The dream of escaping

 

The house on the hill

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

It was a great run around Saturday.  We went to the market, then did 
other errands, got take out lunch, and sat looking at Casa Loma on a
very hot day.

We went to a few flower stores, and bought plants for the big blue pots

in the backyard.  We were just heading out to do some shopping
after an afternoon nap, when I got a message from our neighbour that
there had been a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festivities a couple
of blocks away, and that was horrific.  Shootings are not common in
Toronto, and I have never heard of a shooting in my neighbourhood

and we've lived here the entire time we've been together.

So yes, the people at the festival, who'd been dancing and singing were
told by police to go home. And this is too sad.

I do think of Nova Scotia at times like these.  Our little one room school
house in the middle of nowhere.  This is the house on the hill we see 
when we know we are not far from seeing our school house.  It always

makes us happy to see it.  I've painted it several times.

Have a loving your life day, and stay safe.

And the third piece in the Primary show

Joyous Sunflowers
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026

This is the final piece of my three pieces in the Primary show. I originally planned

to paint each painting over a primary colour background, and did start with yellow
on this one (the primary colours being red, blue and yellow), but sticking to the
primary colours, which are frequently part of my work anyway, became less 
important than the meaning of the works.

So I have family in the painting The Future Calls, because family and friends mean the
most to me, an ocean landscape with clouds because I love the ocean, and nature,

and some of my happiest moments are by water, and flowers.  I love flowers, and
usually have them in my kitchen year round.  I feel like they are one key expression of
happiness. This painting also features a beautiful crystal vase given to me by
my great Auntie Anna for a wedding present.  The more I use the vase, the 
more I think of her, and appreciate how kind she was.

We went to a wonderful pop up opening today for the artist Nick Rubi in the
Queen Street Type Books store. Nick's work is delightfully inventive and 
always unique. The exhibition was a treat.

Have a loving your life day!

Part of the Heliconian Primary show on now

The Future Calls

Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2026

(I need to get a better photo!)

I came to the second opening of the Primary show yesterday at the Heliconian
Hall to see a yellow heart beside this painting called The Future Calls. Ironically

that means that the future really is calling, and the painting will go on to an exhibition
at the Propeller Gallery in the fall.

That is exciting and totally unexpected.  We were given infinite leeway in
interpreting the theme.  I started with colour -- obvious, red, yellow and blue

are the primary colours, but moved on to meaning.  What is primary in
my life? This painting is about family, and clearly family and friendship

are at the top of the list of what's primary in my life.

There will be more about this in future blogs, but for now -- I hope you see
that you are primary to me.

Have a loving your life day!

A great opening for the Primary Show today

 

Magnificent Clouds
Diptych

Acrylic on canvas

4 x 6 feet

Barbara Muir © 2026

A wonderful opening at the Heliconian Hall today. Thank you to all the super
people who came in and thank you for some fabulous conversations.
It was so much fun. It's a beautiful show, and I'm proud to have 3
paintings in the show.

I will post my other paintings in the exhibition tomorrow. It's late and
I'm very tired tonight.  Once again thank you.  And if you couldn't

make it, the next opening is on August 8, from 2 - 5 p.m.  The show

is free, and there will be treats and cookies.  We would love to see

you.

Have a loving your life day!

Primary Show Opening tomorrow

 

Invitation to the Primary Show at the Heliconian Hall

tomorrow July 8 from the 4 - 7:30 p.m.

Free and free treats

I know this looks strange, because the opening I'm mentioning is the second one
on the invitation -- July 8 -- tomorrow.  But I will be there for the entire
opening, and would love to see you.  I have three pieces in the show, and it's
pretty amazing.  I had 50 of these invitations printed by my favourite printer
today.  He eliminated the speaker symbol, so all I've had to explain is the 
dates. 

If you're in Toronto please come to the Heliconian Hall tomorrow. You will love the
show. 

Have a loving your life day!

Missing Europe

 

A fruit market we passed

walking to the church of
Santa Maria Novella
where many Medicis are
buried in Florence, Italy.
Photo
Barbara Muir © 

Some of the best times in my art career happened in Florence showing
at the Florence Biennale in 2009, and 2015, and in Paris showing the
Louvre in 2015, 2016 and 2022.

Florence was magnificent, and I'd love to go back.  Paris is easily accessible
for me because I have wonderful friends there and we've been enough
times that I know how to get around.  I just got invited to show in the
Carousel du Louvre show in October today.  And I will seriously
think it over.

Have a loving your life day!

A busy day, and thinking about my son

Young Man Reading

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I love this very loose abstract sketch of my son, Sam. And I'm

thinking of him because he called when Steven and I were 

driving around shopping and doing errands.  He just wanted

to say Hi, and I was just going into a store, but as the day 
raced on it was too late to call by the time I was home and
had time. 

Sam is sweetheart of a guy, and since he and his wife left
Toronto we have really missed them.  They used to live
two blocks away, which was wonderful.

Here's what I said about this in a former blog:

"I have been lucky for my entire artistic life to have a super

supportive family.  This painting is of my son Sam who
posed for me many times during his late teens when he
was living at home, and a ready subject.  Christopher,
my son, my daughter-in-law Megan, Steven, my husband
and our various animals have all posed. And I am grateful
for them.  Big time."

Wishing you a happy and creative week.

Have a loving your life day.