Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The month of love

Thinking of Valentine's Day
(quick sketch of a Valentine Heart)
Acrylic on bond paper
Barbara Muir © 2011
(I spent part of the afternoon drawing
a very careful Valentine and painting
it with watercolour.  At the end of
a couple of hours I had a weak red,
not super Valentine.  So I dashed this
off in acrylic on the bond paper
I use for drawing and my palette,
and I like it a lot better.  I'll be
doing more on the theme, because
I have to get my cards together for the big day.)

I have to admit it -- I love Valentine's Day.  There are so many
reasons for my affection for the day of the heart.  The first is
that I've been blessed with a loving husband, loving family and
friends.  I believe that for a loving person, love is readily
available, and that has been my experience.  Plus I love the
colour red, I love a day that sanctions soppy expressions of
love, and the simplicity and beauty of the heart shape -- that
says it all.  February without Valentine's Day wouldn't have a
chance.  Outside storms are brewing.  Dire warnings fill
the radio and TV airwaves.  Take cover, snow squalls, high winds,
blizzards.  Oh my.

But the stores are filled with silly, cheerful, goofy, gorgeous cards,
gifts, decorations, cupids, everything for the hopeless romantic
and simply loving person to buy to express that depth of warmth
which makes life worthwhile.  I love that contrast.  Outside freezing
cold air, and in the stores big, red, furry heart pillows.

Luckily for me -- somewhere in the darkest reaches of the aptly
named cold room in the basement, is a box filled with decorations
for the hearty. That would be me and by extension my family.  You
don't have to be in love with a special someone to give, or even get
love. Love is everywhere.

Have a planning-to-have-a-loving-month day.

4 comments:

Nancy Laliberte said...

Barbara, your blog is such a joy to visit and read, every time.
Hugs to you,
N

Linny D. Vine said...

Love - LOve - LOVELY!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nancy,

Thanks so much -- I'm delighted that you like my blog.

Hugs back at you.

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linny,

Your lighthouses seem to beam the light right across the country. We actually had sunshine today, and still do and it's 5:30 p.m. Woo Hoo!

XOBarbara

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!