Friday, October 16, 2009

Pie with a passion



Let them eat blueberry pie
charcoal on manila paper
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

My blueberry pie drawing may not win at any
fall fairs, but I'll tell you why it's here. Soon
I hope I'll do a little painting of this same delicious
piece of pie.

Steven and I were having dinner at our friends'
house. All of a sudden a perfect piece of blueberry
pie was placed in front of me on a strangely square,
turquoise plate, with a starkly modern, stainless steel
fork. The rounded cornered, square plate in turquoise blue
sang on a brilliant red corded place mat.
In other words homemade pie gone urbane --
modern. I didn't want to eat it (the point of the pie
from the host's point of view) until I photographed
it.

My friends were shocked, but got a camera, and
indulged me. The shots didn't work.
Days passed and I moved on to other baked goods.
Then my friends took more photos of a subsequent pie,
and those were clear and true, just waiting for this moment.

I almost forgot. The pie our friend David baked was
absolutely scrumptious. Steven and David started
discussing pie recipes, and how to make a perfect
crust, and we two women looked on with great pride
in, and affection for our men.

This year I've become more obsessed with painting and
drawing than I've ever been. I blame my
blogger friends for consuming me with thoughts
of art -- theirs and mine. Yet what a great obsession.

Have an have-your-pie-and-draw-it-too day

6 comments:

julie davis said...

Love the pie story, Barbara. It made me hungry! Isn't it wonderful to be one who can find art in the everyday....you gave your friends the gift of seeing differently that evening!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Julie,

I think it is wonderful for us, but a bit hard on those around us. We're so 'stop everything! This would make a beautiful painting.' I like your take on it. I'm not sure that's what they thought at the time, but they were very kind to me.

xoxoxoxoxBarbara

eldon warren said...

As soon as I saw the drawing I wanted a piece of blue berry pie. Isn't it amazing where our inspiration comes from?
EW

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

You are sweet, and so was the pie. Yes for me colour inspired this charcoal drawing. Isn't that funny.
Yes. When I do it in colour, I know it will be harder in a way, so I drew it first. But the colour, if I paint it right, will blow you away. It was something else.

Hope you're feeling much, much better.

Take care,

Barbara

Gwen Bell said...

Wonderful drawing...I can already see your painting in my mind with those great colors you use.

My blogs still whacky and I can't see your images the day you post them but I'm finding if I come back a few days later I can see them! Thank goodness! So you'll be getting delayed responses.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Gwen,

I can almost see the painting, but I wish you'd transmit your vision to me. I think the painting will find itself as it goes along when I get around to it. So much 'official' painting going on that I'm finding it hard to find time to paint for the blog.

Funny eh?

xoxoxoxoxoBarbara

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!