Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Loving the seasons in The Month of Love



Autumn feeling

Watercolour on 
Arches watercolour paper
14 x 19 inches
Barbara Muir ©  

The Month of Love in Toronto, Canada is one of the coldest months of the year
Today with the wind chill it was -12 Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit). And yet I
love living where there are four seasons. I talk to my sister who lives in Los Angeles,
California, and she says that she looks out of her balcony and sees flowering trees
lining the streets. I remember visiting California in February, and I know that it's
beautiful, but I'd miss the changes in the seasons.

The other day we went to our favourite park and it was so cold that we walked quickly
to the lake, looked to the west to the beautiful sunset, listened to the waves for a minute,
and hurried back to the car. But while I was out on the shore staring at the sunset I felt
nostalgic for the season we were living in. That sounds crazy doesn’t it? But I thought,
"winter will be over soon, and I'll miss it." Of course when spring comes my winter
nostalgia vanishes – spring is so magnificent.

I found this watercolour when I was sorting out my reference drawer yesterday. It’s
almost an abstract painting of the fall season, and I love it for that. As I said to my friend,
the wonderful artist Flora Doehler when I was speaking to her on the phone tonight,
"I’m not great at abstraction, it’s not how I think." But I love the abstract feeling of this piece.

Have a loving the season you’re in day.

4 comments:

Flora Doehler said...

This is beautiful! <3 <3 I love abstracted nature and this sure fits the bill! Isn't wet watercolour so wonderful!

One abstract artist who I could watch forever is Pam Caughey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_vlhSZQx4U
In this vid she's using oil, but she also uses acrylics. She paints on paper, then glues it to a birchwood cradleboard.
Although I'll never be an abstract painter, I find that watching her helps me to loosen up with my painting. Also, she's shown me various new materials that I wouldn't have known about.

Evelyn Oldroyd - painter said...

Gorgeous. Love the colors and free expressiveness of this piece. Very cold here today. It didn’t get above 0c.

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you so much Flora. I thought I had answered you. Sorry. I'm a bit behind. It was so nice talking to you the other day. Love your work!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Evelyn,

I'm glad you like it. It is very cold here too -- below zero! It's Minus 12 Celsius as I write this. Love your work!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO 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!