Saturday, October 17, 2009

Free minutes




Bright day
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

It's true my life is busy. My house needs a cleaning
specialist. All that aside I find the time to paint.
My husband and I were going to watch a late movie.
We've had a lovely evening out to dinner with friends,
and were just going to settle down with the cats and the
dog to watch some TV, then go to bed. Steven said
you started painting so I thought you didn't want to
watch a movie. I said every time you turn your back
I'm painting. That's what I do.

I think that's the advantage of a home studio. When no
one needs me, or while the rice cooks, or while the kettle
boils, or the coffee drips into the cup, I can be painting.
Since teaching time management -- hysterically funny
given my strong desire to loll with a good book -- I've
realized that these minutes here and there add up.
That doesn't mean I don't spend concentrated time
painting, it means that in between everything else,
I'm also painting. So Steven turned his back on me in
the studio, and I thought he was staring at a painting,
but he was teasing me. I didn't get it, because I'd
started painting again. What a hoot! I was both kidding
and serious. And his experiment proved it. He turned his
back, and what do you know, I was at it again. It seems to be
true these days. Painting is my life.

Many of my artist friends are trying to paint in a more
relaxed, loose style. This little painting tonight is my
attempt to loosen up.

Have a using-each-free-minute day.

6 comments:

LeSan said...

I like your style. Never let a minute go to waste. They are just to few and precious.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi LeSan,

I immediately went to your blog, and I'll comment later. The story about your blood almost made me cry. Oh my. You are an amazing writer.


Take care,

Barbara

Gwen Bell said...

I love this portrait! So much visual information and so expertly handled. My favorite areas: the beautiful areas of bright red around his eye and nose and that great wavy line of yellow that creates the upper lip.

The story is so endearing! You 2 always seem to find the "fun" in each other.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Gwen,

I'm sorry your computer is having blog issues, time for a new Mac. From my point of view, it's certainly worth the wait for your lovely, kind
comments. They make my day.

xoxoxoxoBarbara

Liza Hirst said...

This is a wonderful portrait!!!
It looks very "alive", maybe partly due to the looser brushwork, which I like very much here.
I envy you to be able to paint sort of inbetween - I can't do that - it's either all or nothing, unfortunately.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

I was trying to be very, very loose.
I'm glad in worked a bit. I like the liveliness too.

xoxoxoxoBarbara

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!