Thursday, October 4, 2012

The Sublime

 Night Bouquet
Watercolour and marker
on Arches watercolour paper
5 7/8 x 9 1/2 inches
Barbara Muir © 2012

The book I'm reading, The Elegance of
the Hedgehog, which a friend of mine
tells me is sad, talks a lot about art and the
sublime.  It explores how art and literature
lift us out of the petty concerns of our daily lives
and give us glimpses of the sublime.

Nature has the same effect on me.  The other
day as I was picking tomatoes off my crazy
grape tomato vines which are now crawling
down our outside basement stairs unchecked,
 I stood up and had these flowers against my face.
 And I was filled with wonder.  I stood in silence for
a few minutes in absolute thrall.  The sublime.
Japanese Anemones in my garden.

Have an enjoying-extreme-beauty day.

4 comments:

Nicki said...

Mmmmm, what a lovely image I have in my head of you picking tomatoes and then enjoying these flowers.

And what a show-stopper of a painting you posted today! It is glorious, Barbara. There is no way a person could ever feel sad around this piece.

I have enjoyed extreme beauty today by visiting your blog.

Sending you hugs for a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

XO Nicki

Barbara Muir said...

Hey Nicki,

You are awesome, and I by visiting yours. I will have an awesome Thanksgiving weekend, and have a super time with your family.

XO Barbara

Sally Dean said...

Your experience rings so true to me- some days I water my garden and watch the arc of water making rainbows and I just pause with wonder- there have been a lot of butterflies around this summer as well.
I know what you mean about getting all the nasturtiums in before the frost-
thank you for your words and wonderful paintings BArbara- - I am always inspired!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Thanks so much. Everyone reassures me that winter will be just as beautiful. I know I'll think so -- but I love flowers, and picking them in my garden is such a treat.

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!