A great night with my art group

Giacomo
Art group sketch

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

I was feeling a bit down today -- so much to do, so little time,
and running behind. So I didn't know whether I should go
and paint with my art group or not, but we had dinner, and I
packed, and went anyway.

I'm so glad I did.  Such wonderful people.  And one of
the artists just got back from Florence, Italy,  -- a favourite
city of mine. So we talked a little bit during the break, and
I found out that another artist studied in Florence for a whole
year.

Here's what I got together in a total of 30 minutes. I felt happy
about it.

Have a loving your life day.

For the love of pansies!

Untitled
Work in progress
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It has been a great day.  As well as getting a lot of drawing
done for an upcoming series, I talked to my wonderful artist friend
in The Netherlands, Miranda Brouwers, and to my fabulous
artist friend in Hamilton, Marcia Labelle Cohen. Sweet connections. 
Another friend is heading down to the Galapagos. So exciting. 

Plus I worked on this almost finished painting of pansies. 
Thia is where I got to today.  I've enjoyed painting these
beauties so much.

Have a loving your life day.

A gorgeous day and more pansies

Untitled
Work in progress
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Today was what we call spring here.  Not too hot, just
the right cold.  Steven and I went to the lake.  And I 
painted when we were home. The nice thing about
acrylic ink, is that it has to dry, so in between you can
do other things like take a walk, or go to the lake.

I think this is a work in progress, and towards the end
of today's efforts, I was painting while talking to my friend
Flora Doehler, the fabulous artist who lives in Bear River,
Nova Scotia.

Have a loving your life day.

To the market

Pansies in March
Sketch
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It is a windy, chilly, rainy day today.  Not too many people are
walking around in Toronto. You do see the odd family, fully 
covered in rain gear, bravely trudging along, but they are rare.

We went to the market to witness high winds, and fog along our
drive, and splashed through big puddles in the inside market to
see the wonderful farmer we go to every weekend when we can.

I bought a lovely, cheery pot of small pansies and sat down to do 
this sketch.  I hope you have a super weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

Thinking about the studio

Work in progress
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Being asked the other day about how long I spend in the studio
per day has left me sitting in the studio thinking, and painting. 
I am working on a painting of clementines that's coming along
but not done, and on a landscape painting that is also not quite 
finished.  The surprising thing as an artist friend agreed
yesterday, is that small paintings are not necessarily easier to
do, or quicker to complete than large ones.  Each painting
is a whole new ball game. 

My long term series idea is in the research stage.  More about
that in the next couple of months.  It was a glorious day
today here in Toronto. I hope you had a magnificent day.
Wishing you a happy weekend.  

This is my husband and my monthaversary of our wedding
anniversary. A happy day. Another small toast to us with
a sip of champagne. 

Have a loving your life day.

How to paint?

Nasturtiums in a cream jug
Acrylic ink and marker
5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Barbara Muir © 2022
(I was hoping to show you
something new today -- I was
working on a drawing for 
a new theme, but didn't
finish it. This will have to
take its place for now.)

I just watched a video on how to paint. It was interesting, and it
might be helpful to some people. But I don’t paint that way,
draw that way, or think that way. If you want to paint or draw,
there are so many ways to be creative.

So don’t think that, because you don’t approach your art using
a method that someone else uses, that you aren’t a real artist. My
belief is that every child who picks up a pencil crayon, and begins
to draw, is a real artist. You are too. What matters is doing the work --
when you can, and when you want to.

Today I watched a video of a fabulous artist, Iris Scott, who creates
large work with fingerpainting. That isn’t for everyone, but she loves doing that.
Maybe that’s the most important thing. Loving the work you do.

Have a loving your life day.

A Fascinating Day

Steven and me in the lights
of Times Square in 2015.
We love New York City,
and hope to visit sometime
this year.  Today is
our Monthaversary of
our first date. (Not it wasn't
in Times Square.)

Today started off after coffee brought to me by my wonderful
husband Steven, with a telephone conversation with Jean-Philippe Grélaud,
the artist and photographer who manages the Haute Couleur du
Charvin store in Paris that is in the neighbourhood where we 
stay when we visit Paris.  I wanted his full name so I could
share his Instagram link in a Zoom talk I was having.

This afternoon I had a delightful conversation with the Alyson
Stanfield of Art Biz Success. We talked about so many 
things, and in part enjoyed discussing the positive aspects
of the Internet. For me those of you who read and follow my work,
invite me to shows, and collect my work are reasons why I 
am a fan of blogging, Instagram, and even the problematic
TikTok, although I have nothing on that site.

And tonight I just had dinner with my husband, and a wee
bit of champagne to celebrate the Monthaversary of our
first date (yes again! every month in fact. Lol.)

Have a loving your life day.