Saturday, June 11, 2011

Reading a fabulous book

 Sean's Garden #2 (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011
(apologies for the quality of the shot -- something
strange is happening with my camera.  I promise
to work it out and reshoot tomorrow.)

I'm reading a novel so good, I have to force myself to put
it down and sleep at night.  In fact I'm raggedly tired,
and fall asleep holding it in my hands.  Funny.  It
might not be the book for you -- Nicholson Baker,
The Anthologist, but what I love is his exact and
poetic observation of life as he wastes time not
writing the introduction to a poetry anthology.
For someone who loves words -- me -- this is
ideal.

Of course the reason it's so good is what it's about --
not being able to be creative -- the dithering we do
when we can't paint, or write, or sculpt, or sing, or
play the piano.

Warning:  The entire novel is an interior monologue --
the thoughts that go through a creative person's head.
If you don't like the guy, and have no problems with
procrastination, you won't get it, and won't like it.
That said, I like the guy so much wish I knew him,
and I share some (thank goodness not all) of his
delaying tactics.

Now I'm heading out to buy canvas.  So don't worry.
I think if this fellow in the book knew you
he'd be writing.  You certainly help me to keep
going, and get excited about making art every day.

Have a reading-a-book-you-love day.

6 comments:

laura said...

I recently read the Anthologist too, Barbara, and passed it along to a poet friend of mine. Great book, full of so much insight about poetry!
Beautiful painting too--such fabulous color!

cohen labelle said...

Aha! - you've been buried in a book, I was just beginning to wonder where you were and was getting ready to send out a search warrant - but you were deep into prosody - that's good. Jenny has gone off with our copy of the Anthologist but we have three others by NB
and I've started to read the Mezzanine - very funny and abstract - he's a master at self scrutiny.
Well I'm glad you've taken a breather - because the painting is just splendid with all the Muir splashes of color that I've come to love!
love, Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

Thanks so much. Wasn't it wonderful. I finished it, and was both bereft and happy -- it was not only a superb read, but a satisfying one.

I'm glad you like the painting, which is at a transitional stage, but I thought enough was there to post it.

XO Barbara

Nancy B. Hartley said...

Ilove this painting! All the rich color is stunning!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

Well I was buried in a book, and in a bit of gardening, and in endless household decisions and in other painting work not ready for exposure.

Aieee. The book actually was the pure delight of it all.

Love,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nancy,

Thanks so much. I'm touched that you like it. I do too. Partly because the fellow Sean who planted our garden last year was such a sweet guy.

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!