Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Jumping forward in time


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.)

 I picked up a reference piece from my printer today, and he told me in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't get it done on time.  I said I would. We'll see.  We both laughed because we have a really good friendship. Our clocks jumped ahead by one hour on Sunday morning at 2 o'clock. It's funny how we all love it when we gain an extra hour in the fall, but don't like losing one in the spring. I'm putting this favourite painting on tonight, because I miss Paris.  And I notice, that I can adjust to the 5 hour time difference pretty well when I'm there.

Here are my thoughts from a former blog slightly edited:

"At 2 in the morning on Sundy we moved into Daylight Saving Time.
Luckily for us we started moving into the new time 
on Saturday -- setting all of our clocks, and machines that
would allow it ahead by an hour. So it was less traumatic
Monday, 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."

2 comments:

Evelyn Oldroyd - painter said...

Did the model get to Paris? Beautiful paonting❣️❣️❣️. And I hope you get the next painting done in time 😀🤗❣️❣️❣️

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Evelyn,

I'm not sure. She had a baby, and that can slow down your travel plans. We are still in
COVID, so I haven't seen her. But I hope so.

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!