Thursday, October 8, 2009

Aerial perspective



October's garden anemones
in a glass vase
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

I know that aerial perspective isn't what I really want to talk
about here. I'm thinking of the crow's point of view, as
it flies above my street, my city, the fields and forests,
the mountains and oceans, or the geese, or all the brave
birds who may be making their way from my country
to yours right now. Their view is is the wide view:
they get it.

Sometimes I get so tangled up in the day to day, the "have
to do this", and "have to do that", that I lose sight (ha!) of
the miracle of my life here, and the one I share with you.
So what's the answer? How do we get back to the lofty
point of my favorite bird the crow, or to the geese or the
tiny juncos who now join us from the arctic? The answer
for me seems to be something so simple, and something I'm
not sure migrating birds get much of -- sleep. Eight hours
of sleep is my miracle cure. Just that amazing solid
number of hours of sleep brings my whole vision back,
and I feel delighted with my life.

Today was a good day.

In fact I painted, marked my papers and remembered
that we'd missed the cats' birthday. In fact it was October 5th,
but we were too busy to notice. So we had a small party
for them tonight -- sardines for the birthday cats, and their
invited guest -- Zoey the dog, who sang a nearly perfect
Happy Birthday to them.


Timbah eyes his cake with suspicion
He is much more interested in
the sardines -- a birthday treat



Like most two-year-olds Fiona
is afraid of the cake and
has to be helped to pose for
her birthday picture.

Fiona the cat is two, and Timbah the cat is four, and
both of them give us so much pleasure. Fiona may be
terrible two, because it was difficult getting her to pose with her
cake (which Steven and I kindly ate to avoid feeding the cats
food that was far too sophisticated and rich for people that young.)

Have a getting-enough-sleep-to-be-creative day.

12 comments:

Gwen Bell said...

I can't believe how much I've missed. So many wonderful new pieces! My blog's been on the blitz, but what a treat to come back to all of your incredibly beautiful work! You never cease to amaze me with your vivid, fluid, gorgeous style!

The cats expressions are priceless!

Lynne said...

Loving the cats birthday pictures!
And I appreciate your comments about life and living and making things work.
Your work is joyful! You must paint just after one of those great night sleeps!

Tammy Hext said...

Oh your cat is so cute. I had a siamese/american short hair cross when I was in university (he has since 'passed on' as my son puts it) I still miss him.

Anonymous said...

I just love that you celebrate a birthday for the cats!!!
Barbara, you are amazing!! so

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Gwen,

I am so behind on commenting on blogs, something I like to do every day. I've just had more work to do lately than normal, and I'm trying to catch up. Thank you so much. I feel exactly the same way about your work. I love it, and miss seeing it when I don't get time to get to your blog!

xoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Lynne,

I'm glad you like the cats' birthday pictures. We figured out last year that they were born on the same day -- though two years apart, and to litters in different cities. I paint with sleep, without sleep, I really like to paint every day if possible.
I wish I could say I always paint when I'm rested. But alas...

Thanks so much for your kind message -- you've made me very happy.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Tammy,

My Siamese is what they call a Tortie point. Her markings are mottled, and are supposed to be. She is an absolutely wonderful and loving cat, that we bought from two university students who were breeding the most gorgeous and happy cats I've ever seen. Their cats were sleek, glorious, and ran free in their spotless house. I know why you miss your cat. I don't want to be without a Siamese cat again.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Flora,

What a sweetie you are. Love you,

Barbara

Anonymous said...

ha ha ha! I love the piccys of the cats birthday. And this beautiful painting of anenomes. I saw some in a friends garden the other day, and thought of you, as you talked of your big bunch in your garden a few posts back. I would have done the same thing(help the cats out with their cake!!)

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

It's Saturday night and I can feel that cake sneaking up on me. Tomorrow's Thanksgiving, so in addition to painting, I think we're going for a late night walk to try and recover from a delicious market day, and the cats' birthday. Glad you like the pictures. They're a funny bunch of animals. We enjoy them immensely.

Take care,

Barbara

Linny D. Vine said...

Barbara, Your pusscats and your anenomes are beautiful! (Congrats, too, on the CBC listing!)

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

How sweet. I celebrate the cats' birthday too!

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!