Thursday, February 13, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day

 
 Happy Valentine's Day from the Bluebird
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
In our house Valentine's Day is huge.  We decorate, we
talk about our favorite food, we eat more chocolate
than is at all wise, and in recent years I do a painting
for my own cards.  I love the idea of celebrating love.
That force for good is an incredible power, and I
can't thank my family and friends who love me enough
for the kindness, encouragement and wonder they've
brought into my life. And I thank them for giving me
the pleasure of loving them. 

This painting is of a Bluebird. I have only ever seen
one once, and it was quite magical.  This fall the
week after my mother died, one of my girlfriends
took me walking, as her way of helping me
recover.  We talked about nothing, or we talked
about her dog (Steven and I didn't have our dog
Sally then), and as we headed up the hill in the
park one day we saw the brightest blue in one of the bare
trees.  Up close we realized it was a bluebird, and
I felt like I'd been given a gift from the bird, the
universe, maybe even my mother, who did teach
me to feel wonder.

Here's my latest Valentine painting, and some of
the fun I've had making designs with my painting
and a painting of tulips I sold last year called
And then we were seven.

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day and
weekend with the people you love, doing whatever
you love to do.

Have an enjoying-everything-about-your day day.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

What a wonderful story about seeing the bluebird. I think it was a gift for you from your mother. Sometimes birds are spirit messengers.
I love your valentine painting and card, and how worthy to celebrate love, as it is all that matters.

cohen labelle said...

Happy Valentine’s day, Barbara! This is amazing.
I saw a bluebird last Tuesday at Crook’s Hollow at the edge of the stream having a drink – just like your bluebird - maybe it’s the same one! Enjoy your festivities – I hope you can eat a chocolate or two for us, while you're at it and we'll drink a toast to you and your bluebird. You have a great blog.

Love,
Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Love is all that matters. It did feel like a spirit messenger as you say. It made me feel so happy to see it. I love the colour of Bluebirds.

Happy Valentine's Day to you. You brighten up my life with your lovely art and wonderful thoughts, and your smile.

XOXOXO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

How wonderful that you saw a bluebird. I think I've overdone it with the chocolate. Yum. And Steven brought delicious Greek pastries home for dessert which do seem to be straight from the Gods.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and David.

Love Barbara

suzanneberry said...

What a beautiful post! i'm sure the bluebird was indeed a gift from your mom. Apologies for my late arrival and my wishes for a happy Valentines day. Your Mom is there. Always.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Suzanne,

Thank you so much, and belated Happy Valentine's Day. My Mom is ever present to me because she taught me so much of what I know. She is in my heart.

XOXOXO 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!