Monday, February 4, 2019

Love of the lost -- the power of art


Untitled (work in progress)
Acrylic, acrylic ink, imitation gold leaf, 
and real silver leaf on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019
Before you read this please know that I'm not sad.  I am lucky
to feel joyous in my life.  Still I can't talk about love -- my blog
topic for this whole month of love -- without touching on how
deep love is.

I don't know if there's a heaven.  No one really does.  And
I'm not religious, so that's hard.  But I certainly hope there
is a special wonderful place for the people in my life who are
gone, and who I miss so badly. In this month of love, this is an
important topic.  Clearly the most vital part of love is to be
loving to the people actually in your life who can receive your
affection, kindness, overwhelming attraction, care, joy, hilarity,
and time.

But the power of love extends beyond this world.  Because
we love the people we love so powerfully that they are with
us, in our metaphysical hearts even after they die.  They
stay with us.  They speak to us inside our heads.  My mother
still criticizes, and instructs me like she did when she
was living.  And she also says I'm doing a good job, and
calls me darling in a way that only she could, with so much
tenderness.

I'm thinking of this, because I wish my niece, the subject of
this painting, was in heaven, or some place wonderful.  That's
in part what this little portrait is about.  I loved that girl,
and wish her a happy time wherever the soul goes.  Like my
mother this sweet young woman is with me always. Painting
her portrait is making me see so much more about her.

Have a loving the living, and the people you've lost, day.

2 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

I don’t know why but a long, nice comment I wrote about this beautiful painting a while ago is not visible here. I’m sorry, Barbara, if you didn’t receive it for whatever reason. Anyway, I love this portrait for so many reasons and your writings are sooo true! Just yesterday I was telling my sister how I feel that our mum is still always with me - just like you describe it with your mother. Thank you!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thank you so much. I saw your comment and it is published. I'm sorry if it didn't appear. I had the same conversation
with my sister on the same day. I feel the way you feel, but my sister doesn't have that feeling. It is very comforting
to have their presence. I miss my mother every day. And I feel like I met your mother, because I drew a portrait of
the two of you once, and studied her beautiful face. The drawing was not what I wanted, but if I find it someday I'll send
you a photo.

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!