Friday, May 9, 2014

Loving the city and how a painting develops


 
 Water Image #1, #2 and #3
at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery
in New York City
Acrylic on canvas
90 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
This has been a busy couple of days.  The opening
at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery was wonderful,
but I'm sorry to say I didn't get clear photos with my
work.  The atmosphere was delightful.  Great
paintings, super talks with other artists in the
show, and from New York, champagne,  super goodies and
Ruthie Tucker, a most warm and charming host.
Tomorrow I plan to get some more photos at
the gallery, and then I'll include some of the
cellphone shots I took at the show.

It's very late, and I hope to write a longer blog
tomorrow.  I just came across these progress
shots for the painting Wonder Water Image #1,
and I thought they might make you smile.  It's
a long way from the beginning to the finished
painting.

 Wonder Water Image #1
(drawing charcoal, starting to
block it in on the canvas)
Barbara Muir © 2014
Wonder Water Image #1
(More blocking in. Starting on highlights
and dark areas (still no teeth!))
Barbara Muir © 2014
Wonder Water Image #1
(More decisions about shapes and
highlights.  The teeth begin, and
the ocean begings to come in
 behind her.)
Barbara Muir © 2014

Water Image #1
(And here she is on the kitchen counter
just before I took her to be shipped
to New York.)

Have a realizing-that-anything-is-possible day.

6 comments:

Wendy Barrett said...

The joy you are having in New York shines through in your post Barbara! Your three paintings all together are a stunning sight and no doubt have been wowing the crowds!
Lap it all up! I envy you being able to visit those legendary museums - all are on my bucket list.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Wendy thank you. I don't think I could love this city more. So vibrant, so creative, so original and in so many places so beautiful. You would love all the art here.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

laura said...

Hi Barbara. Thank you for the in-progress photos--it's always fascinating, like magic.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

Thanks so much. I'm glad I took those pictures, because they remind me that there's a stage when it looks like it won't come together, and then it does. That is like magic.

Love your work and Happy Mother's Day.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Nicki said...

This trio must be a show-stopper! They look wonderful hanging there so proudly. The progress shots of this piece are fun to see and I love the final touch of the wisp of hair floating off the left-hand side of the canvas.

Congrats on your NY show!

Hug,
Nicki

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nicki,

Looking at the progress shots calmed me down. I was working on the baby and worrying, then I saw these and told myself -- painting takes time. I'm so glad you like them, and the float of hair was something I liked too.

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!