Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Aspiring to inspire


Starting a big one
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir 2010
(not quite finished -- working on it)

I raised the word aspire in class last week, and
this has lead to a mass purchase of dictionaries,
which is a very good thing. My point was that
you need to be aspiring, reaching for something
to be able to be inspired. I might not be right and
I'd be happy if you want to debate this with me.
Come to think of it, I'll debate it with myself too.
If you are inspired, you may be so turned on that
you begin to aspire to something.

Very deep thoughts. As you can see we have a lot
of fun at school -- but the need to be inspired
is a huge one for artists, students and all of
us. Huge canvasses definitely inspire me. But now
so do tiny ones as I've expanded my range thanks
to the blog community, especially the European
daily painters who turn out magnificent works on
boards or canvasses just slightly under 6 x 6 inches.

I've been listening to an awe inspiring program on
time, part of the Ideas series on CBC Radio, our
national station. Now I'm getting ready for a very
early morning tomorrow. My head is swimming with
ideas -- mine and those I heard on the program.
Fascinating, post Einstein thoughts on "now". See
it's not all fluff inside this head.

While I listened I did more work on my small painting
of me starting a big painting in the studio, which
is the living room and dining room, and has a square
archway between the rooms. The canvas disappears
behind the wall on the right where the living room
and dining room meet. Awkward, but definitely
the source of many large paintings.

The painting is almost done. Need to a bit of work on the
top blue part, maybe the odd dark spot here and there
and then snip snap. All done. I'm reading a British novel
and it's making me think in British. My apologies to
all and sundry (now you know I'm not kidding.)

Have an aspiring-to-be-inspired day.

11 comments:

Melinda said...

I think it's brill, dear! You're not at sixes and nines nor are you tempted with a tiz waz. That means you're doing great work to me.

Climb that spire, girl, so's you'll be a'spired...on top always!!
;)

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I love the Canadian 'tone' and humor. I'm so glad you're inspired to inspire your students to aspire. They'll be the better for it.
Look at how you're inspiring your comment section ;)
and....Good on ya..for the huge painting. Okay, I'll stop now :D

eldon warren said...

It's weird how when reading we pick up the "speak" of the author. It's pretty easy to do when we get so immersed in a text. I've read a lot of Stephen King recently while getting back on my feet. I've got "Stephen Speak" bouncing off the inside of my head. This too shall pass.
Nice piece. I'm hoping you'll post it when it is finished.
Eldon

Liza Hirst said...

Great! You really managed to create the space and the atmosphere.
I am looking forward to see the final result.

Anonymous said...

and on the subject of aspiring... here's a little ditty for you from Milton Berle:
"I'd rather be a 'could be' if I cannot be an 'are'.
For a 'could be' is a 'maybe' who is reaching for a star...
I'd rather be a 'has been' than a 'might have been' by far;
For a 'might have been' has never been,
But a 'has' was once an 'are'."

Have a great day Barbara.
-Sally

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Thanks so much. You would definitely know if the Brit part of this Canadian has won out. Oddly enough I once had a job transforming British book blurbs into "Canadian." Words
like "boot" had to be changed to "trunk" (as in car). It was a delightful assignment, but I never ran into the word "naff" which figures large in my current read.

Okay, I'll climb, and I see you way up ahead.

xoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Mary,

Thanks so much. Oh we're rampantly looking up words these days. You are funny. The huge painting in the little painting turned into my first dance series painting, which I think is in my first blog, and hangs in the Administration area at Seneca College.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

Are you back on your feet? Stephen King eh? I am so crazy about British writers. Their humour is the best, and in this cold section of winter, I need the laughs. It must be weird for
anyone in the house hearing my intermittent laugh attacks.

Take care of yourself,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thank you so much. I may not do much more. It is a small space to move around in 8 x 8 inches. It gives me infinite respect for you and your superb work.

xoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

I've just been on your blog, and I'm dazzled, but it's bed time. What wonderful work you've been doing. I will spend some time tomorrow taking a serious look.

I hope you don't mind if I use this in class. It is great.

Take care,

Barbara

Linny D. Vine said...

I just love this one!!!

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!