Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Silence! -- or singing, dancing and painting



Listening
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

I went to paint with my sweet art group tonight.
I am so crazy about these people, and haven't been
able to go for months. So I dragged my tired self
there and was amply rewarded. The model was
beautiful, and I was energized and revitalized
by seeing my friends, watching them work, and
by the snatches of conversation I heard while I
was working, and the funny discussions I had when
I wasn't.

I cannot forget how at O.C.A.D. my art school, there
was an atmosphere in some of my classes controlled
by one or two people who were painting the figure
in three sponge impressions. One, two, three --
done. Brilliant really now when I think of it, but
at the time I felt like I was hostage to Beethoven and
Bach and an air of seriousness far beyond what is at
all necessary to produce magnificent art. So I say,
dance, sing, talk, and you will still make paintings --
maybe every bit as good as the three sponge print
style of figurative work my fellow students prepared.

Have a singing, laughing, painting day.

8 comments:

Nicki said...

Amen to singing, dancing and talking while making paintings!

Nicki :o)

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Too bad our lives are such that we must "drag our tired selves" to such renewing events, but how lucky to have them as havens! I always love your insights.

Kim Rempel said...

Well said!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nicki,

Right on. I hope someday I can sing, dance, laugh and paint with you.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Elizabeth,

Well after a day of teaching and running around doing errands I could easily just sleep. But I'm so glad my husband persuaded me to keep going.

Thanks so much.

Love your work,

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

Thanks so much. I am dreaming about coming down to wine country.

If you come to Toronto let me know in advance.

XOBarbara

Linda Popple said...

Love your bright and colorful paintings and your bright and colorful commentary! It's always a joy to visit your blog!! :-)

Liza Hirst said...

Interesting portrait - I love the free style and the blue touches.
Thanks for reminding me to be less tense and serious about painting - I wish I had read your post earlier today, before I painted my daily....

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!