Thursday, July 10, 2025

Dreaming of Nova Scotia and the day was a 10

The house on the hill
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I spent the day painting, and once again nothing is finished enough to
share. Today, the 10th was a perfect 10.  I painted a sweet model's
portrait and had delightful conversations in the process.

I am dreaming rather a lot about Nova Scotia, and this painting is
in some ways symbolic of our travels there.  We own a one room school
house in Nova Scotia, with an attic -- which is where we sleep. And we 
love it there.

I expressed my tenderness for Nova Scotia in a former blog:

"When you love a place the way we love Nova Scotia,
and travel there by car -- certain landmarks
help you know you've arrived.  This house is one of
them for me.  You see it coming along Highway
6, the Sunrise Trail, from Amherst.  It's at the top
of a hill, and it appears over the brilliant green of
summer grass. When we see it we know we'll be
there in 10 kilometres.

This year I photographed it frantically as we drove
by, and then when I was painting it the angle was
different than my mind's image, so I wasn't clear
that it was "the house."  Driving by another day,
I thought, "that's the house in my painting, oh and
the house on the hill." 

This is it.  A simple white farmhouse. Those
white buildings set against vivid green grass,
and blue, or scowling grey skies might as well be
the fans waving flags at the finish line of a race at the
end of our 2,000 kilometre (1,242 mile) journey.
They say, "lucky you!  You've made it to Nova Scotia
again."

Light influences everything we paint.  In our part of a
Nova Scotia the sand is a coppery red.  The colour
changes wildly with the time of day, and many of the
roads and paths are the same colour.  That was my
ground and it wanted to pop through here and there, 
so I let it." 

Don't worry Nova Scotia, we're coming back.  Just
not sure when.

Have a loving your life day!

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Summer is hurrying by

Sunflowers
Inktober drawing
Black marker on Canson
Mixed Media Paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2020

Painting all day, but I only show you finished, or nearly finished work.
This drawing showed up when I was scrolling through my blog, and
it made me realize how quickly the summer is going. 

Sunflowers are not an early summer flower, and our local vegetable
store, which sells 
flowers too has sunflowers now.  I love them, but
something inside me said 
"too soon, too soon," so I bought peonies
instead, which are over in 
everyone's gardens, because we've had
extreme heat.

It was a great art day, and I hope you had a great day too.

Have a loving your life day! 

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

A great day, fun and creativity

The Louvre Cour Napoléon
Photo 
Barbara Muir © 2024

I'm working on a large painting of a Paris scene (this isn't the scene), and had a joyous,
busy day.  Coffee in the morning with neighbourhood friends, a commission meeting
in the afternoon, and in between working on a painting that makes me very happy.

In the evening we had a quick supper, then hurried down to the lake to have a 
walk at sunset.  So exquisite.  Lots of inspiration everywhere.

Have a loving your life day!
 

Monday, July 7, 2025

A wonderful sale to a sweet client

 


On the St. Lawrence
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

This painting sold today to a delightful client with an impressive art collection.  I feel honoured
to be part of that collection now.  I love the painting, which brings back so many memories of 
stopping to take in the beautiful views on the St. Lawrence river in Quebec, on our drive out
to Nova Scotia each summer. 

I'm happy that my work has found such a good home. 

It is super hot here in Toronto, and I hope wherever you are, you are staying cool.

Have a loving your life day!  








Sunday, July 6, 2025

Looking back and loving life

Water Image #2
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 

It was a great day today -- we had my son's belated Birthday party -- wonderful
cake, singing including our dog Sally, who even though she's deaf joins in
for Happy Birthday.

After the party Steven and I went down to Lake Ontario to our favourite park, and 
had a wonderful time. We found out today that two of the people who serve
and cook at the take out place we visit have law degrees from India. I can't help
wishing that Canada would recognize and accept their talents without years
of red tape.  

We also met a lovely family with a new (two month old baby), and the 
grandmother let me photograph her holding the baby, and so did the baby's
daddy.  They were so warm and welcoming. I may do a portrait from this
sweet meeting sometime.

The painting I'm showing you ideally captures the feeling of the heat of this day.
Plus it would have been great for us to have been able to swim. It didn't happen. 
But I love this portrait, purchased by one of my super bosses at Seneca College,
who sadly has died, and I don't know where the painting is. If you know,
please tell me.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Missing Florence

A fruit market we passed
walking to the church of
Santa Maria Novella
where many Medicis are
buried in Florence, Italy.

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2009

Today was the opening of the Let's Play show on all summer at the Heliconian
Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. in Toronto.  It's a beautiful show, and I have eight 
pieces in the exhibition.  But here's the thing.  I had so much fun talking to
guests that I neglected to take any photos of the work.  Plus before the show
drop off I was painting 24/7.

So. One of the things more than one guest and I talked about was Florence,
and scrolling through my blog I saw this beautiful photo which reminded
me so much of being there. Such an amazing city.

It's movie night again, and we just finished dinner. Here's what I wrote
when I first showed you the photo above:

"The first time I showed in Italy at the Florence Biennale, was
one of the most exciting times in my art career.  True I was
showing three portraits, and people didn't seem to
understand why, but it didn't matter.  It was the most fun.
And the city was so beautiful, so moving, so rich in art,
fabulous food, wonderful people.

I'm putting on this photo of a fruit market near the
church of Santa Maria Novella.  Florence was an
endless visual treat."

Have a loving your life day!

 

Friday, July 4, 2025

Hooked on an old drawing

Flora on Skype
Black marker on bond paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

Sixteen years ago weary after painting all day for a show, I drew this 
drawing of my friend Flora Doehler.  Flora is the person who urged
me to do a blog.  My son Christopher actually started it for me.
So Flora transformed my life, and continues to inspire me with
 her beautiful art.

Her push for change in my life sent me all over the world, to New York,
to Florence, to Paris and the Louvre, and to Oprah Winfrey's show
drawing her live via Skype.

Meanwhile Flora moved to a small maritime town, and almost lives
in retreat compared to life in the big city.  And she continues to
make and sell beautiful art, and to teach me things about technology
and painting.

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!