Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Painting with my art group



Woman in a grey beret
Art Group Sketch
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023 

Art is a solitary practice, except when it isn't. My art
group, part of the Don Valley Art Club, makes painting
into a shared, and very happy experience. I was delighted
to be able to join my group tonight. I think I had 30 
minutes to paint this, and the model was wonderful.
I also like the breaks, and being with the other artists.

I'm so grateful to the model tonight. She was great. And she
photographed my effort, so she liked it. Which is extra nice.
it was a super night. Thank you so much. 

Have a sharing your happiness day.

Monday, January 30, 2023

Art show at the Heliconian

Light on form
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

I got up this morning at what felt like the crack of dawn to take
my two life drawing/paintings over to the Heliconian. My kind
husband drove me, which is good because I was half asleep.

A cheerful group of women stood waiting outside the door of
the old church -- The Heliconian. The building houses the oldest
women’s art group in Canada. At 9:30 on the dot we were lead in
to drop off our work.

I got all the way home, and realized that I hadn’t taken final photos
of the work. So I went back in the afternoon and did. It turns out that
they’re going to keep both of my paintings for the show -- very happy
news.

This is one  of the finished works, which I would like to call Eloise
instead of Light on form, which sounds a bit cold. But there it is. I
may be able to change the names at a future date. Meanwhile, if you
are interested in going to the show (which is wonderful) it opens on
Saturday, February 4 at at 2 PM..

I will be there on February 8 between 4:30 and 7:30 if you are interested
in visiting me. Otherwise the show runs from January 30 to March 1,
and you can make appointments to go and see the work if you want to.
The address of the Heliconian is 35 Hazelton Ave. in Toronto.

Have a loving your life day.

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Crazy busy tonight -- please enjoy my pre-COVID post, reposted



Yield to the Lemon
Acrylic on cradled Birch panel
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017

Hi Everyone I have to get paintings into a show by
9:30 tomorrow, so I am going to give you an edited post from
2017 tonight that I love. 

The Happiness Trick

Is there a trick to happiness?  Yes.  People have written books
about how.  But there is a secret to being happy.  We have to
allow it.  I heard about this phenomenon called the "Nocebo
response".  In medicine it is related to telling a patient that
they will not get better. This message apparently has such
profound effects on the person's mind that she shuts the door
on hope, and may get rapidly worse.

My great happiness magic for today is to talk yourself out of
it.  Of the cold you are frightened to get, and will get if you
sneeze and are told it's coming -- watch out.  Of the depression
you could get because in this city the sky has been grey except
for one hour for what seems like most of a month.  And in
painting of the fear that you can't do it.

Try this.  Instead of freaking out about what you can't do,
start with "This is easy!"  Just repeat that a few times, and
watch your shoulders quit tightening into a vice grip.
I admit it -- given the number of people who have colds
(COVID) right now -- our chances of getting something are good.
(In the case of COVID, if you have all of your vaccines, and
wear a mask in public you may avoid it.) But apparently,
just believing that the hot lemon I drink might stop it in its tracks
 -- could if it's a cold. And as for painting or drawing -- we need to take a look at
how tough things are in the world, and let ourselves know how
lucky we are to be compelled to make something.

Here is my offering for tonight.  When we were in New York
in June, 2016, Steven got a T-shirt he loves at the Metropolitan
Museum.   It says "Yield to the art," which is what installers
say when they're moving big pieces through the museum.
Hence Yield to the Lemon, because the lemon demanded
center stage.

Have a tricking-yourself-into-happiness day."

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Snow

Backyard snow (an event)
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2023

From time to time I'm going to post photos here. Right now,
Toronto is enjoying the look of winter – and because of climate
change that look has been rare so far. Toronto just prepared one
of its ski hills to open for citizens for the first time this winter.
That is not normal.

So despite the cold, and the inconvenience of winter, Torontonians
are celebrating it because they have no idea when it will disappear.
Isn’t that one of the rules of advertising? Aren’t things more valuable
when they are rare? Even though I haven't dug my car out yet, that's
how we feel.

Snow of any significance only twice in January -- is definitely not normal.
Here’s a look at the backyard in this beautiful snow.

Have a loving your life day.

Friday, January 27, 2023

Messing around

Is spring coming?
(Work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

This was an exciting day for me, because a friend who has not
visited for a couple of years, took a rapid test, and came over
to have tea.

I spent the day aside from our sweet visit, painting and thinking about
what to do with the pieces I'm working on -- figure drawing/paintings
from quite a while back that I'm reworking for a show I'm entering on
Monday (more when I know if the work is accepted.) Plus I had fun
with this little abstract painting.

Definitely a work in progress.

Have a loving your life day.

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Lessons from friends and family



Breakfast in the hotel
Petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel
Acrylic on canvas
4 canvasses
36 x 48 inches
6 feet x 8 feet total
Barbara Muir © 
(I was thankful to see
that the napkins were on
the left. This is a big
painting. Lol. I've shown
it to you before, and it 
inspires me tonight on Flashback
Thursday.)

Some lessons

#1 I was setting the table the other night, and thought about my very
well mannered friend teaching me that the napkin goes on the left
side.  I'm sure my parents, who were very proper, knew that, but
now I am fastidious about it.

#2 These are not really in any important order. Tidy the kitchen before
you go to bed, so that it isn't a mess in the morning. The day will
be more positive. 

#3 Wash your paint brushes after you use them. An artist friend who does
beautiful work said that she takes care of her equipment, because 
it's expensive to buy new brushes all the time. I hear her voice
every time I almost forget to wash my brushes.

#4 My grandmother-in-law taught Steven and I to make up from
an argument before bed, and always to kiss one another goodnight.
Good advice Oma and we try to follow it. 

#5 One of the best bosses I ever had, and a friend, taught me, and
through his textbook, and teachers on his team, and all of our classes
to love ourselves.  He said you can't truly love another until you
love yourself.  And that was pretty radical teaching for college 
classes, but boy did it ever work.  Compared to the statistics for 
North American college students at the time, (50% of college 
students take 6 years to complete a 2 year diploma) between
75 and 93% of our students went on to get university degrees after
finishing college in 2 years.

#6 My mother taught me to try to enjoy each day as it comes. And
thank you Mommy -- I do.

#7 A friend in Tucson, Arizona, said to learn from the dogs.
Forward, forward. Dogs rarely look back -- they are always 
excited about what's ahead. Smart animals. 

Maybe that's enough for one day.  It is a special day in our
family -- a sweet person's birthday.  And I feel lucky to be 
alive and happy.

Have a loving your life day.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Snow has got it covered

 

The backyard celebrates winter
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022
💖

This painting went home today to a wonderful young woman
in the neighbourhood, and I am so happy for the painting.

I'm working on a number of paintings, all in the transitory
state that comes before the finished products are ready to 
reveal. So I'm happy to show you this, and it's perfect for
today.

We had as predicted about 7 1/2 inches of snow fall today.
For Torontonians, who have been spoiled this winter
with only one other light snowfall in January, this is a
big deal.  Steven and I took a walk tonight through the
winter wonderland, and loved every minute of it, until the
very end when freezing rain decided to join the party.
That stuff hurts when it hits your face!

Get your snow tires, and stay safe.

Have a loving your life day.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

A fabulous day

 

Ken's flowers
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 
Sold

What a wonderful day! I met with women in the neighbourhood
in the morning, then hurried home to paint, and see Steven on his
lunch break. 

My friend and I had a quick walk around the neighbourhood, then I 
drove to my printer.  He asked me to come back in 10 minutes, and 
I had my bangs cut at the hair salon next door, while I waited. That
felt ridiculously efficient. 

Home to paint some more, then to drop off flowers to our family, and
to see them for a short visit. Shopping, then more painting, then dinner
with Steven and we toasted one another to celebrate our monthaversary of
our wedding day. And we couldn't be happier.

This still life has a lot of punch for an 8 x 8 inch painting, and it makes
me happy.

Have a loving your life day.

Monday, January 23, 2023

Needing some pink -- 10 reasons to be happy

The feeling of pink
Acrylic on birch panel 
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019
(Available)

I drove to the art store today looking for a bright pink to add
touches of colour to one of my paintings, and they were almost
out of the colour -- very popular now.  Don't tell my friend who
hates pink Shh. 

The news in the world is grim. We need to work at happiness.

Because I not only talk to a friend at the art store, plus they had a jar of
the pink paint, I thought about 10 reasons to be happy.

10 Reasons to be happy

1. My art store had a jar of the pink I needed.

2. I had a beautiful walk through our winter landscape (snow
has been rare this winter so far) with a dear friend.

3. I got to talk to a former wonderful boss, who is planning 
some fabulous possible work for the spring with our wonderful team.

4. I had a great conversation with a friend from Instagram, who
is beyond creative.

5. I have more than one super book to read, and (hint) one is Awesome.

6.  Our dinner was delicious.

7. I worked on a couple of paintings today, and had fun. They aren't
ready for public view.

8. I have a sweet husband who loves me.

9. I'm planning my art shows for this year, and feel so excited (yes I'll
wear a mask.

10. It's time to go and watch a delightful TV show with our animal
family (two cats and a dog.)

Crazy happy. See it works!

Have a loving your life day.


Sunday, January 22, 2023

Magnificent Girl goes home

Ellis and Amila with the painting
Magnificent Girl
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023
 Photo 
Steven van Schaik © 2023
SOLD ♥ 

What a sweet afternoon. Ellis Berman, and her fiancé Amila
Samarakoon came to pick up the portrait of Ellis.  We had
a delightful visit, and our cats Fiona, and Monet, and dog 
Sally, could not get enough of our guests' attention.

Wishing you a very Happy Lunar New Year's Day, and 
a happy week.

Have a loving your life day.

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Perfect painting for today


It's a fine day sweetheart
Acrylic on cradled birch panel
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017
available

Okay.  Yes it is January and it was a grey day.  Yes, but such a 
lovely day.  We bought flowers at our favourite flower store,
and they treated us to a special made by their mother Chinese
New Year treat. Delicious. So sweet.

Then we went to our favourite little take out place and got
wraps for lunch, drove out to the lake in the setting no sun,
visited Kartik at the Rabba out there. And in the almost
total dark fed the geese and ducks on the beach. They were
hungry! 

We took a walk along the path in the cold and in the distance on
the lake saw the swans sleeping (in the water -- brave).  Their
shapes in the dark made me think of art ideas, how they are
far away, beautiful and sleeping, and soon they will wake 
up and take shape.  Happy thought, happy day.

Have a loving your life day.

Friday, January 20, 2023

Painting escape

Untitled (Work in Progress)
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

I've spent the day organizing -- going through photo files
looking for reference photos, and deleting as many photos
as possible. There are thousands of course.

But the escape for the day was working on a large landscape --
cloud scape that I started a while ago.  I know there are painters
who do 8 paintings a day, and I am not one of them. This is
most definitely a work in progress, and I like where it's going.
Thanks to the friends who make my day with their kind phone
conversations, their posts, and to the one friend who walks 
with me. 

Have a loving your life day.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Done I think

Magnificent girl
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

There are a lot of fallacies about art -- one is that a painting will
be easier to complete if it's smaller.  I haven't found that to be
true. Lol.  Here is what I think if my final version of the painting
of a super young woman who went to school across the street
from us as a girl. 

We are friends on Instagram, and she gave me permission a 
few weeks ago to do a portrait of her from a photo reference.
Here is the result.  And I think it's finished. Or is it the final
 version? I like it, and I hope she does. 

Have a loving your life day.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Start over

See what I mean?
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019
SOLD 

When you look at a painting you see the final result. That’s
how it should be. But despite all of the videos showing an artist’s
clean process, and straight, logical progress to the beloved painting,
it doesn’t always go that way.

Sometimes we artists start over two, maybe three times before we
get the result we want. And even then years later we can probably
see something we’d change.

I love the story of the Mona Lisa and how surprised art experts were
when they examined the painting with special equipment and saw that
Leonardo da Vinci had painted two or three versions,

I'm working on a couple of pieces that require more fine tuning.
Tonight I’m showing you a painting that took some work, and extra
thinking before it settled happily into the painting that sold in New
York City -- taking a view from one of my favourite parks stateside.

Have a loving your life day.

Have a loving your life day. 

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Fabulous art group model



Kayin (Art Group Sketch)
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

This is a drawing/painting from a 25 minute pose.  I realize
that one of the reasons I can paint so much faster with the
models at my art group, is that I love being with the other
artists -- who are all amazing.

I hope you enjoy this painting of Kayin, she was a treat to
work with.

Have a loving your life day.

Monday, January 16, 2023

On the easel

Untitled (Work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

My friend the artist, Flora Doehler, once highlighted how
single-minded I can be sometimes when she asked me if
I couldn't work on something else when a painting was 
bothering me. Like most artists Flora works on more than
one painting at a time.  I have not been like that.

But I am working on a number of paintings now from all
different areas of my art life.  Tonight I'm showing you one
work in progress.  This is a work I got back to a couple of
weeks ago, to deepen it a bit.  It's a life drawing sketch, and
I like it, but want it to be more finished in case it's in a 
show next month. I am having a good time changing it slightly.

Have a loving your life day.

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Fast Sunday sketch


Self portrait drawing 
marker on Fabriano paper
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches
Barbara Muir ©️ 2023

Woke up this morning eager to draw. So I drew this self portrait.
I've been thinking about how I want to proceed with portraits.
I loved the Skype portraits because they were the farthest thing
from formal. But I love formal portraits too. I am a huge fan of
Alistair Adams, and his portraits would give the Renaissance
painters a run for their money. His work is awesome. 

This drawing is a keep going drawing and I am happy with it.

Have a loving your life day.


Saturday, January 14, 2023

Art comes out of hiding


Listening across oceans
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

Today trying to find one painting, I plied through a stack of
paintings and found this portrait that I love of Henriette Sonne
a danish painter living in Norway, who I met at the Florence
Biennale.  It's a beautiful painting, and as I am back to 
round the clock painting mode it made me happy.  It is
one of a series of paintings I did through Skype.  Those
paintings got me a lot of attention, and TV coverage.

This series on Henriette was one group of many portraits I did
through Skype.  As I start to contemplate portraits again, I
realize that what I loved about Skype at the time was the 
intimacy and lack of formality. 

It's Saturday night, and I'm going to go and watch a movie,
after a happy day.

Have a loving your life day.

Friday, January 13, 2023

A day spent painting

Caitlin in the purple dress
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2008

I don't seem to have a better photo of this wonderful 
portrait of Caitlin in the purple dress that I did 
years ago in 2008.  Caitlin posed for me today, and
she was the first model to pose live in the studio since
COVID began. The painting is far from done, and you
will see it when it's ready! :-)

We both rapid tested before she came over, and we
had a delightful time.  I'm sorry this photo is so small.
There must be a bigger one, and if I find it, I'll put it
in, but it's Friday night, and Steven and I just 
bought, and gave one another our Christmas presents,
so I must go.

Have a loving your life day.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Lemons and friends

California dreaming
This of course is lemons
and clementines
Work almost finished
Acrylic on birch panel
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017

I don't know if this painting ever got a name -- so I just named it.
I will never forget flying to California the first time. We left in
such severe cold and snow that they had to de-ice the plane 
before we could take off.  And we arrived to see beautiful 
lemon trees with perfect lemons lining the street outside our
hotel. I hope our family and friends in California are okay.

I love the look of lemons.  Not a lemon pie fan, don't really
eat them, except as sliced lemons in hot lemon.  But they are
gorgeous, and we have a beautiful bowl of lemons on the kitchen
table all year round.  They are so joyous looking.  Right now we 
also have dozens of brilliant red, cadmium red light tulips, because
I am doing a painting with tulips. And the contrast is sublime.

Have a loving your life day.

P.S. If you're commenting on the blog, please don't comment as
Anonymous.  I can't publish your comments.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Work in progress

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

Is it harder to paint people you care about? I don't know the
answer to that.  I do know that I am very fond of this model --
an upbeat, creative young woman living a pretty happy life.

I've known her since she was a little girl, and now have most
of my conversations with her on Instagram.

The portrait is coming along, but still not quite finished.

Have a loving your life day. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Back with my art group

Art Group Sketch
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

I painted all day afternoon, and evening today. What a great
feeling.  The year is kicking off in a definite artistic light, and
I love that.  So tonight I headed to work with my art group 
again.  The model was a wonderful woman named Sally,
who could really hold a pose.  

I got dropped off at 7:30, and picked up at 8:30 p.m., so 
I might have had 35 - 40 minutes for this painting, because
cleaning up takes about 10 minutes, and the model took
a short break.  Being with my group was the best.  

There is nothing like painting from life. I wore my mask,
and got a painting. 

Have a loving your life day.  

Monday, January 9, 2023

A major highlight of 2022

India taking a selfie with her
portrait Stepping into the light.
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022
Painting:
Stepping into the light
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022

This painting was such a pleasure to do.  My friend the artist
Georgia Fullerton's daughter helped me do it, mainly without
Georgia's knowledge until it was done.  Then getting it to 
Georgia was the next big thing, but finally, we made it.

Schedules conflicting, and worry about COVID -- what with
one thing and another it took a few months to get it to Georgia.
And what a treat when we did visit, all rapid tested, and delivered
the painting.  Whew! Georgia loved it.  That is what an
artist -- this artist -- loves. So thank you India Morgan, and
Georgia Fullerton for making my day, and in many ways
my year in 2022.

Have a loving your life day.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

A tiny work in progress


Untitled (work in progress)
Acrylic on cradled birch panel
5 x 5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Here's a little painting I'm revising. I thought it was almost done. 
It may be the lighting when I photographed it, but it's much more
textured than I thought.  Yes I was trying for textured, and simplicity,
like some artists whose work I love. But I'll look at it again tomorrow.

 It's been a busy, happy weekend.  I hope it was good for you too.

More tomorrow.

Have a loving your life day.

Saturday, January 7, 2023

A happy highlight of 2022


One of the best
(Michael Gibson)
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2022

One of the paintings I'm so happy I created in 2022 is a portrait
of the wonderful portrait artist, Michael Gibson. Michael's 
drawings are beyond spectacular, and I wanted to honour him
with a portrait.

I began by drawing in charcoal, but if that once was, it no longer
is my medium. I love painting. So I used a photo capture from a
video of Michael talking, with his permission, and that was a
challenge.

I was over the moon happy when Michael said he liked it. 

Have a loving your life day.

Friday, January 6, 2023

The Past teaches the present



For David Lobenberg
Self portrait
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(I did this portrait for David Lobenberg's
June Paint Off in 2009)
You can read about it here

I put this portrait on my painting table today because I'm
working on the portrait I showed you the other day, and this
painting has the kind of lighting I like.  It hangs on the wall
above my husband's work desk, and he did not like me
moving it.  Which was moving in itself.

I have friends who will wriggle in their grammar books
reading that which at the beginning of a sentence.  But 
think of the dynamic conversations that can come out
of just one word. So back to the painting. For me, unless
I'm painting from a live subject, portraits are slow.

Today this portrait helped me with the new one.  And on
it goes. I hope you had a great day.  I did.

Have a loving your life day.

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Remembering

 

This calls for ice cream
Acrylic on birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014

Art does carry memory, as I know I've said before.  This was a 
good day today, and this painting and the memory of making
it seem perfect for today.  

I picked up reference photos for painting and drawing
from my printer this afternoon, carrying a plastic bag tucked inside
my coat because... it was raining again.  We will get so we think this
is normal for January, and then be shocked when it snows, like it
should.

I found a post I wrote about making a painting a day, every
day in January 2014.  This sweet painting of my son Sam was one
of the paintings.  I remember not thinking it was very good at
the time.  My son is very handsome, but looking at it now I like
the exuberance.  And I promise myself to keep my artistic
exuberance at a high level for the whole year.  

Have a loving your life day.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

A great day in 2023



Breakfast at the Skylight Diner, NYC
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
SOLD ♥ 

Things have been a bit rough in some ways for the past few days.
Luckily I'm good at happy, and today I sold this painting! Which
made me very happy indeed.

Happy New Year to you.  It is raining for the fourth day in Toronto.
For January 4, that's not normal at all. So the skies are grey, the
pansy plants on our front steps are growing -- very confused, and 
there is no snow.  It's almost warm out.  

This isn't right of course, but snow must be coming, and I am
determined to enjoy the warmth, and unusual feeling in January.
I know this weather is part of the whole erratic climate change
situation.  Not good.  But in some ways it is a treat.

Have a loving your life day.


Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Painting

Untitled
(Work in Progress)
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Jane French, an artist I follow on Instagram, is trying to do a loose style -- and 
paint a portrait in 100 minutes. I won't commit to a hundred 
minutes, but I do plan to paint some portraits.

This is what I worked on today.  Definitely a work in progress.
And so much fun.  The subject is a wonderful young woman.

Happy January 3 -- and here's to creativity.

Have a loving your life day.

Monday, January 2, 2023

A New Year and New Day

New Day
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(The painting I was finishing
when the Oprah Winfrey Show
producers called, and asked
me if I'd like to draw Oprah via Skype.
My answer? Yes!) 

I was thinking today that this is a new year and new day.  So many
cheerful things have happened, from artists I admire thanking me for
my kind comments, to seeing the swans again at the lake today.  The
swans have been gone for months -- it feels like at least six.  And 
Steven and I love them. Today -- on our last day of winter holiday
vacation I spotted the swans out in the lake, and called them.

A family down the beach with two little children in snowsuits watched
in what looked like disbelief as the swans swam toward me very
quickly.  It was awesome.  And then hissing, they pulled up out of the
water and let me feed them some of the bread that the top ornithologist
at Oxford University in England says is good for them. What a treat.

So I was looking for a painting by me that would speak about it being
a new day, and this work showed up -- called New Day.  And it was.
My whole life changed on the day I finished that painting, because
that was the day I got called by Oprah Winfrey's producer, and asked
to be on the show via Skype in May, 2009.  My thanks to my wonderful
model Shakoya, and to Oprah Winfrey, who I will be grateful to forever.

If I were a sign monitoring person (I'm not, but if I were), I'd say the
signs are great for a fabulous 2023.

Have a loving your life day.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Happy New Year!

My plan for 2023


In the middle of 2022 with a feeling of despair about the state
of the world threatening to creep in and take over any creative
thoughts left in my brain, I had this message printed on good
paper by my favourite printer, St. Clair Printing and Graphics.

Today I took the message off the shelf where it had settled
among some small paintings, and stuck it on the wall. This
is my message for today, and one of my mottos for 2023.

Have a loving your life day.