Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A busy day


In the blue work shirt
acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

It's been a long day -- which started with a workman from
a construction crew knocking at the door early in the
morning asking me to move my car. I ran out in the
unattractive track shorts, and fleece I was sleeping in,
and moved my vehicle. Meanwhile the street turned into
a small sea of turmoil, machines thumping and grinding,
high whining of concrete saws, giant dump trucks
going up and down the short block, men in bright orange
vests and hard hats. I tried to go back to sleep, but ended
up getting up to paint.

I made good progress on the portrait(s) I showed you
yesterday, then escaped the noise to join friends
for coffee and run my errands. The crew is replacing
the natural gas lines in our area -- necessary and
important work. I used to work for a natural gas
company, and know that pipe corrosion is
not a good thing.

My street jammed with cars and
construction vehicles.

Tonight I went to my art group, and whipped off a
fast sketch of our wonderful model. The man
was good, brainy, great looking and funny. What
more could you ask for. And of course it was so nice
to see my artist friends again. They are wonderful.

Have a working-despite-distractions day.

8 comments:

Linny D. Vine said...

Really well done, Barbara! He looks as though he is going to tell us something very interesting...

Melinda said...

I agree. This is a very good portrait and I'm wondering who this person is. I do see some Alice Neel here and a bit of a Fauvist touch, which is always one of my favorites!

Excellent work! Now, what did he have to say for himself...?

Linda Popple said...

Excellent, Barbara! I like his expression - I agree with Melinda in that I do see some Alice Neel and the Fauvist influence. You are sooo talented!

Karen Bruson said...

Nice complementary colors going on.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linny,

he was a funny man, and a superb model. I usually paint my models as happy, but he really was -- and nice to boot.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Thanks so much. Fauve is me of course, but I was standing beside strong artists and that strength got into my painting. That's what I love about my art group.

He just said that not only could we talk (we've had models who want silence) but that we'd have trouble getting him to be quiet. He had great twinkly eyes.

xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linda,

Thanks a lot. I do of course like bright colours, and I've just been to the MOMA and admiring Derain, all is possible.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Karen,

Thanks so much.

Love your painting of the boats.

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!