To the market

Pansies in March
Sketch
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It is a windy, chilly, rainy day today.  Not too many people are
walking around in Toronto. You do see the odd family, fully 
covered in rain gear, bravely trudging along, but they are rare.

We went to the market to witness high winds, and fog along our
drive, and splashed through big puddles in the inside market to
see the wonderful farmer we go to every weekend when we can.

I bought a lovely, cheery pot of small pansies and sat down to do 
this sketch.  I hope you have a super weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

Thinking about the studio

Work in progress
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Being asked the other day about how long I spend in the studio
per day has left me sitting in the studio thinking, and painting. 
I am working on a painting of clementines that's coming along
but not done, and on a landscape painting that is also not quite 
finished.  The surprising thing as an artist friend agreed
yesterday, is that small paintings are not necessarily easier to
do, or quicker to complete than large ones.  Each painting
is a whole new ball game. 

My long term series idea is in the research stage.  More about
that in the next couple of months.  It was a glorious day
today here in Toronto. I hope you had a magnificent day.
Wishing you a happy weekend.  

This is my husband and my monthaversary of our wedding
anniversary. A happy day. Another small toast to us with
a sip of champagne. 

Have a loving your life day.

How to paint?

Nasturtiums in a cream jug
Acrylic ink and marker
5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Barbara Muir © 2022
(I was hoping to show you
something new today -- I was
working on a drawing for 
a new theme, but didn't
finish it. This will have to
take its place for now.)

I just watched a video on how to paint. It was interesting, and it
might be helpful to some people. But I don’t paint that way,
draw that way, or think that way. If you want to paint or draw,
there are so many ways to be creative.

So don’t think that, because you don’t approach your art using
a method that someone else uses, that you aren’t a real artist. My
belief is that every child who picks up a pencil crayon, and begins
to draw, is a real artist. You are too. What matters is doing the work --
when you can, and when you want to.

Today I watched a video of a fabulous artist, Iris Scott, who creates
large work with fingerpainting. That isn’t for everyone, but she loves doing that.
Maybe that’s the most important thing. Loving the work you do.

Have a loving your life day.

A Fascinating Day

Steven and me in the lights
of Times Square in 2015.
We love New York City,
and hope to visit sometime
this year.  Today is
our Monthaversary of
our first date. (Not it wasn't
in Times Square.)

Today started off after coffee brought to me by my wonderful
husband Steven, with a telephone conversation with Jean-Philippe Grélaud,
the artist and photographer who manages the Haute Couleur du
Charvin store in Paris that is in the neighbourhood where we 
stay when we visit Paris.  I wanted his full name so I could
share his Instagram link in a Zoom talk I was having.

This afternoon I had a delightful conversation with the Alyson
Stanfield of Art Biz Success. We talked about so many 
things, and in part enjoyed discussing the positive aspects
of the Internet. For me those of you who read and follow my work,
invite me to shows, and collect my work are reasons why I 
am a fan of blogging, Instagram, and even the problematic
TikTok, although I have nothing on that site.

And tonight I just had dinner with my husband, and a wee
bit of champagne to celebrate the Monthaversary of our
first date (yes again! every month in fact. Lol.)

Have a loving your life day.

You brought me here! One million views -- I'm so happy!

My most popular image on Instagram in

2019 is one of my all-time favourites.  
Me with Cloud Magic at

the opening of the
Encounter exhibition at the

Heliconian Club that year.  

1 Million views!  Hey! Pretty exciting.  I opened this up today
and felt so much gratitude for your support.  Thank you.  I've
felt like I was soaring above the clouds I love to paint.  

Wishing you a glorious day filled with joy and creativity!

Have a loving your life day.

Happy International Day of Happiness

The photo of me and Miranda Brouwers that appeared in the

Dutch newspaper, The Carillon on December 29, 2015.

We are standing in front of the landscapes

Miranda showed at the Florence Biennale in 

October, 2015.
At the Biennale we started the Happy
People Project, encouraging other artists 

to work on being happy. We had so much fun.

On this the International Day of Happiness, I can think of
no better time to offer 10 reasons to be happy.  But I'm so happy
today that the list went to 16 reasons, and I could go on, but it's time
to get on with the day.

1. I am happy because I have a loving husband.

2. I am happy because I have a loving family.

3.  I am happy because I have kind, funny friends around
the world.

4.  I am happy because I'm an artist, and I love making art.

5. It's the first day of spring, and my friend I walk with
tells me that spring begins at 5 o'clock today in Toronto -
that's in 10 minutes! Yay!

6. I'm happy because on my great walk with my friend the sky
 was such a pure blue would make your heart sing just looking at it.

7. I'm happy becauseI finished reading the wonderful book Show Your Art
by Austin Kleon, which is amazing. If you haven't read
any of his books about creativity, do yourself a favour and
read one.  Plus his weekly newsletter is great.

8. I'm happy because I went to the printer to get references for a new painting
I'm starting. And we shared a joke.

9. I'm happy because Steven and I bought super ready made dishes for our
 supper, and we have delicious choices.

10. I'm happy because I talked to wonderful artist friends in The Netherlands,
 and in Hamilton, and those conversations were a treat.

11. I'm happy because driving through the city streets today there's a whole different
 vibe, even though there's snow everywhere.  It's the first day of spring, and people
are walking with an attitude of "Hey. Everything is going to be alright!"

12. I'm happy that I've learned how to be happy, and am
 still learning, and think I will learn more and more for the
 rest of my life. And I'm grateful for all that you've
 taught me on the subject.

13. I'm happy that I live in Canada -- never happier about that.

14.  I'm happy that I love to read and I have a fabulous novel.

15  I'm happy that we have a wonderful TV show that we're
going to watch together tonight.

16. I'm happy that my dog seems much better after her surgery.

Have a loving your life day. Happy International Day of Happiness.
Happiest country in the world -- Finland.  Canada ranks 13th happiest
country in the world this year.

A short one today

Irises in bloom

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2021

Today is a very busy day -- guests arriving, plans for creating
art together, and having a delicious dinner.  It is Sunday.  We're
not religious, so Sunday for us usually just means a different
pace than the rest of the week.  Saturday is always packed
with errands, and Sunday is about pleasure.

The robins are back, the super freezing cold that was promised
didn't materialize.  We have irises just like these on the kitchen 
table.  I have projects lined up, so the week will be busy too.

Wishing you a wonderful day -- in the Month of Change.  A
friend in Victoria, B.C. posted a photo of trees in bloom.
It feels like we are a long way from that.  The huge piles of
snow on our street never cleaned by the city, are melting, and
look a bit like abstract sculptures.  I will miss them, but they
do make street parking, which most people in our neighbourhood
rely on, difficult.

Have a loving your life day.

The first pansies

Market pansies in a cream jug
work in progress
Acrylic ink and marker
on watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

We went to the market today, and our favourite farmer friend
was selling pots of pansies.  Being a big pansy fan, I bought
some and tried painting them in the pot, but it wasn't going
to work.  

So I moved the flowers that were ready into a cream jug, and
started on this.  I will finish it tomorrow.  But it was a pleasure
to see the first flowers of the spring. So delicate and vibrant
at the same time.

Have a loving what you do day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

A photo of Steven and
Sally the dog
in their St. Patrick's Day

 finery a while ago.
Photo © Barbara Muir  

As I sit here wearing a dollar store St. Patrick's day necklace, I am
thinking about all of the fun dinners we've had with our family
celebrating St. Patrick's Day.  We're not Irish, but as with every other
possibility for celebration we have supplies for celebrating this 
festivity.

Here's what I said in a former blog, and it sums it up:

"No I am not Irish, but way back some of my ancestors
fled France for Ireland, and then Ireland for Canada.
So in fact I'm more French than Irish.

One year when my children were small we -- a very
celebratory family -- bought them green toys and hula
hoops, and green candy and had green ginger ale, and
green champagne for the adults, and a tradition was
born.

So Happy St. Patrick's Day.  My family is not entirely
certain when we'll celebrate, but we will have a bit of
a green fest and that seems right with spring coming on
soon we hope."

Have a joyous St. Patrick's Day.

Drawing as planning

Planning sketch
(this is part of what
will be a much bigger image.)
marker on Fabriano paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

My favourite printer is in Hong Kong visiting family, and
I can’t wait until he comes back so I can get some photos
for a new series of paintings I’m thinking about.

Here’s a sketch of a man having his lunch in a takeout
place. I could do much more and may, but it’s just about
thinking things through at this stage. I can’t wait to get painting. 
This is one small part of what I hope will be the final image.
Perhaps more drawings tomorrow.

Have a loving your ideas day. 

Fast sketch with my art group

Art group sketch

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It's spring break in Canada, and it was really cold yesterday. 
So only four of us showed up for our art group's Tuesday night
portrait session. Dale the model, was good and funny in the break.

I liked his shirt, but as his hair was grey, and the shirt was 
predominantly grey, I thought I'd paint it in red.  I ended up
working on the grey, and the red underpaint did give it more
oomph. So this is the product of about 25 - 30 minutes of
painting. 

I found it hard to drag myself out into the cold to attend
the session. But my kind husband drove me, and picked me
up, so I went. And it is always a good idea.  The people are
wonderful, and I felt recharged.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Pi Day

Stand Back for the Pie

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

On this date I usually feature this painting, because not being a 
math freak, Pi reminds me of pie, and Steven makes the best
cherry pie I've ever tasted.  Because December and January
were rough, I ate way too much of every sweet, so I may 
forego having pie today.  Tempting though.  We had a little
conversation about the math behind Pi at lunch today.

Last year this painting won first place, and I won a $500 
in a contest with the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural
Center in California in a virtual exhibition. And that was 
fantastic.

In a former blog I shared this information on Pi

Day:

"According to the Huffington Post Pi Day is named after the
Greek symbol π which is the ratio of the circumference of
a circle to its diameter. The first three digits in Pi are 3
 (this is the third month) and 14 (the fourteenth day)
= 3.14 or Pi.  What better day to eat pie if you get the urge.
 And any way you slice it you will not be alone in your
pie indulgence.

I live with a mathematics fiend, (Steven) who has been
known to sleep with a Calculus text beside his bed at the
ready should he feel like reviewing it with his morning coffee.
He also makes a mean cherry pie -- the point of the
painting. The pie."

Have a deliciously-happy-Pi-day. 

The planning stage

 

Drawing of a face

marker on paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2023

(This is not part of what
I'm envisioning -- it's a

drawing I did yesterday.)

I’ve been thinking about a series I want to paint for a while.
Now I want to get to the prep stage, which means doing small
drawings that will eventually lead to creating paintings. I've 
just started work on that. 

The subject matter is people going out for takeout food,
or coffee. At this stage in Toronto people are still in thick
winter coats for the most part although you do see young
people in shorts, bare feet and sneakers with a winter coat
 – an odd combo.

So we’ll see how it works out and I’ll keep you up-to-date with
things as they progress. It’s exciting to have an idea sitting out in
front of you. It’s like a call that you've been waiting for.

Have a planning something you love day.

Time changes, and so do we

First stop Paris

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012
(available)

(When I painted this painting I was
thinking about encouraging the model
to go to Paris.  I hadn't exhibited
in Paris yet -- my first time
showing in the Carousel du Louvre was in
2015. But in a way the work was telling
the world that -- hey! I love Paris,
and since I painted this piece, I've visited Paris
a number of times! And I loved it every
time. This seems right for today --
because travel disrupts time in
the best way possible. It looks 
like it's a 5 hour time difference
at the moment between Toronto and Paris.
And when you go there
it's worth every minute of that difference.)

At 2 in the morning we moved into Daylight Saving Time.
Luckily for us we started moving into the new time 
yesterday -- setting all of our clocks, and machines that
would allow it ahead by an hour. So it was less traumatic
this morning, than it is some years when the time changes.

My mother, who had a Masters in Bacteriology did not
like losing that hour anymore than anyone else.  So her
strategy was to change all of her clocks three days before
it happened. We couldn't go that far, but it helped that the
microwave and the car radio were functioning in the
new time for 24 hours before the switch. And yes
we still have clocks that are not digital.

I think of March as the Month of Change, and I found
this thought in an earlier blog that I thought I'd share:

"If you think you can't change remember how long
it took you to fall in love with your first born,
your niece, or nephew, your kitten, or dog, or
your beloved. In my case my affection was
overpowering and instant in every example
above. And you know that each time your
heart made that giant leap toward affection,
your entire world changed. So yes you can
change, and you already have while you were
reading this. So have a soothing drink of milk,
or tea, or hot chocolate, or wine if you need it,
and take yourself back to the canvas, or your
writing, or to bed for a little nap before you
start again. It's all going to work out just fine.

The time to paint is upon us. (And the time to 
travel.)

Have a what-do-you-know-I've-changed day."

Best practices

The cards  --
(some of the cards
I've written every night
for more than a year --
which Steven has saved.

The fur in the bottom left corner
is my cat, Monet trying
to get into the photo.)

Kindness hit me as a principal requirement in my life when I
experienced such high levels of kindness at the 2009, and 2015
Florence Biennales. I've been lucky to be treated kindly for most of my
life, but people at the Biennale, as one of my friends described
it, raised the bar. They did everything they could to help
each other, and life long connections happened.  We all still care
about the people we met there.

So I wondered -- what are your kindness practices? One of mine
is to write a note for my husband every night to leave in our middle
bedroom where my husband puts out his clothes for the morning. 
Because I've been a night teacher for almost a decade, I am in the
habit of going to bed much later than my husband, and he gets
up much earlier than I do.

This practice started more than a year ago, when both of our cats
-- the 14 year old Tortie point Siamese, Fiona, and the three 
month old Tortie point Siamese kitten, Monet, stopped eating. 
The kitten had gastroenteritis, and the older cat had a gum
infection.

I started writing the notes to let Steven know whether or not
they'd eaten their night snack, and then as they got better, I'd
write about what happened in the day, and thank him for all
of the nice things he'd done for me.  And guess what happened?
He didn't want me to stop -- so I haven't. And he has saved every
one of these notes that I write on cards that feature my art.

What are some of the things you do to add more kindness to your life?

Have a loving your life day.

Our contribution

Reading together
watercolour on paper
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © (Not sure when
this was painted.)

I was having a short nap today, and I heard my heartbeat on my pillow.
A few weeks ago a friend of mine died. And I thought about the fact
that that beating of my heart won’t go on forever. One day it will stop.
I know that this sounds bleak. But it didn’t feel that way to me because
the word that surfaced out of my mind was Contribution and I thought,
'what is my contribution to the world?'

I decided that my contribution is the love I  share with my family,
and friends, and people I know through the blog, Instagram, and Facebook.

If I can create art that makes people happy, then, that is something I
consider to be a good contribution. And I know that through my teaching
life I've spread a lot of joy, and understanding that lead to happiness for
my students. 

The thought of sharing, love and joy as much as possible, made me happy
today.  So I send out my thanks, my gratitude for all that you who are reading
this blog have given to me over the years. I love your writing, I love your art,
I love your suggestions I love your creativity, and you have contributed so
much to my happy life.

Have a loving your life day.

A great day is when you love your life!

Untitled (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Today I got Austin Kleon's book Show Your Work in my online
library.  I am going to buy the book, because I love his writing.
But when I went to Type books in Forest Hill village, they
didn't have it.  And it is a treat like all of his work. Side bonus --
the wonderful man behind the counter, Nick Rubi is an artist.
We gave each other our Instagram addresses, and now I
get to see his cool, abstract work.

It's a gorgeous day, and I went walking with a good 
friend.  Bundle up everyone says because it is cold.  I did.
And the sun at this time of year meant I was way too warm. 
Such a treat.  Spring is coming. We had a lovely walk, and I
came home to work on this. It isn't done, but I enjoyed looking
at the tulips I have now, and painting.  

Have a loving your life day.

International Women’s Day

My friend the artist, Nicki Ault

took this photo of me with two of

the paintings from my Ocean series

that I brought to show the other artists at

the Ayr exhibition in 2011 -- one of the
best artistic celebrations of International
Women's Day that I've been part of.

It is International Women’s Day, and I'm grateful to all of the
wonderful women in my life — starting with my mother. and my
sister, and extending to all the women in my family, all of my friends,
and all of the amazing women I’ve met in my working life in art and
in teaching.

Today I'm going to repost a piece I wrote in 2020 about super art
show in Ayr, Ontario celebrating International Women's Day in 2011,
where I met artists who are delightful friends.

Let’s change the world!

Here it is -- 

"Me with the painting I entered in

the 100 Years of International Women's Day show

at the Ayr Gallery in 2011. My painting is about

happiness -- an underlying theme

in all of my work.  

Ready for Joy

24 x 24 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 2011

Today is a big day for women around the world.  So many things
are changing for us all the time, but most of us will agree
that we have a long way to go to go.  For me this day will always 

remind me of a wonderful 100 Years of International Women's 

Day show in Ayr, Ontario where I met some women artists, and 

shared space with women artists who were, and who became friends.
These women along with women friends and artists around the
world have changed my life.

Georgia Fullerton with her painting                   Left to right: Marcia Labelle, Tammy Hext, Kim  
 at the Ayr Gallery show(upper image)                           Rempel, Nicki Ault, and me

Preservation                                                             International Women's Day 2011

24 x 24 inches

Georgia Fullerton © 2011

So I declare this an International Day of Gratitude for all
of the women in my communities here in Toronto, in
the blog and Instagram and Facebook world, and in the 

wide artistic community, and friendship community around

the world.  You have constantly inspired me, supported me,

and made me feel valued. You make me happy.  Thank you.

Have a thanking the women in your life day."

The art group tonight

Art group sketch

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2023

One of the great pleasures of my artistic life in recent years
has been painting with my art group.  As I've told you before
my husband usually drops me off at 7:30, and picks my up at
exactly 8:30.  I go in masked and paint with my group for an hour.

Tonight we were 7 minutes late -- which was good because when
I said goodbye to Steven, and walked in to join the group,
the model hadn't arrived.  Steven picked me up at
8:37. So I think once the model did arrive, I might have had
25 maybe 27 minutes to get this sketch down.

One thing I love about painting with my friends in the group is that
the creative energy inspires me to work quickly.  Something
I rarely do in my own studio. 

I may do a bit more on this one.  I loved the model's 
sweater, which I just began to figure out. Still not bad for
27 minutes (I think) painting. 

Have a loving your life day.

Have a loving your life day.

A do nothing high

Cloud Abstract
Acrylic in on 
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

At least that's what I thought when I woke up today -- that
I would do nothing. But in fact some stuff got done.  I cleaned
up for the workers coming to work on the house.  I read my
delightful novel.  I went walking with a friend, and we agreed
on dry sidewalks, so I left my icers (the things you strap on
your regular winter boots that make it safe to walk on ice) behind.
This was a dicey decision because I slipped and fell on
ice walking home from the store last night.

And my mind was swimming with ideas.  I did a couple
of small portrait drawings, thought about a series, and 
made this painting for tonight's blog.

Originally I planned to make it abstract, and it is,  But
clouds desperately wanted into the picture.  And as I love
clouds so much, I acquiesced. 

I hope you had a good Monday, and have happy plans for
the week.

Have a loving your life day.

The Invitation revised

The Invitation

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © revised 2023 

This is one of my three paintings on view in the Woman exhibition
at the Heliconian Club for the month of March.  It is one of my 
favourite paintings, but very hard to photograph properly because
the colours are so bright, yet there is still a subtlety to the work.

The model for the painting, is my dear friend Raylea, who came
to visit the opening yesterday with her husband Mick, after Mick
had helped several neighbours on their street clear their snow so
they could drive their cars, and walk.

I love the work for the happy feeling of anticipation, and for
the brilliant colours.  The painting in the background is one I did
of my friend Flora Doehler years ago.  She is walking on the
beach at Pugwash, Nova Scotia.

My image of the painting on yesterday's post is better for the colour.
Check it out.

Have a loving your life day. 

Super opening at the Heliconian Woman show

My work in the Heliconian Woman show.
Each piece is 30 x 30 inches
From left to right,
Tea Alone, 
The Writer's Life,
and 
The Invitation.
All were revised in 2023

About 20 Centimetres (close to 8 inches) of snow, fell overnight. I didn’t
even know if we’ll be able to get out of our street, let alone down to the
opening at the Heliconian Club on Hazelton Avenue in Yorkville in Toronto.

So the morning started with shovelling, which went on and on and on.
Steven valiantly cleared the sidewalks, which our neighbours had already
cleared for us. I helped clean off the car, and miraculously, if bumpily,
away, we drove.

Some wonderful friends also dug their cars out, and came out to the opening.
All of the artists who made it to the show today brought goodies, and there
was a lovely table of cookies and cakes and cheese and crackers, plus a
large pot of coffee which people drank from beautiful Blue Willow cups.

I loved the work of my friend Claire Bonenfant. 

Claire Bonenfant with
The Feminine Field
and 
Earth Woman
Claire Bonenfant © 2023 

There were so many beautiful works by the artists. If I get back to the show,
I'll get more examples.

I met some great people, had good conversations, and some sweet family members
arrived! How fun!

Family visitors --
Thank you fam!

Have a loving your life day. 

Please come to our show if you're in Toronto

The Writer's Life

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013 

with 2023 updates

Hi Everyone, 

The Woman exhibition opens at the Heliconian, 35 Hazelton Ave.,
Toronto tomorrow.  I will be there between 2 and 4 p.m. and would
love to see you.

This is one of the three paintings I'm exhibiting in the show. I 
think it does a great job of summarizing the life of a working mother.
The wonderful woman in the paintings is a novelist, and a mother
of three children.  This is the youngest.  

Wishing you a very happy weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

Drop off day -- it's all happening

Tea Alone

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013,

revised 2023

This morning bright and early Steven drove me down to the 
Heliconian Club, to bring in 3 paintings I've been revising in
2023. I hope you'll come out to see the Woman show. 
I'll be at the opening from 2 - 4 p.m., and the opening 
reception runs from 2 - 5 p.m.

If you've never been to the Heliconian Club at 35 Hazelton
Ave., you will love the space. The club took over a former
church in 1909 as the first women artists' club in Canada.

The painting I'm showing you tonight is a favourite of 
mine, and I like it even better with my recent improvements

This afternoon I visited the Art Gallery of Ontario -- another
beautiful space, and after I get a good night's sleep, I am
both inspired by the art of others, and excited about what
I'm going to be working on now.

Have a loving your life day.

Come out to the Art Show this Saturday

Here's the invitation.  I will be there
fro 2 - 4 p.m. on March 4,
at 35 Hazelton Avenue, 

Toronto

This weekend I will be in the Woman exhibition at the Heliconian Club
at 35 Hazelton Avenue.  I would love to see you there.  I will be
there between 2 and 4 p.m.   The reception is the official opening.
And the show is open for viewing again on March 8, from 4 - 7:30.
Oh and it's free!

So if you if are well, and would enjoy seeing some super art, please
come out on Saturday. I'll show you images of the work I'm showing 
in the next few days.

Have a loving your life day. 

Let's make every month loving -- reprised

Portrait of my father 
black marker on bond paper
7 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

Today is a hard day.  I think every day about my father, whose
birthday was today, and who has been gone too long.
Our dog had surgery today, and we hope she recovers well.

My post from last year on this day says it all:

"Happy Birthday to my father, who died way too young. I found an
old journal of mine talking about his love of photography, and how
he bought himself the best equipment.  I passed some of his gear
on to my older son, and to a neighbour who was studying photography
 at Metro Toronto University. My father's photography is amazing and
does stand the test of time.

Girl smoking a chocolate cigarette
8 x 10 inches
Photo
W. W. Muir
(One of my all time favourite
photos by my father.
He worked almost
exclusively in
black and white.
Chocolate cigarettes are not
cigarettes -- just candy.)

And his art was also wonderful. I only have one piece, which is in our
front bedroom, and every time I look at it, I marvel at his talent, with
no instruction whatsoever. I wish he was here.  He was a complicated
man, a harsh disciplinarian in our younger years, and a staunch 
supporter of me and my art, and writing when I was starting out.

Have a loving your family day." 

Exciting times

Untitled, work in progress
Acrylic ink on watercolour paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Today was a good day. I’m getting ready to show three pieces in the Woman
show at the Heliconian, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto -- opening on March 4.
I’ll be there between 2 and 4 p.m. this Saturday. And there are other exciting
things coming up too!

I worked on this little painting, a scene from the ocean in Nova Scotia,
which I love. I hope you had a great day. I did.

Happy second last day of the Month of Love. 

Remembering February 2020

Late evening tulips 

Acrylic on birch panel

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

SOLD ♥

Today we saw some of our family -- all rapid tested, and it was a treat.
Remember back when we didn't have to worry about viruses
every minute of every day?  Toronto started to be affected
by COVID in a big way in March, 2020 -- three years ago.
And people on my street have COVID now. Not fun. 
I taught my last in-class, class on March 9, 2020.

So as it's Sunday night, and time to stop working, I am
going to reprint a blog (slightly edited) from that magical time,
when we had no idea what was going to hit us. 

"Through every season, flowers are a necessity for me.
I paint them, I revel in their presence, I need them,
-- they are an essential part of my life.  It's great
in summer when we can just go outside and pick them,
but in winter they are such a supreme delight.

For reasons I can't explain I am very tired tonight (true
tonight too in 2023) on this the 26th day of The Month of Love.
It has been a brilliant snow melting day (after almost no snow
this month) that makes me think of sleep, and want to curl up
with a good book (got two).

I love this painting and am so glad it sold to an appreciative
collector a couple of years ago.  At that time I was trying to
paint one of the biggest paintings I've ever created. Then I broke
my wrist tripping on my cat, one night when I got home
from class.  My husband was away. Not good.

But you know what got me through the night until I
went to the emergency ward?  The gorgeous flowers in
our house. Today I'm appreciating how nice it is to be
healthy, whole and happy.  And to have flowers -- an
Amaryllis coming out -- tulips, and Hydrangeas.  Now it's TV time.

Have a loving your life day."

Animal crazies

Sally the dog

Acrylic on canvas

5 x 7 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2014

If you don't live with animals I'm sorry.  They do make great
family to share your space with.  Tonight the one year old kitten
Monet, is racing around looking for action, her tail fluffed out the
size of a racoon's tail, and she's also attacking the 15 year
old cat Fiona, who would like nothing more than to toss her tiny 
orange mouse into the air, stand on her hind legs and leap
to catch it.  Inspiring.

The dog Sally, is the image I'm sharing tonight, because I've been
painting a lot today, and none of it is ready for show. Sally has a
large tumour at the top of her right front leg.  Next week she
will have surgery to have it removed.  So our fingers are crossed
that it will be okay. She occasionally monitors the cats, interrupts
the arguments, and plays with the kitten. All good.

Since COVID began Fiona the older cat, and Sally, and then
Monet the kitten, have kept us company, and entertained us.
Tonight they'd really like a dance party, but instead it's going to
be a movie.

If you want to check out amazing animal portraits visit Chloé Bren's
website.

Have a loving your life day.

Friday night and our Monthaversary in the Month of Love

Heart in the sand
B.M. (Barbara Muir)
Loves
S.v.S. (Steven van Schaik)
Photo
Barbara  Muir © 2022
(The sand is the red sand on the
 beach we love in Nova Scotia
on the Northumberland Strait.)

Today is the monthaversary of our wedding day, and we had
a very special dinner out at Ikea.  I know that sounds anything
but romantic.  But the food was delicious, and even though it was

quite busy tonight, we could get far away from other people, and
only took our masks off to eat. Now we are home and will watch
TV together, cuddled on the couch with the cats, and the dog at
our feet. We are lucky. 

As there is still COVID on the street, and family members (not
in our house) have a bad flu, we are still very careful.

This love heart in the sand is from last summer, but the sentiment
still holds true.

Happy last weekend of the Month of Love.

A toast to Susan

Untitled (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

The painting tonight is a work in progress, something
I was working on when I read the news that a dear friend
Susan died early this morning, after a year long 
hospital stay, battling various severe health issues.

Her sweet husband sent out a note to all of her friends
and family telling us how she was doing, and a while 
ago it seemed like she might be recovering. But no.

Sending love out to everyone dealing with the loss
of family or friends.

Slipping into abstract

Flames of love
(work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Today my brain turned on, and I could have worked on 10
different paintings.  I did work on a few.  I just finished
reading the book Keep Going by Austin Kleon, and was inspired.
What a great book on creativity!

So I painted this abstract painting -- which may or may not
be a work in progress.  It was so much fun to make.

Have a loving your life day.

Painting with my art group

Art group sketch
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

 Such a pleasure tonight to join my art group.  Here's
the work I created in about 30 minutes.  When I arrived
the group was on break. I have a total of an hour before
my husband picks me up, so between set up, and two
breaks this is what I made.

Being around those wonderful artists is always exciting,
and gets me thinking in a creative way.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Family Day

Tea on the couch
Acrylic on birch panel
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014

Happy Family Day.  I hope you had a good one.  This is a holiday in
some provinces -- invented by the governments to give people a long
weekend in February during the long Canadian winter season.  We did
not see family today because of illness, and work obligations.  Instead
we went to our favourite park and fed the ducks, geese and swans, and
had a long, glorious walk looking at the lake -- an incredible colour of
blue, dazzling in the sunlight.

After most of December and January being overcast -- the sun feels
like a miracle. This painting features a girl in a family I painted in a 
series called the Times Tables back in 2013/14. Two of the paintings
from this series will be in the Woman exhibition at the Heliconian
Club opening on March 4 in Toronto.  More about that closer
to the date. I'd love to see you there.

Have a loving your family day.