For the love of art -- The Artist Project

Last night we went to the Artist Project, a huge and fantastic
art exhibition at the Better Living Center at the CNE in Toronto.
Whatever type of art takes your fancy, it was there.  So much
beautiful art, and so many wonderful artists.

Joyce Fournier's powerful and exciting abstract work,

and sculptures were my first stop.  Joyce kindly

got me tickets to the event, and I am so grateful to

her for that.  The show is dazzling, beginning with Joyce's pieces.

Joyce and Paul Fournier.

(speaking of the Month of Love --

these two are a sweet couple. )

Romona Nordal with her work in

the background gets a visit from

Artist/Artistic Director Daniel Anaka.


I love the work of Eleanor Lowden.  I'm
sorry my photo is blurry.  She was so
delightful to talk to that I got distracted.
Eleanor's work at The Artist Project is wonderful.

When I work on landscape painting Andrew Sookrah is 

one of the people I think of.  I love his work -- his design,

colour intensity -- his work is fantastic.

  

We visited as many booths as we could, and I'm happy to
feature some of them tonight.  The show is on tomorrow (Sunday)
too, and I recommend that you check it out.  Here are just a few of
the people I visited.  Wishing all of the artists involved great sales,
and a superb time surrounded by such beauty!

Have fun going to the show.  Sunday February 24 is the last day.

Monthaversary of our first date -- always special

Winter Lovers' Sunset

Acrylic on cradled birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Steven and I have two "monthaversaries" per month in addition

to two anniversaries a year.  Each month we celebrate both our

first date, and our wedding day, sometimes just by saying, "Happy

Monthaversary!", and sometimes with something more -- champagne, 

and a date.  Tonight we went to The Artist Project to see the work of 

several friends.  It was amazing.

We will never forget our first date -- today's Monthaversary.
We went dancing that night, and at the end of the evening Steven
walked me home.  Something certainly clicked, because we've
been together ever since. 

One of the places we love to visit for any excuse is a fantastic park

on the west end of the city.  We are entranced with it, and always

love every minute there.  Here's a painting I did of a sunset

at the park. 

Have a loving each other day!

Loving the fruits of your labour

The Fruits of Love

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

(Available -- email me

if you want it!)

I walk by this work every day in my front hallway.
And it is one of many paintings I've done of oranges,
lemons and limes.  In the depths of winter, especially during
the short, dark days, the brilliance of citrus fruits in one
of my footed glass bowls is a cheering sight.

In fact my son says that one day these are the pieces
I'll be known for.  So today as I work away on another
painting -- large and slow, I offer you the fruits of my labour --
a painting that gave me great pleasure to paint, honouring
the beautiful oranges, lemons, and limes that brighten our
lives.

Have a loving what you see day.

The love of reading -- intelligence is vital

Reading before the dance

(Part of the dance series)

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 2008
SOLD ♥

I was going to say that reading is sexy, or that intelligence is

attractive.  But we face a growing environmental crisis, and
sadly political and business interests are deliberately
avoiding the responsibility to make critically radical changes
immediately. So it's not enough to say that people who read
are more interesting.  They are in most cases, but we all need
to read.  We need to care deeply about each other's stories and
about issues facing the world.

The move from books to snippets on smartphones, texting, and shorter
and shorter articles is hurting us.  I've been a teacher as my side
job for long enough to see smartphones steal students' attention,
and stop their intellectual curiosity.  I'm so happy that on the one
night I teach now the college supports a no cell phone rule. It
means that people can read, and write and talk to one another --
the whole point of being in a class.

I love the painting that I'm featuring tonight.  For people who
love reading, books are an ever present reality.  Books, newspapers,
magazines, tablets, laptops, smartphones.  For this reader
books still rule.  If I fall in love with a book reading it online,
I head out to buy it, because I like a real book better.

Have a loving reading and saving the world day.

Love and coffee go hand in hand

Blackbird on a coffee cup
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Ah!  Coffee -- an appropriate topic for tonight because this
evening I met with a bunch of women in the neighbourhood
who I've known since my children were very little.  It's a long
and powerful connection fueled by coffee (and tea) and tonight
wine.  The group creates friendships, supports each other's interests,
discusses everything from politics, to culture, to art, to volunteering,
to child raising -- and is wonderful.

I started a new painting today -- quite large, and will not
have anything to show you for a few days.  But for at least
the past three years I've posted every day in the Month of
Love, February and had to continue the tradition.  I mean
love is that important. So I was excited to find this little painting
of a Red-winged Blackbird on a coffee cup.  I do love both
the bird, and the delicious coffee he is guarding.

One of the first and most joyous signs of spring when we
walk in our local park is the sound of blackbirds singing.
Woah!  Our hearts lift.  This is it my friends -- spring!
We aren't quite there yet, but soon.  Meanwhile have a
coffee with some friends, and have fun.

Have a singing for your coffee day.

For the love of blogging -- 11 years today!

Before the Dance

Acrylic on canvas

4 x 6 feet

Barbara Muir © 2008

(the painting is at

Seneca College in King

City, and I do not have a 

better photo -- must get one)

This is an amazing anniversary.  I started blogging 11
years ago today.  What's happened since then?  It's
changed my whole life that's all.  The chain of events
is too long to list here, but at the top of the list is
the artist friends I've made from all over the world,
who comment on my work, share their own work,
teach me techniques, tell me where to show, help
me get exhibitions.  So wonderful.

My blog got me on TV, on the Oprah Winfrey Show
via Skype, and media attention on several other shows.
It got me recognition in Canada's major newspaper.
That list is too long to share here.

But on top of that -- the blog helped my art to be
invited to travel to show in the Florence Biennale,
in Florence, in the Carousel du Louvre in Paris,
and many shows in New York City.  Plus I
had a piece go to the Netherlands without me, and
fly back to Canada to be sold here.

I am beyond grateful for the world of opportunities
and super friendships opened up for me through the
blog world.  Thank you to all of you.

Have a loving the blog world day.

There's nothing like family love

Let's get this party started!

First in the Times Tables series

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013
SOLD ♥

Some of my favourite commissions have been of families. There
Is such power in the love that bonds families together. For a
portrait artist this means getting to know the family, learning
about their passions and what they're proud of.  Sometimes
even the youngest members in a family have things they
want you to know as the artist painting a work that will
record a memorable phase in their lives.

In the park

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches

Babara Muir © 2012

SOLD ♥

It's Family Day tomorrow (today depending on where you
live) in Ontario -- an official public holiday, and that's a
wonderful idea.  To mark this joyful occasion in the month
of love, I am posting a couple of my happy family portraits.
Thank you collectors.  And if your family needs a family
portrait, I would be more than happy to help you with that
project.

Wishing you a very Happy Family Day!