Sunday, March 2, 2014

Starting a big one -- the kindness of strangers

 
 Untitled (Work in Progress) Stages 1 and 2
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
I am excited about beginning a large work -- one of
three that I'll be showing together later this spring.
The model for this painting was a woman I met at
the Art Gallery of Ontario on Tuesday.  I spent
a wonderful couple of hours there looking at the
Canadian art I love and going througn The Great
Upheaval exhibit.

The day felt like a gift, and one of the reasons was
this lovely woman holding a beautiful new baby.
I have a soft spot for the look of a new mother
and baby, and this woman radiated that sweet
new love mothers have for their babies.

I had to ask her if I could take her picture.  All
I had was my phone, and when she agreed I
snapped off a few shots and gave her my card.
The baby's name is Daphne -- a lovely name.
And so this painting begins.  The woman who
is delicate and petite in real life is much larger
here on this 3 x 4 foot canvas.

This is a very early stage, so a lot could change.
But thank you Daphne and Daphne's mother.
I love the blanket with the stars, which I'm
sure will tie in with one of the other paintings
in the triptych.


Have an enjoying-the-kindness-of-strangers day.

6 comments:

cohen labelle said...

Hi Barbara,
This already has a wonderful quality to it, I love the design, the stars in the fabric, the way the mother hugs her baby to her - I know this will be another magnificent portrait.

love, Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Thanks so much Marcia,

I am excited about it. I plan to hold onto that feeling, and your kind comment will help me do just that.

When people offer to let you photograph them at random it is such a gift. She has my card, so I hope she looks me up and watches as this painting progresses.

Love,

Barbara

Unknown said...

exciting be starting a biggy. i look forward to seeing it develop

Barbara Muir said...

Thanks so much Sally.

It is really exciting.

XOXOXO Barbara

laura said...

I have to second what Marcia said: great design ... Love the big blocks of color. Looks very intriguing as it is now, but I look forward to seeing you develop it!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

I am slowly planning a triptych. Huge. So I am inching away along deeply influenced by recent reading I know. This could change and change again. But that's fun too.

Love your work.

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!