Monday, January 16, 2017

Jealousy -- what is the point?


Paris Anemones
black marker on Moleskine paper
8 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017
I'm reading a novel about life in Washington D.C. (Ironically
appropriate this hard week), and it seems the world there is rife
with jealousy.  I find that a hard emotion to understand.  I am not
jealous.  When I was young -- in my teens I had a very rich boyfriend,
and some extremely wealthy friends. I found out then, what I know
for a fact now.  Wealth doesn't make you happy, neither does fame,
fancy clothes, the best car. That boyfriend has grown up to be a
super fellow, and is I believe happy.

Happiness -- and aside from love, I value happiness above all --
is an inside job.  You could have the biggest studio in the world,
and though I know I'd enjoy that.  I would not be jealous.

If I were jealous I'd work on being jealous of the people I know
who live in Paris -- one of my favourite places in the world.  But
I'm not.  I revel in every word they ever write about the place.
But I'm not jealous. I will visit again, and enjoy every minute.
 I don't want a title, a fancy car, a big house (bigger
maybe), I just want to be an artist, and sell my work, and teach,
and travel, and love my family and friends.  And I'm doing that.

More money?  Yes that would be nice.  I won't say no.  But I
would just travel more,  give better gifts.

The drawing tonight is of the tangled flowers and leaves of a
bouquet of anemones -- which in Paris are huge -- a flower we
see almost in miniature in comparison here in Toronto.  So far
it's a line drawing.  Colour would really tell the story better.  Maybe
tomorrow.

Meanwhile - Have a-I-don't-have-time-for-jealousy day.





2 comments:

Catherine Jeffrey said...

Hi Barbara
Happy New Year! I wanted to stop by and thank you for all your positive comments and for stopping by my blog. I enjoyed your post. I think you and I were both smitten by Paris this past year. It was life changing for me and I'm looking forward to going back. It may not be until 2018, but the planning process will keep me motivated! Paris is so amazing and so is the beautiful countryside. I get a newsletter from Abe Books and they compiled a list of 40 books about Paris, or Paris as the setting. I've read Hemingways A moveable Feast and I enjoyed reading about the coffee shops and restaurants of the expats, some of which I visited while in Paris. Here is the list:
https://www.abebooks.com/books/features/paris-books.shtml?cm_mmc=nl-_-nl-_-C160405-h00-parisfAM-000000xx-_-herogr&abersp=1
If you can't access it,let me know and I'll try again. I'm hoping that reading about Paris will keep me from Pining for the wonderful city and fill the culture void that I feel.
I'm so impressed that you have been showing your work there!
I feel that 2017 will be a positive year. Happy painting!

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you Catherine,

I love your paintings. And thanks for the list. I just finished a second novel translated from
Katherine Pancol. They are set in Paris and funny. In the first one she knocks
Paris society, and the second one is a mystery. Still funny. We bought a somewhat
garish Eiffel Tower that flashes lights on our front lawn. Supposed to be for Christmas,
but we can't take it down. Pining -- I hear you. It is a life changer isn't it.
It was so fun to show in the Louvre, but don't worry I wasn't on the same floor as
Degas.

Happy New Year! We will make it happy!

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!