Tuesday, January 4, 2011

100% art

 
 A Happy Time
(Work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

What do I mean by my title?  My days for the past little while,
mildly interrupted by New Year's Eve, have been totally
focused on art.  I am eating, sleeping, and moving through
life in a state of intensive artistic concentration.  This
morning I took a break to join some friends in the neighbourhood
who gather for coffee.  I sat down beside a woman I've talked
to many times about many things, and she showed me pictures
on her camera of absolutely gorgeous monoprints of women in
evening dresses.  They looked like living flowers.  The colours
so vivid that I woke up even before drinking the coffee the generous
hostess offered.  I had no idea this friend was an artist.  She teaches at
the public school across the street from me, and is having a year
off.  The time is allowing her to focus on her art. 

In short there's no escape from my obsession.  And that's good.
I've started a little painting which needs more work, but it's
at a stage that I can show you.

I will be at the CityTV studio taping for CityLine this Thursday,
but the show won't be on until next Thursday, January 13 at
9 a.m. and 2 p.m. so check it out.  I am on with Samantha Pynn
the wonderful host of Pure Design, and I'm looking forward to
seeing her again.

I hope you're having a great start to the year.  I certainly am, and
feel extremely lucky to feel this way.

Have a you-know-what?-I'm-happy! day.

6 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

Oh, how envious I am! I am desperate to start painting (my stuff) again, after a nearly three weeks break, but have been struggling with an annoying commission for at least a week now. It has a deadline and is taking much longer than I thought it would. Hopefully it will be finished tomorrow and then for me it will be 100% art, too! Another great painting, Barbara!

cohen labelle said...

Barbara I can see you are at it again, shining your light into the wee small hours of the morning! Lovely, she beams!
love, Marcia

eldon said...

Congratulation!! Again!!
Isn't it amazing the giant strides one takes in their art when he is immersed. I've picked up the pace here of late as well and the improvement I see is huge.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

This can happen, and I can't explain in any rational way, why some paintings go quickly and others take a very long time. But painting a commission is 100% art. I love your work. It's all 100% art.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

I have a lot of trouble turning that light off. Camomile tea, Valerian, actually turning the light off, all three help. Thanks so much for noticing that I'm working. It's true I am.

Love Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

Yes the space and time to be immersed in art is an incredible luxury, one I don't like to waste, especially when I'm in the mood to paint. You can't always count on either the time, or the mood, but both together make for very happy painting.

Happy New Year from Toronto,

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!