Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Working slowly and speaking at my art group

Untitled (Work in progress),  Stages 3, 4 and 5
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches (3 x 4 feet)
Barbara Muir © 2014

On Friday, February 28, I spoke at the Don Valley
Art Club about getting back to work after a serious
loss.  The theme combined my writing as a guest
blogger on Alyson Stanfield's Art Biz Blog with my
belief that one of the great motivators for making
art is a feeling of joy or happiness.  During the
evening I spoke about how hard it is to get that
feeling back after one of life's hard knocks, but
how it is vital to try. Thank you to everyone who
came out and who shared their moving stories
with me.  It was a deeply rewarding and meaningful
evening for me.

As well as fighting a terrific cold I am slowly working on a
new big painting -- an enormous change from the small
wood panels I've been painting so far this winter.

The model was a gift as I explained in my last post.
And as I keep painting more and more ideas come in.
The temptation of course is to put everything in.  But so
far it's just the mother, the baby, a grove of peach trees
and a hill or mountain up behind her.

At this point I think she's in Italy, maybe Tuscany,
because I'd love to be there, but we'll see, although
that's given me another idea. (Aha! moment).

Normally I work in a fairly ordered way, but this
time I'm using the "I'd like to" method.
That means that when I come into my studio hot
lemon drink in hand and look at the painting, I allow
myself to work on whatever appeals to me at the time.
This way it will get finished, but I won't feel
constrained.

It is still in the deep development stage, and I am
happy so far.

Have an enjoying-what-you're-working on day.
Thanks to everyone at the Don Valley Art Club
last Friday.

8 comments:

cohen labelle said...

It's wise to make progress without rushing.

xoxoxo, Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Sometimes that's true. I am dreaming about the painting, and where to go with it next. That feels like a good thing to me.

Love,

Barbara

Unknown said...

always exciting to respond to your dreams in your painting. It shows up in the work.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Thanks so much. The winter has been so intense that I've been reading and thinking a lot. I guess that's what will show up.

I love your work so much.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Tammy Hext said...

I love where this is going Barbara and the story behind it too. Cannot wait to see how it progresses.
T

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Tammy,

Thank you so much. It's gone a bit further, but it seems to be one of those "lots of thinking" ones.
You've made my day.

XOXOXO Barbara

Kim Rempel said...

It's looking beautiful!!

Barbara Muir said...

Thanks Kim,

I'm working on something else now, but can't wait to get back to it!

XOXOXOXO 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!