene. So I'm
grateful to the blog for popping this beautiful image up as I scrolled through.
No idea where this is. For a while I did a lot of small paintings, inspired by 
Edward B. Gordon's magnificent daily works.

I consider the daily blog to be one of my best practices. It certainly makes
me happy. And you make me happy when you read it. So Thank you so much.

Have a loving your life day!