Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Cleaning the studio


Pam in New York
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Tomorrow I'll talk to you about the
process of getting this painting
done, and show you some
pictures I took along the way.)

There are so many parts to an artist's life, but for this
artist cleaning the studio is a rare event. Pity the
poor cleaners who have to do the job. Alas...today
was the day. We hired some wonderful cleaners
to clean our house last week. We thought it was
extreme that two people came instead of one, but
no -- knowing I was an artist, four people came.

I had vacuumed my studio and washed the floor,
a rare event last weekend before my client came,
but even so, I worked downstairs on my husband's
desk, and heard a lot of thumping, vacuuming and
discussion going on. They couldn't even touch my
painting table -- still in the throes of big work. But
everything else was rearranged in patterns that would
never occur to me. I stood in the clean space and
laughed.

The studio -- pillows arranged in a diamond pattern
(I liked the satin throw along the back of the couch,
and the red and flowered pillows against it.)

Now it may happen every two weeks if we can
afford it, and that may send this artist's happy
heart into shock. Beautiful shock.


On the coffee table, the books
notes and the silver tray I usually
have flowers on are arranged in diamonds.
Cool! This will all change tomorrow,
but for now it's an art piece. (The tape on
the floor is to mark where people
sit and stand to have their portraits painted.)


Have a liking-an-orderly-studio day.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Barbara,
Congratulations on another fabulous work-the portrait is magnificent.

Cheers,
Josephine

Kim Rempel said...

Oh...you lucky woman!! That room looks FABULOUS - like out of a magazine : ) And that's a wonderful portrait. Love how you handled everything but especially that dress!

Linda Popple said...

Pam is lovely and that dress - wow! Beautifully done!

As Kim said your studio looks like it is out of a magazine. Inspiring for sure!!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Josephine,

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

XOXOXOXOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

Thanks you are sweet. I am lucky.

I'm glad you like the dress. It is a fabulous dress in real life.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linda,

Of course I didn't show you my paint table, or the stacks of paintings
everywhere. Thanks very much. Yes the dress, especially on Pam is a Wow!

Take care,

Barbara

Anonymous said...

The painting is really growing on me, I love it, and it's funny that they arranged everything in a diamond shape. Oh ho I am now inspired to symetra-size everything. Thanks for welcoming me your home.

Big hug,
Lina

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Lina,

Thanks for being such a great and cheerful visitor. Each time I saw your face last weekend I felt so happy. Glad you like the painting, I feel ridiculously proud of it, and of Pam and you.

Love Barbara

Karen Bruson said...

Your portrait is beautiful. Love her expression. Also, your studio is darling.

Gwen Bell said...

This is my very favorite painting of yours...and you know I have a lot of favorites. Love the long, elegant figure and the stripes on the dress. She is so beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful...your studio looks fantastic. What a wonderful space to work in!

Linny D. Vine said...

Lovley portrait of a lovely woman, Barbara! (I'm really enjoying your way of painting her hair.)

Linny D. Vine said...

And your studio is a dream...

Nicki said...

What great photos. It's so very fun to see a glimpse of your workspace. What gorgeous light and colours you are surrounded by. And I smiled at the tape on the floor... I guessed what it was before I read your words.

And what a stunning piece of art-- you deserve to be beaming over that portrait.

XO Nicki

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!