Friday, August 22, 2014

Watch out for fruit in the studio!


 
 Studio cherries
Acrylic on cradled birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
Fruit in the studio can seem like a good
idea.  You want a snack, you want to be
healthy.  You've been working on this
large, important painting for some time.
Fair enough.

But be wary.  To an artist fruit is one of
the most attractive subjects possible.  It
is dazzling, seems so perfect, simple -- why
not paint it?  And there you are -- distracted
and entranced, and before you know it you
are starting a painting, photographing the
fruit (because you do end up eating it), and
fruit has won again.  Another case of trick
the artist.

You might want to think of unattractive snacks.
I can't think of one right off the top, but give it
a try.

We are in Nova Scotia, in the large school house
studio.  I wish you could see the views we see
every day, just driving around.  Speaking of
distractions, Nova Scotia offers nothing but.
The people are lovely and kind, and funny.
The views are breathtaking, and the food
wonderful.
Clouds over farmland
Near Pugwash, Nova Scotia
Barbara Muir © 2014

Have a watching-out-for-and-then-eating-fruit day.

6 comments:

Wendy Barrett said...

No wonder you had to take a photo of them Barbara, they look delicious. You've done a great job with them!
Is this studio you speak of an annual painting retreat for you?
Your photo is beautiful too! You have piqued my interest now in Nova Scotia - I will Google!!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Wendy,

Yes once a year we go to Nova Scotia and I paint as often as I can. This year I have been sick for much of the trip, but if I'm not painting, I'm talking to artists, collecting images for the rest of the year, and dreaming.

It is stunningly beautiful here.
We are Pugwash fans, and this area is beyond beautiful to me.

Love your work,

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

cohen labelle said...

I would expect you to gobble up every last cherry in this bowl. They're irresistible - as in life is a bowl of cherries, etc...mmm

Love,
Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

That bowl, and many more as cherries
are so important to me that I include them in my address ;-)

Funny, I thought of my mother singing "Life is just a bowl of cherries," the whole time I was painting this.

You know I love your work.

XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Unknown said...

beautiful cherry painting, i can see why it distracted. Have fun in Pugwash!

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you Sally,

Cherries are one of my favorite fruits, and it makes me sad that soon they won't be available.

I love your latest work and the discussion.

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!