Thursday, June 19, 2014

Garden distractions, Macbeth and festive tea


 Tea with Marcia (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
I've been working on this little painting for
a couple of days now -- as I work on the larger
breakfast painting too.  After the winter we've
had it's true that as James Russell Lowell said,
"And what is so rare as a day in June?", and
today our garden, unfinished, weeds and all
was perfect.  The weather was idyllic, warm
but breezy, and the sky a perfect blue.

I sat in the garden on my breaks and the dog
was so happy she plunked herself down
flat out testing various spots -- on the porch,
under the cherry tree (which is in bad shape)
and beside me under the apple tree -- which we
both agreed was best. The view from a pair
of Adirondack chairs I am promising to paint was
spectacular.

The day began with my brother quoting from
Macbeth, which he'd read the night before because
he was missing my mother.  We both agree
that if our mother read something she knew it.
But it is rare indeed to have long animated
talks about Shakespeare over the phone with
my morning coffee, and I relished this
happening, and the knowledge that it was a treat.

The painting is of a delicious tea preceding lunch
at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where I saw a
superb exhibition of work by Henry Moore
and Francis Bacon last week.  In the Members'
Lounge tea is an occasion, and I always like how
it looks.

Have an enjoying-June-day.

2 comments:

cohen labelle said...

That was a great exhibit because it also included several wonderful photographs by Bill Brandt as well as a decent selection of Bacon at his powerful, disturbing best. And of course it was exciting to see all those Moore drawings alongside some of his smaller bronzes.
Lovely tea in the members lounge - who might that be in the red jersey?

Love,
Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

That was a wonderful exhibit indeed. Thanks for filling in the the details. Hie thee to the Art Gallery of Ontario people! (A bit of Shakespearean English to go along with the theme.) The person in the red shirt is a friend of mine -- named Marcia coincidentally. Do you have a red shirt? If so, it could be you!

XOXOXOXOXO 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!