Friday, November 9, 2018

Conquering Fear and Flashback Friday


Look at this
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

A friend and I were talking today about fear of the unknown, 
and how it hinders an artist's life.  Then I was looking for a photo
of my art for a Facebook cover, and found this image of my son
and his then girlfriend, now wife, Megan.  It was a Skype painting.
Enter fear.

I was afraid of starting a blog, and my friend and fabulous
artist Flora Doehler persuaded me to do it.  Christopher
was going to teach in Korea for a year, and helped me
get started before he left.  Once he and Megan were in Korea, Skype
was the best way to talk, and not feel so far away.  During
conversations with Christopher I'd draw him on sticky notes
or whatever was on my desk.  Then I did a little sketch painting
of my friend Flora via Skype, and published it on my blog.

When Chris and Megan were heading for Korea I was so
anxious about those two being so far away -- a 14 hour plane
trip.  When I started using Skype I was afraid I'd mess it up.
But I got a job via New York company drawing people via Skype at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and did not
know that my Skype images were being broadcast on a huge
screen at the show. That connection led to journalist Howard
Wolinsky from Chicago calling and asking to see my Skype
paintings. Howard interviewed me on a YouTube video for the Skype
blog, I was terrified.  He asked me if I could get some new paintings
together in a week, so I did.  (Deadlines always help).

Oprah Winfrey's people saw Howard's YouTube video, and asked me to
be on a show called Where In The Skype Are You?

 Oprah?

I have never been so frightened in my life. But I did it -- and do
 you see where I'm going with this?  Essentially if you follow the
 dots -- Christopher and Megan going to Korea got me on Oprah.
And that show got me media attention, invitations to exhibit in art
shows internationally.

So yes fear is bad, and yes there are things to fear -- but some of
the things we fear -- especially when it comes to art -- will bring
us miracles.

Oh yes.  This is important!  After a year in Korea Christopher
came back to Toronto to work as a photographer, and then a director of
videos. Megan is working on her PhD in Early Childhood Development.
They are married now, and have a beautiful, brilliant daughter --
Alice.

Have a letting your fear go day.

8 comments:

Nancy B. Hartley said...

What a fabulous story! Thank you for sharing this! FEAR, has two meanings, face everything and rise, or forget everything, and run.
You took the first path! I am with you. Life is meant to be embraced,. You are a a perfect example!
I so love that the end result, t of this move to new horizons, brought you to Oprah! So exciting!
YOU are a shining star!!!

Candy said...

Barbara, I loved this post. It was just what I needed to read today. Lovely, lively painting!

Barbara Muir said...

Oh Nancy,

You always warm my heart with your words. Thank you. I woke up this morning and read this, and
thought I love that woman! And that's the miracle of blogging -- loving people you've never met!

We must meet!

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

laura said...

Great post, Barbara! You inspire with your words and your beautiful art!
I love the little dabs of color in this one

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Candy,

I'm so glad you like what I wrote, and that you like the painting. It's the principle of the famous "Feel
the Fear and Do It Anyway." I loved that book. Happy creating.


XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

Thank you so much. You know I love your work. The dabs of colour represent the
image breaking up coming all the way from Korea. Anything could interfere with
it, and I loved what that did too. It was great to paint from Skype because it was
unpredictable, and engaging.

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Flora Doehler said...

Great post, as always! xo

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you so much Flora,

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond. Maybe I got lost in world events. Some of which are worrying.

Love, love, love your work.

XOXOXOXOXOXO 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!