Water -- and painting

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

If you have running hot and cold water be happy.
We have been on holiday in our 100+ year old
school house for the past almost two weeks (with
a short two day break), and it does not have running water.

Most years when we come here we go to a lovely
park on the shore (that we think of as our beach --
although in Nova Scotia no one can "own" the
beach), and fill up our five 20 litre containers there.
It is about 15 minutes away, and we combine
getting water and going to the beach.

But this year the local parks do not have clean
drinking water, and we've been driving about
45 minutes away to a source a friend suggested.

When we get home to Toronto and turn on the tap it seems
like a miracle.  And in fact it really is.

This painting is still in process, and I will finish
it when I get back to my home studio.  I am
working on one here and it is coming along fine.

Have an enjoying your drinking water day.

Unique Vision -- the work of Flora Doehler

Me and Flora in front of a wall of her smaller work.

She is the feature artist this month at the Bear River

Artworks Gallery in Bear River, Nova Scotia.

All works are © Flora Doehler

One of Flora's larger works on view at the 

Bear River Artworks Gallery

I've just returned from a visit to my friends Flora Doehler
and Larry Knox.  I met Flora through the DVAC (Don
Valley Art Club) inToronto. She inspired me then, and does even
more so today.  Flora has painted every subject -- flowers,
portraits, landscapes.  But when Flora paints the results are
entirely unique.  Walking around her beautiful house and
studio my eyes were entranced -- and as an artist of course
I was constantly wondering how she did it.

This painting in the couple's bathroom totally blew me away.

Flora's paintings have an energy and excitement that is

all her own.  Her love of life comes through in every painting. 

This beautiful painting of lupins is 36 x 48 inches 

(I do know that measurement).

Apologies for the blurry photo.

 A landscape in the library at Flora's home.

 This beauty is 5 ft. x 4 ft.

Flora and Larry are major movers and shakers in the
Bear River community, both in the arts, and on other
projects.  Larry Knox makes beautiful jewelry which
is on display  at the Bear RiverArtworks Gallery. They are
part of the reason for the opening of the Gallery.  And they have
a studio beside their beautiful yellow house with blue trim in the town.

I was captivated by Flora's work this visit (as I have been
every time I've visited) and had to take some photos.  I'm afraid
I was rushed. There wasn't time (we were just in town overnight)
to get captions, dates and sizes for you.  But I know you will love her
work -- done with liquid acrylic on canvas,

Have a loving-your-artist-friends'-work day.

The Alchemist -- and Dreaming paintings

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
(forgive the photograph taken
with my phone.)

The drive from Toronto to our school house in Nova Scotia
is 1,000 plus miles (or 1609 kilometres) (more like 1846 kilometres
on the route we take).  What helps us in the long, long hours on the
road are audio books, and we listened to The Alchemist written by
Paulo Coelho for part of the trip, read by the wonderful actor Jeremy Irons.
The book was both spiritual and romantic -- but Jeremy Irons' voice
gave it a delicious power.  The message delivered by the little
shepherd boy in the story was to be brave enough to live your
legend.  That wasn't about fame, or fortune, but about living
your best life.  A great message.  I started seeing paintings as we drove
through Canada's spectacular landscapes.

Then last night, after being saturated in the beauty of Nova Scotia
I dreamt this painting that I'm working on today.  I want to capture
the amazing light you see here.

Have a loving-books-and-paintings day

Joyous rain -- artists are complicated

Rain Ahead

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
Available

Talking to my wonderful friend in the Netherlands
this morning, we touched on rain.  I always find
the divide between what goes on in the studio --
(what really goes on -- painting), and what is
imagined to be happening -- both surprising and
funny.

So my friend said that people assume that when
we artists paint a grey sky, or a rain filled image that
we are gloomy.  But no.  Because we love the look
of rain too!  Landscape painters love weather and
change, and find beauty in nature's variety.

I don't think I've shown you a photo of this painting
 -- Rain Ahead -- capturing the amazing rain my husband
 and I saw driving home to Toronto from Ottawa on our
 anniversary weekend.

Have a happy in rain, or shine day.

The total joy of happy collectors!

A collector's arrangement of Barbara Muir works.  © Barbara Muir.
I love these three paintings which all glorify daily life -- my intention
when I painted them.  And it makes me happy to see that. Thank
you to a wonderful collector.

Is there anything better for an artist than being
taken through someone's house to see the place
where your art is displayed?  No way!  You
dream up ideas in the night, you plan, and paint
and think about your work.  And then in a show,
or a private viewing -- Woo Hoo!  It sells.

Yes.  That is a huge thrill, made even bigger
if possible, by a collector who shows you
how your work looks with wide, wide smiles
beaming with pride.  Whew!  Knock me out!

One such wonderful collector sent me this photo
of my work yesterday.  What a delight.

Have a loving-your-collectors day!

Walking in a dream

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

The gift of landscape painting -- is that what you love is
around you all the time.  It was the most beautiful
and long spring this year, and is now a magnificent
summer.  This painting is of crabapple trees a short
walk from my house that felt like a fantastic party in
pink at the height of their glory.

Our winter was so grey it was recorded as one of the
longest winters without sun in some time.  So to step
out of the house and see this was like a spectacular
present -- a miracle.

I have loved working on the painting, and it's almost done.

Have a loving-what-you-see day.

Pop Up Art Show opens tomorrow -- Come on out!

I have three pieces in the Independents Show opening
tomorrow night.  Come on out to 1340 Queen Street
West between 7 and 11 p.m. tomorrow night and I'll
see you there.  Admission is free -- it's a big show --
wonderful work, and this is the party we've been
waiting for.  See you there.  One of my paintings is
in the bottom right hand corner of the ad above.

Have a going to an art show evening (tomorrow).