Monday, October 24, 2011

Coming down the home stretch on the High Line

 Love on the High Line (detail)
(work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

Painters working on large projects are not
necessarily good companions.  Obsession is
certainly part of what powers the bigger stuff.
You go to sleep and wake up consumed with what
is next?  Wonderful and terrible things happen in
the world, and they are secondary.  The main
thing is the work.

I like to think of myself as a kind friend, a caring
person, but I admit -- I can inhabit another world
at times, and that's the world of painting.  I am
lucky, but those around me might want to wave
their hands in front of my face to check that
I am present.  Thank goodness for walks with
the dog and Steven in the brilliant autumn, for
excellent novels to pull my brain away.  For
friends and their calls, visits, stories, interest.

Here's what I've been working on -- still needing
changes here and there -- but clear enough that
you can see what's happening.  It is 4 feet by
three feet.  I have loved every minute of painting
it and began thinking about it the moment
I saw this photo of my friends sitting on
the High Line in New York City.  It has the
conviviality, and little cosmic high you feel
visiting New York, as though just by being there
you're part of something bigger -- and you are --
you're in one of the most vibrant cities in the
world, and feel a bit like you've just had the
best champagne.  You are happy, giddy, goofy
and plum pleased with yourself for getting there.
All of that is in my painting, loosely interpreted
from the Facebook shot I was given permission
to work with.

Have a loving-what-you're-working-on day.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Barbara,
As I stared at this portrait it came alive.

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Love,
Josephine

Melinda said...

Love this couple and all of the bright colour! You've got it goin' on, fer sure.

Your writing on this post is particularly beautiful. Prose-like and thoughtful.

It's a good world you inhabit and the high you get is a healthy and safe one*!

*Unlike the highs that ole Carlos Castañeda referenced. I like paint better.

Linny D. Vine said...

All of you "beautiful Barbara colors" combined in this wonderful large and beautiful painting = Big JOy!

Liza Hirst said...

You've managed to capture it all, Barbara! I especially like the movement of the little boy, looking round to see what's going on back there. And the feeling you describe of being in New York puts in words perfectly how I feel about being in London. Spot on! Love, Liza

Anonymous said...

there is a wonderful exhuberance in this painting Barbara. I cant wait to see it tomorrow for real:)

Karen Bruson said...

It's looking great!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Josephine,

Thank you. I love all of the pattern and texture in the image. It's fun for me.

Love,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Good old Carlos. There was an era there, maybe my kids are still living in it, when you weren't deep if you hadn't had the Carlos high. I remember a few years ago driving with an artist friend through the late afternoon sunlight as it carved deep blue shadows across the road where the trees lined Avenue Road here in Toronto. We were awestruck and talked about how 'high' artists always are strictly on the visual, and how incredibly lucky we are that that's true. True paint is better. You made me laugh.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linny,

We walk together in joyland. That's wonderful isn't it!

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Wow Liza,

Are you in London now? Come to think of it I felt that way in London, and in a trip we had to England a few years back. Maybe it's the travel feeling. Happy and really lucky.

Thank you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

That will be so much fun! I better stop painting and sweep the floors!

Haha. Can't wait to see you.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Karen,

Thanks so much. I love your latest painting. Glad you got a new camera.

XO 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!