Saturday, December 13, 2008

The light in my life

I started painting in watercolour to try and capture the
vibrancy and lush colour of flowers. For about 10 years
flowers were my thing. Just looking at the white roses
on my kitchen table today I completely understand why.

Then I was captivated by landscape. I grew up spending
my summers on a lake in Ontario. Living near water
has always fascinated me, and I wanted to learn how
to paint that light. During the process I actually
recorded the lives of my children playing near or in the
water. And that lead me back to my original passion in
art -- painting faces, and people.

Since the dawn of this century (doesn't that sound
funny now) I have been painting people. I am a people person.
I love watching how people interact -- studying their
mannerisms, their expressions. I especially love their
capacity for love and growth and their humour.



Feeding the birds
watercolour
14 x 20 inches

Tonight I'm including a watercolour painting
done around the time my oldest was 14 or 15.
We spent a day on a beach on Lake Simcoe
north of Toronto -- because we couldn't get
to the Atlantic Ocean -- and our favorite beach,
and we needed to see water. One of the things
I love about the ocean, is all the birds. And I am
perhaps one of the few people who loves seagulls.
This quirky painting has it all, my boy, birds,
beach and water.

Have a day filled with sunny thoughts.

8 comments:

Theresa Rankin said...

Lovely has always! Great composition....and I love seagulls too!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

Does this mean we need to vacation in
the South of France together? Or Nova Scotia? I think it does!!!

Take care,
xoxoxox
Barbara

Anonymous said...

I get the feeling you could work in about any medium you choose. Really nice little w/c here. I was first attracted by the beautiful color. I could never control a water color. Maybe that was my problem. :)
Eldon

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

After I saw the movie about Jackson Pollock in 2000, I wanted to paint directly onto a canvas with tubes of paint. I did my first acrylic portrait shortly after I saw the film.
I loved watercolour too, but you're right that it's much more restricting.

Take care,

Barbara

Theresa Rankin said...

Count me in!!! And bring the paint box!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

Okay -- when can we go.

Tomorrow? No. I know that's wishful thinking.

Barbara

Liza Hirst said...

When you go, you must promise to stop by in the Dordogne!!
Beautiful watercolour - I agree with Eldon - you could probably work in any medium you choose!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Count on it. I really want to come
and have tea with you, and see where you paint. And I want to see your work! It's so beautiful.

Take care,


Barbara

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!