Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Endings and beginnings



Drawing of a young woman
8 1/2 x 11 inches
black marker on bond
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Whenever I am between projects
or thinking I draw whatever
I can find in my sketchbook. This is
one of those drawings. It's always
a comfort to keep your hand moving,
creating, and soon a bunch of
new ideas form).

The trouble with holidays, if there is one, is that they
lull you into a sense of profound definition in the
daily pattern. It's false really, and helpful at the same
time to an extent. I've always known that all the hustle and
bustle of Christmas was a kind of logical trick to get us
through the first month of winter.

Families get together, presents are purchased, big feasts
happen, and it feels momentous. Then the families
go back to their regular lives, and you could think ...well.
But in truth wham, presents, big festive meals, decorations,
and celebrations are a year long happening. My sweet
son went back to school today, and I didn't stand sobbing
at the bus stop even for a minute. Because I know that
if I miss him too much, we can get in the car and go and
visit him! What a thought.

And every time our family eats together it feels like a party.
And I'll no sooner get the vacuuming
done, and maybe straighten my room up, than there
will be another day to celebrate -- Valentine's Day,
complete with gifts and romance and social whirl.

The New Year has begun. Both my son and I have
gone back to school. I start in earnest next week,
but was there today. The truth is that it is another
week, with the same level of excitement and the
same great feeling of possibility as the last one. It
just takes a rearrangement of the brain, the rooms
(taking down the tree in the studio, moving the
couch back to its place), and a tiny shift of the heart.

Let's all make that shift together. In many ways
this group of blogging artists is just that -- a heart
network. Call it corny if you will, but in my
experience, nothing could be closer to the truth.
Now I need to get painting!

Have a letting-the-great-new-day-start day.

2 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

Dear Barbara, after quite some time of abstinence, due to a very busy holiday season and an unusual sudden arrival of loads of snow and ice, I have finally managed to read your latest posts, which I enjoyed very much as always. Thank you!
Your tondo picollo is great and as you know, I love your drawings !! I wish you a good start at school and all in all a wonderful year 2010!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thank you so much. Here's to the two of us having a "vernissage" together in 2010.

I know this is going to be a wonderful year for both of us.

xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

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!