Thursday, February 2, 2012

Not the Grey

That wonderful face
Watercolour on Arches
watercolour paper 
with black marker
8 x10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2012

As I went to post this little painting, once again
an attempt to capture a dear friend --  I had a flash
of thought on what it would be like to paint the
same image over and over again for the rest of
a lifetime.  I guess some religious icons follow
that idea which might explain why even when they
were ornately decorated with gold and beautifully
painted, I found that it would start to feel monotonous if
no personality surfaced from the faces of the
hallowed in rooms of icons in museums.
I'm not worried the personality is
there.  No problem -- but the essence of what
makes my friend herself -- and the exact proportions
of that face -- not quite right my friends.  Still this
is another jump at it and I do like it in colour.
That's the way I roll.

Nicki -- I saw the paintings by your friend Tom
Thomson today at the AGO and stood in wonder.
I also reveled in a gorgeous show of Jack
Chamber's work and felt personally connected to him.
I feel sad that people are not using hand writing
anymore, because his handwritten notes moved
me almost as powerfully as his paintings.

Have a loving-the-personalities-you-meet day.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Barbara,
I think you have definately got personality in these 2 portraits of your friend, and they will be great helps if you get a chance to work it out again in acrylic paint, because you will have had a trial run a couple of times with these watercolours. Your friend looks really nice.

Nicki said...

HI Barbara,

I wish Tom Thomson was my friend! I do think I am a bit of an old soul... maybe I did know him 100 years ago! He is such an inspiration. Someday I hope you and I will go to the AGO together!

I love the colour in this piece. And the gray scale you did the other day! You rock!

XO Nicki

Linda Popple said...

I like this watercolor of your friend. Her smile is contagious!

I was unable to bring up Tom Thompson's work .... Error 404 (whatever that means!). I will google him. Jack Chamber's paintings are amazing. I love the one of the little boys watching tv in their pj's with a blanket of snow outside.

Kim Rempel said...

It's beautiful. And it has that trademark Barbara Muir looseness, colour and joy!

Jennifer Koach said...

This portrait makes me want to meet your friend. A captivating smile. How do you manage painting those teeth?

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Thanks very much. I love what you're doing with acrylics.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nicki,

I think we can befriend past heroes. When I'm in the gallery I talk to them in my mind. As in "Man you were sooo good." I would love to go to the AGO with you.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linda,

I'm sorry about that. If you Google him, quite a bit should come up. Jack Chambers was amazing.

Love your work,

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

Thanks so much. I am loving your work.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks so much. I wish it was my friend's actual smile which is way more beautiful. But teeth are like everything else. Not harder.

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!