Monday, March 15, 2010

Starry, starry night


Boy in a red tie on a starry night
watercolour quick study
watercolour on Arches watercolour paper
10 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(I think it was the quick part of
Laura Starett's idea of the
2o minute study that appealed
to me. Time is so short this
week. I used to love
watercolour. But I think I might
want to add to this little painting
of my oldest guy from a reference
photo taken a few years back.)

I am in a flood of marking -- which has cut my time for
art down to just about nothing. This would drive me
absolutely crazy, if I couldn't see the end in sight.
By the end of this week I will be caught up, and
able to breathe, and paint -- most of the time.

When I got home from teaching tonight the sky was
doing a crazy art dance -- just begging me to paint
it. Thin clouds of bright pink trailed in layers over
a magnificent deep turquoise sky. I pulled Steven
out onto the back porch to look and we stood there
for a minute. Then I took the dog for a walk. We
watched the pink clouds and tree tops turn to gold,
then mauve, then disappear while the sky turned
one of my favorite hues of blue -- a deep, bright
manganese mixed with ultramarine. "Wow" I kept
saying as we walked. I decided to walk to the
bridge over the park so I could see a wide sky --
the sun setting, the stars rising -- end of day
turning into a magnificent evening.

The world dazzles me. Thank you for being
part of what fills me with wonder.

Have a loving-the-evening-stars day.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Barbara,

Your words are beautiful. I could see the sky you described.

Thank you,

Josephine

Kim Rempel said...

I love evenings like that. And that's a fresh, beautiful painting.

eldon warren said...

Nothin better than an evening sky full of color. We get a lot of those around here too.
Love the W/C. Fresh clean and delicate.

laura said...

Beautiful--the colors are delicious, and the face so very sweet!
Thank you for mentioning me Barbara, but in turn I have to acknowledge the blog that got me doing these quick paintings: www.twentyminutechallenge.blogspot.com.
Isn't it great how good ideas fly around the blogs!

Linda Popple said...

20 minute painting?!! Wow! Very nice.

Love your description of "the crazy art dance!" I felt like I was right there with you.

Liza Hirst said...

Super water color painting, Barbara! And that in 20 minutes - wow! Don't change anyting in it - it is perfect as it is.
I haven't been able to comment on all your latest posts - simply too busy - but I have seen and read and enjoyed them all. Thank you!
Your words, your drawings, your paintings, your photos - I love them! (And your green teapot watering can is very cool!)

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Josephine,

Thanks for your beautiful words.
I hope you did see the sky I decribed.

Love Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

Thanks so much. I'm delighted that you like it.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

Thanks so much. I'm really glad you like it.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

The work you're doing in 20 minutes drives me crazy. I cannot do that
in 20 minutes, so I think this took more like 30 because I did it during the commercials in two half hour shows.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

I think this took more than 20 minutes. Maybe 30.

I'm so glad you like it.

Take care,

Barbara.

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!