Saturday, November 22, 2014

Could this be my favorite day?

Reading the dessert menu
preparatory sketch
red pencil, and black marker on 
watercolour paper
9 x 12 1/8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
(Looking at Colville's work
gave me the idea to do a preparatory
sketch in pencil, then the marker,
and tomorrow the paint! Alex
Colville was big on preparing.
I thought I'd try it.)

I'm big on loving life as it unfolds, and I do
enjoy most days, but how I love Saturday, especially
when like today it can just happen --  no fixed agenda,
no one needing anything, no work appointments
for me or Steven.  That is incredibly rare.  In fact
it's been three months since that happened!

So out we went, happy as clams, listening to
Christmas carols on a CD from Starbucks in the
car, and singing.  Imagine!  Well actually we sing
together a lot.  We went to the market, and
snatched up two delicious loaves of home baked
bread.  Then decided on the spur of the moment
to go to the Art Gallery of Ontario, for lunch,
and see the Alex Colville show (for the second
time for me).  I knew Steven would be moved
because Colville's landscapes are all familiar to
us, part of our second home in the Maritimes.

 Plus I ran into a former boss who I think of
as a friend, and we made friends with a fellow
as astounded by Colville's work as we were, who
turned out to have a summer home near Lunenburg,
one of our favorite places in Nova Scotia.  What
an excellent day.  I bought my roses at the flower
shop that shows my work.  Hugs all 'round, and
headed home to write to you.

Thank you to the universe, to the art world, to
the AGO, to Colville, and to you for an excellent
day.  It just happens to be the month-a-versary of
when Steven and I met, so it was appropriate to be
moved by the love story of Alex Colville and his wife --
a marriage that lasted 70 years!

Have a loving-your-dearest-loves day.

8 comments:

Laurel Daniel said...

Delicious day! Xoxo

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you Laurel,it really was. I hope you had a delicious day too.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Unknown said...

o Barbara, it is very uplifting to read your posts, and today was a corker! Glad you had a wonderful loving everything kind of day. you deserve it.
I had a good one too, starting with taking in a favourite craft fair and then de-cluttering my studio storage cupboards, such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment now that there is room to actually store stuff there now. hope tomorrow is awesome too. xo

Barbara Muir said...

Thanks Sally,

Good for you. I hope your tomorrow is awesome too.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Wendy Barrett said...

What a glorious day! These are the kind of days that hold their own even in the face of more classically exciting itineraries.
I so enjoyed your day vicariously Barbara! May you have many more in the pipeline!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Wendy,

And you, although looking at your beautiful garden, and looking out the window at our barren, dried, brown landscape, I think every day where you live must be glorious.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Kim Rempel said...

A beautiful post! I love it! And I am planning to get to the AGO soon. I have to see Colville!!!! xo

Barbara Muir said...

Hey Kim,

Come on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday and I'll meet you there for tea. I'd love that!

Love all of your work!

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!