Looking back at the beginning of blogging

Neely
Acrylic on canvas
7 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 2008

I have been painting today, but the work still isn't ready to be shared. 
I am grateful to my blog for this image, showed in an exhibition curated
by the artist Carolyn Megill back in 2008 the year I started blogging,
who gave us the canvasses, because in her opinion, we were already
donating our talent.  

The painting is based on a photo by my son Christopher of his friend.
It looks like it was quite spectacular.   This artist's life! It is always
amazing.

Have a loving your life day!

Favourite practices

Journal Sketch
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Looking through my photos for drawings, I came upon this one that
I quite like for its simplicity.  I did not get to paint today, and that's
not great because I'm on deadline, but I will paint tomorrow.

I'm showing you this very simple drawing because I think one of my
best "practices" in recent years (similar to writing a daily blog), has
been to try to write in a journal for three pages, and if not for two
pages, with one drawing. Starting the day that way is very good for
me, because I almost always get a drawing I like, and then I can
move on to the rest of the day feeling more confident.

I hope you had a happy and artistic day.

Have a loving your life day.

 

Grateful for my connections via technology

 

Drawing My friend via Skype
Photo
2009

Today was a jam packed day so I was delighted to find a post about drawing
with Skype.  Skype -- the Zoom of the time of the photo, was an incredible
gift to my art career, and connected me with friends and students all over the 
world.

Looking through my really old blogs, I found this image from June
2009.  2009 was a pivotal year for me and my art.  I started drawing
using Skype images, when my son was teaching in Korea, and Skype was

our very cool method of communication. During our talks I'd start
drawing, and ultimately my Skype paintings got me the chance to draw
Oprah live via Skype.  That was thanks to Howard Wolinsky who 
encouraged me to do Skype paintings to feature in the Skype blog he
was writing at the time.

This photo is of me drawing my friend Melinda Esparza in Arizona
via Skype.  I got a lot of attention from being featured on the Oprah
show, and I was featured on City News in Toronto on the day of this photo.

The Oprah show, and other TV shows, and newspaper articles

also brought me more attention in the art world.  As I've told you before the
result was getting to exhibit my art in shows in New York City, Florence, Italy
and in the Louvre in Paris, France.  So yes I am incredibly grateful to technology.

Have a loving your life day. 

Another busy day, and I took peonies to a friend

 Stand Back for the Pie

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir ©

It is peony time again in our neighbourhood.  Another day of painting all
day, and not much going right.  But I went to my art group tonight, and
it was wonderful to paint from a model, and to see friends again.

When you look out from my back porch, at the tall trees forming a high
green curtain of waving leaves, or drive through the streets of 
Toronto, you understand why we find our cold winters so hard.
Some of the flowers that make me feel joyous right now are peonies. 
They are so beautiful.  My very generous next door neighbour lets
me pick hers, and they are magnificent.

Here's a favourite painting featuring peonies. In fact it won first prize
in a San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center show. So wonderful.

Have a loving your life day.

Painting all day

 

Self-portrait: The Happy Artist
acrylic on canvas
36 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir ©

I'm thinking doing some work on this, and putting it in the next Heliconian
exhibition, which is about play.  We do need some joy in this current
crazy world, and I think that might be the whole point of the show.  As in
-- For a few minutes lets take a break from the gruesome news, and create a 

place to experience delight.

Then as they say in the French TV show we're watching au boulot (back
to work) trying to help the planet).  

Have a helping one another day!

World Oceans Day -- a sad one

Cloud Magic

Acrylic on canvas

4 x 6 feet

Barbara Muir © 2018
(available --
email me at:
 barbara.muir@sympatico.ca)

On this World Oceans Day one of the bravest champions of the environment,

Greta Thunberg, has been captured by the Israeli military off the coast

of Gaza.  She was travelling on a ship called the Madleen, which was a
sailing ship, bringing food to the starving inhabitants of Gaza.

If it is wrong to believe people -- children and their families -- should not
starve to death, then there is something horribly wrong with our world.
And of course there is.

If you know my work, you know that I love the oceans, 
and try to spend some time near the Atlantic ocean in Nova
Scotia every year.  The Maritimes have been a major focus
of my work for quite awhile, because I love that part of
our country so much.

This is certainly one of my favourite paintings. And I was
looking forward to World Oceans Day, which is today. But it
turns out to be a very sad day indeed. We have to take care of
our oceans, and we aren’t at the moment. And we have
to take care of the world's people, and quit creating wars, and 
even further polluting the air and water.  We're at a crisis point
environmentally.

When you think about whether, or not to buy that plastic one-use
water bottle, or the plastic balloons that last forever for your
friend's birthday -- think of alternatives. We have to save the
oceans.  And please sign the petitions to set Greta and her fellow
activists for peace, free.  

Take care of our oceans! 

Visit Tanya Murdoch's beautiful show at the Heliconian Hall

Encounter (lemons)

Oil on canvas

11 x 14 inches

Tanya Murdoch © 2024

If you're in the Yorkville area of Toronto next Wednesday, June 11, be sure
to drop into the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., between4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
to see the work of the artist in residence, Tanya Murdoch in her solo show --
I am here and you are here and they are here and we are all together.

Tanya's work is excitingly varied, from beautiful still life, to portraits, to
life drawing paintings -- all of exceptional.  Check out her show, you'll be
glad you did.

Have a loving your life day!

Friday night time to rest

Slow down time

Charcoal on bond paper

Skype drawing

8 1/2 x 11 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

It's Friday night, and it's been a beautiful day.  The upstairs (portable) air conditioner

went in, so you know things are heating up. 

I haven't had time to think about what to write to you today, because among other

things I've been working on two paintings. I hope you have a wonderful

weekend.

Have a loving your life day! 

World Environment Day

In the right place at the right time

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016
SOLD ♥

I love what I said on this last year, and we are super tired in our house from a

day with a very early start. So here goes:

"What seems odd to me is that World Environment Day isn't one of
the most important days in the year.  More important than birthdays,
or Christmas, or any religious holiday.  Our environment, which means
our planet, is in big trouble.  So if we want to keep celebrating all of
the other vital holidays, maybe we should focus on fixing what we're
doing here first.  

It is a dear friend's birthday, and wanting to celebrate her is utmost in
my mind, and I do wish we could give all of us the gift of taking care
of the environment, ending wars, and stopping our foolish habits 
of valuing money above all."

I added this about blogging:

"What I like about blogging, is that it's a positive environment.  
 If you love what an artist does, you tell them!  I find the same
 is true with Instagram in the art community. Oh Boy! That is
revolutionary!  Because all over the world (except perhaps in Finland
-- which I hear has an amazing education system), parents are still
taught not to praise children too much!  

But here's what praise does.  Everything.  If people praise
your work, you feel empowered.  Seriously.  You feel like
getting back at it.  You feel like doing more.  It may
not directly affect how you're working, but it definitely
keeps you working.

In the lovely world of art blogs for some reason this is
understood through some secret unspoken code. And hurray
for that.  So go ahead praise an artist, your kid, your romantic
partner, your boss, whoever you possibly can.  

I'd add -- also give yourself a pat on the back.  Acknowledge
each time you've done something you're proud of and reward
yourself.  It doesn't have to be a trip to France (I am ready),
but a phone call to a friend can make your day."

Have a loving what you do day!

A small and happy painting

Tea in the gallery with Marcia

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(In the original I tried to include

a suggestion of Marcia.  Looking

at it later, I realized that the

figure part, and yellow background

weren't working.  I painted out the

figure and changed the background 

colour and like it much better.)

Today is a busy day in our house.  I'm working on several paintings, and
nothing is ready to show you yet. So scrolling through my blog I saw this
painting, which filled me with nostalgia for a time when we used to
see friends at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) on a regular basis. 
COVID changed that in so many ways.  First because the restaurant
was closed during lockdown, and then because people just didn't meet
to go out the way they used to do.

So yes it's time to get back to that tradition.  It's so joyous to wander 
around looking at beautiful art, and then to enjoy a tea or coffee in a 

pretty restaurant.

Have a loving your life day! 

I bought a beautiful book today

This is a photo of the beautiful cover of
Nikkolas Smith's new book

The History of We
Photo

Barbara Muir

I found out about Nikkolas Smith via Instagram, and started following him
there.  He's an amazing artist, and he wrote and illustrated this beautiful
book about how we human beings began.  It is wonderful.

It was a run around and get things done kind of day, and picking up
this fabulous book from my local book shop was a definite reward.

Thank you Nikkolas. 

Have a loving your life day.

 

The power of drawing

 

The breakfast phone call
8 1/2 x 11 inches
marker on bond paper
Barbara Muir © 2009

I came upon this drawing scrolling through my blog, and I love it. 
I love drawing partially because you can draw anywhere. 
I've drawn in restaurants, on trains, planes, and in my
home whenever the mood hits, or when what I'm looking at is
compelling.

This is a drawing of my son, and sixteen years later it
tugs at my heartstrings. How lovely it is to have children
hanging about in the kitchen. Plus I love the detail.

Have a loving what you do day.

Thinking about sleep

Studio cherries

Acrylic on cradled birch panel

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 

There's a lot of talk these days about life hacks -- things you can do to make your life
better, happier.  Everyone will agree that one thing that improves your life is sleep.  So
simple, but not really.  What do cherries have to do with the subject of sleep? 
Here's what I said in a former post:

"This post makes absolute sense today.  We have been through
a hard month, and sleep is more important than ever. Being warm and
affectionate without enough sleep is not easy.  So we all need to get enough
of the magic elixir -- a great night's rest.

Funny thing about love—it works better if you get enough sleep.
Hard challenge if you’re a parent of young children, or babies who wake
up during the night, or wake up early, when you’ve gone to bed late
for work.

In recent years I've definitely been a night owl. This started when I began
teaching a once a week evening course. To stay awake I drank coffee. Yes
it works, but to shut off my excited brain is a challenge.  I notice that if my 
sweetheart and I are well rested, we have a wonderful time together.
And if not -- we don't stop loving each other -- but arguments happen
that wouldn't happen if we got enough sleep.

One pretty simple answer I've discovered is that drinking pure, tart,
unsweetened cherry juice before bed helps me go to sleep.  Who gave
me that recommendation? I don't know, but thank you.  And if I also
eat cherries -- fresh in season, or frozen when we can't buy them here
in Toronto -- with some plain yogurt the effect is doubled, and I
sleep like a baby.  

My point is that if both of us sleep well we have a great time. And
I may have known that unconsciously forever, but now I know it for
a fact."

So my image tonight, as we move into June, is of a bowl of cherries. 

Wishing you a joyous day. Sleep well.

Thank you May!

Our garden in bloom (detail in progress)
 Acrylic on canvas
 30 x 30 inches
 Barbara Muir © 2024
SOLD 💖

Thank you to me for bringing a beautiful, cool spring our way.
It was a tough month. Steven and I were sick for three weeks
of it. But even so we couldn’t help but notice the beauty
developing all around us, and how incredibly gorgeous
Toronto is at this time of year.

Tonight I’m showing you a close-up of the painting I did last year

to celebrate this time and season. I love gardens in nature, even
though gardens are very complicated to paint. What a delight it was
to work on recording that beauty.

Tonight is movie night so that’s it for this month. Thank you so
much to everyone who helped us, and to the Heliconian Club,
and the Don Valley Art VClub for their help and support with
my work.

Have a loving your life day!

Looking back on my first year of blogging

These two photos are stages in the development of a portrait
I was painting on this day in 2008, the first year of my blog.

That was 17 years ago, and so many wonderful things
have happened because of my blog.

Here's what I said then:

"Here are two photos of the portrait of Madeline. One is taken a few days
before the other one, and in that time I completed the painting. The silver
is real silver leaf -- lovely stuff to work with, but be sure to glaze it, or it
 goes black.

Madeline, was the center of a triptych featuring Sean, her brother,
Madeline and Elizabeth. She was 10 when I began the work, and an
astonishingly sunny child. Her happy nature and the easy confidence
of a well loved little girl, made the painting almost effortless.

I love the portraits I did then."

Have a loving your life day.

Remembering three years ago

 

At this time three years ago I was in the Food For Thought virtual show
put on by the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center.

Here is some of my post from that time.That was a superb experience.

Upper left corner: Stand Back for the Pie 

Acrylic on canvas 24 x 24 inches Barbara Muir © 2013
(First place in the show)

Upper right corner: The King's Breakfast 
Acrylic on canvas 
24 x 24 inches Barbara Muir © 2015

Lower left corner: Good news Clementines
with Lemon friends
Acrylic on cradled birch panel
 8 x 8 inches Barbara Muir © 2019

I won First Place with my painting Stand Back For The Pie.
That was a big thrill. A very happy memory.

Have a loving your life day!

Spring pleasures goes home

 

Spring pleasures 
Acrylic ink and marker
on watercolour paper
7 x 9.5 inches
Barbara Muir  ©️ 2021

I was delighted today to deliver Spring pleasures to its new owners. It is
always wonderful to sell my art, and especially nice when the clients are

terrific people, and when they have bought before. I love painting pansies,
but this spring has been so busy that I haven't even bought any yet.

If the rain lets up it will have to be a gardening weekend.

I hope you had a great day.  It is raining again, which is good for the
very lush trees in our neighbourhood.

Have a loving your life day!

Back to my art group again!

Art Group Sketch -- Kwesi

Acrylic and acrylic ink

on canvas

18x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

It was wonderful tonight to get back to my art group for a quick

one hour.  I've been sick for a month and so missed seeing everyone.

The model Kwesi, was wonderful.  I painted over a painting of the
tulip fields in the Netherlands, which didn't work as a painting, but
m ade aninteresting background.

As I've explained before my husband drops me off at  my art group
at 7:30, and picks me up at 8:30.  That of course means that I don't
have a lot of timeto work as setting up takes about 10 minutes, cleaning
up and packing up another 10, and there were two 10 minute

breaks for the model.  So I think I got this painting sketch done
in 25 - 30 minutes. I love being with the people there.  They are

funny, and wonderful artists.

Kwesi was super, we had a good talk in one of the breaks.  He

is from Ghana, and hasn't been home in 7 years. His name in Ghanaian
means "born on Sunday," and I told him so was I. We were lucky
to have him model for us.  Thank you.

Have a loving your life day. 

Busy Monday, dreaming of Paris

The gorgeous restaurant

in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris 

Photo:

Barbara Muir ©

Sometimes the life of an artist is about cleaning up the studio, sorting things out,
making sure the house looks okay if people come over to buy, or pick up work.
To that end our wonderful friend Andrew came today to paint the front porch
furniture -- which now looks spectacular.

It's been a great day, lovely weather, and of course we're dreaming of Paris, and
this amazing restaurant in the middle of one of the most spectacular museums
in the world, the Musée D'Orsay.

Hope you had a wonderful day.

Have a loving your life day!

Tired and happy Sunday night

Untitled Warm up Sketch

for Doors Open Toronto
Charcoal on bond paper
16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

We had a great art day with the young family members. Super tired
 tonight. Here’s a sketch I used to warm up for the drawing and painting
live for Doors Open Toronto at the Heliconian Hall. 

That’s it for tonight. Have a great day tomorrow!

Have a loving your life day!

Making art at Doors Open at the Heliconian Hall

 

My model and Steven pose

with the portrait 

Alice on a good day

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

Busy day today drawing and painting at the Heliconian Hall, 35
Hazelton Avenue for Doors Open Toronto.  When my model 
couldn't make it, a young family member stepped in, and she
was wonderful.  We had so much fun.  

If I have time I'll post the drawing I started with.  We had two
hours, and then I did this painting in 10 minutes posing, 10
minutes breaking.  So maybe all in all we had 50 minutes.
It could go further, but right now it's on loan to the model.

The whole experience was great.  Thanks to the Heliconian volunteers
who organized it, and City of Toronto volunteers who helped, and 
of course, my husband who carried supplies, and my model.

Have a loving your life day!

Come out and see this beauty tomorrow at Doors Open Toronto

 Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac from the road

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

Tomorrow is Doors Open in Toronto, which means the Heliconian Hall, at 35
Hazelton Avenue, will be one of the places you can visit.  I have paintings in
the Passages show hanging in the Hall, and I will be working on one or 
two live portraits in the backroom of the Hall from 2 - 4 p.m.

I'd love to see you there if you want to come by. It's free and it's going to be
fun.

Have a loving your life day!

Paris on my mind

 

Steven and I on the Seine in Paris in 2022

on a boat cruise organized by the

curators of the show I was in in the
Louvre.

It is our Monthaversary of our first date. This photo seems perfect. We have
been so lucky since that first date at a restaurant on Yonge street where one
of my friends was a server. We got treated like royalty—why? Because we
were falling in love.

The past few weeks have been hard because we weren’t well, but we are fine
now. And tonight we can toast each other with our dinner milk. Funny eh? I
married a guy brought up as a dairy farmer. So of course we drink wine, and
never more than in Paris. But on a weekday in Toronto with no guests —
probably milk. And we toast with 3 clinks of our glasses which means I love you.

It is a work night. But we will still acknowledge that it’s our Monthaversary.
We’ve been together as a couple since that first date. Sooooo lucky.

Have a loving your life day! 

Inspiration

Sunset on Lake Ontario

Photo

Barbara Muir ©

Neighbours were talking yesterday about why Steven and I would choose to live
in Toronto. For me as an artist, the answer was happening in that moment as
it does in so many moments during the day.  Our street with gardens starting,
flowering trees, and a school playground with happy children is inspiring.

If you know my work, you know that I'm inspired by being near water.
I have been working on a painting, that is not of water, but of fields in
Nova Scotia, but I thought I would share this beautiful photo of
the lake at sunset in Toronto with you. 

We are so lucky to have Lake Ontario, and so many parks available to us
in Toronto. I hope you are very inspired wherever you live.

Have a loving your life day!

Love is always the answer

The Fruits of Love

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I was talking to a friend going through a hard time, and one of her friends
I've never met had said some really thoughtless, and unkind things to her.

I'm working on a new painting I like, and it is a happy, slow process.

Scrolling through my blogs I found this, and I like it. 

"I love this painting. It went home five years ago, and I still feel
happy every time I open my blog and see it. It just expresses such
exuberance and joy at living. Plus this kind of arrangement is 
normal in our house, especially in the colder months."

I think a lot of world problems (it is a scary time) could be solved
if the motivation was to be kind and loving to one another.  I know
that seems simplistic, but taking it from the personal (we need to
be kind to our friends), to the international (every country should be
working with every other country to stop climate change, and end
wars.), it makes sense to me.

We are just recovering from being quite ill for two weeks.  It
feels like a miracle to be normal. We wore our masks (now more
careful than ever), and took my car through a car wash! Wonderful. 
I have a lot of exciting things in the works so I'm delighted that I'm better.

Have a loving your life day 

Happy Victoria Day Canada

Fireworks

display seen from Rideau
Street Ottawa

Photo

Barbara Muir ©

A short one tonight.  Steven and I started planting our
garden today.  Then tonight we went to a nearby park in our
Toronto neighbourhood to watch the fireworks.  When that
seemed over, we drove around trying to find fireworks and
we did see some beautiful ones.  I don't have a photo from today,
so the image from Ottawa will have to do. It's Firecracker Day in
Canada, or Queen Victoria's birthday.  We both love firecrackers,
But boy was it cold!

Still the fireworks started before sundown this year -- probably
because children go back to school tomorrow after a long
holiday weekend. 

We enjoyed everything we saw.  Much more dramatic than this
image.

Have a loving your life day! 

Monet and Paris -- more memories

Thinking about Paris for the past few days.  We visited 
the city coming home on May 6, last year, so the 
desire to go back is strong right now. 
This is one of the photos I showed in a former blog.

My plan was to photograph the wonderful postcards I had

of my painting Dream Selfie in the Carrousel du Louvre show,
 in different venues around Paris -- giving my model Regan 
the Paris experience from a distance -- but I ended up being too 
busy in the moment to remember most of the time.  Here's one with Regan
metaphorically enjoying a glass of delicious Sancerre with us
 when we ate at Khao Thai, on rue Dauphine most evenings.
I did hand out many, many postcards of Dream Selfie both at
the Louvre and around Paris in my travels. Everyone loved them,
which made me super happy.

Because we arrived home from our last Paris trip just over a year ago, Paris
is on my mind. That trip left me flying high in a state of perpetual inexplicable
happiness, and no amount of bad news could bring me down for at least a 
month.  Now the memory seems to be seeping into me a year later, and once
again making me happy.

A fabulous Brooklyn artist and friend, Pete Sinjin, who I met last year as he
painted onthe banks of the Siene, posted some beautiful paintings by Monet that I'd 
never seen before, and that lead me to discover this post about our time in Paris. 

"Okay I confess, I have thought about Paris more than is
probably healthy since I landed back in Toronto.  I have
pined for it, longed for it and missed it.  Too much?
Go there for me this weekend, and report back.  Meanwhile
I'll give those of you who can't go a bit more exposure.

Clouds reflected in a bus window outside the Musée d'Orsay

Doing the happy people pose at

the Orangerie Museum in Paris.  This is

the museum specially made

to house Monet's waterlilies, and it

is beautiful.  I am a devoted fan of

Monet's.  I have seen his work in

Stuttgart, Germany -- where I fell

deeply in love with his poplars,

in New York City, where I rush to

see the Monet water lilies (also

magnificent before the museum closes, when

I arrive), in Ottawa, Canada -- last year

his bridges, and in Paris -- Oh Monet!

Steven at the Orangerie with the

beautiful Monet Waterlilies

More of Monet's Waterlilies at the Orangerie. 

Detail from Monet's Water Lilies

Is there more?  So much more.  But this is all for now.  I miss you Paris.  
Things have happened on this side of the Atlantic that make me want to catch
the first plane into CDG. But the truth is I'd feel that anyway except for my
wonderful family and friends, who keep me grounded and sane and happy
back here at home --in Canada."

Have a loving your life day!

Paris memory tripping

Sophie Ghuzel, Jean Philippe Grelaud 

and me
Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2024

It seems crazy to be in such deep Paris memories this month, but some places
live in your soul. Paris and escaping is a delightfully positive dream.

Another wonderful thing is gardening, and the gardening store we enjoy
was crammed today with people on a spring high you'd have to see to
believe -- smiling, laughing pushing carts of flowers, making decisions,
enjoying every moment.  We planted two planters in the front of the house,
and that's a nice start.

We also bought blue morning glories (one of my favourites), and white cleome,
which will be amazing.  Plus Jens the farmer from Marvellous Edibles at the
market sold me a bouquet that is exceptional.

Here's what I wrote last year about a wonderful time in Paris:

"We have been lucky to visit Paris 3 times in the past two years.
And even luckier to make friends along the way.  Jean Philippe
Grelaud manages a lovely art store near the hotel where we 
stay in Paris -- Maison de Haute Couleur Charvin. He is a
wonderful artist, and a treat to visit in the store, even when we're
just walking by to the restaurants we visit around the corner from
our hotel.

This past visit he asked us to come for aperitifs with him
and his wife Sophie Ghuzel.  Sophie is also an artist, and we had
so much fun visiting them, seeing their art, enjoying a
sweet wine, delicious pastries, and glazed strawberries.
Steven and I stumbled along in our awkward French, and
still had riveting conversations, lots of laughs and so much
fun.

Thank you Jean Philippe and Sophie."

Have a loving your life day.

 

Happy Birthday to my wonderful friend Miranda

Chu Okoli's photo of

Rolf Leemeijer, Miranda Brouwers,

Me and Chu at the gala dinner for the

2015 Florence Biennale

Chu Okoli © 2015

Miranda Brouwers, a wonderful artist, and I met at the 2015 Florence Biennale.

I can't believe it's almost 10 years (10 years this fall) that I've known Miranda, and whenever possible we talk once a week.  And we love talking to one another -- she is in the Netherlands, and I am in Toronto.

Here's what I wrote in a former post that seems perfect today:

"Miranda and I, and her husband Rolf, and the artist Chu Okoli (shown above)
met at the 2015 Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy.  It was such a wonderful
time, and all of us are still connected.  Miranda and I started the Happy People
Group at the Florence Biennale to keep the artists' spirits up during the long days
of sitting the10 day show.  And Miranda and I have been close friends ever since,

even though she lives in Breda, The Netherlands, and I live in Toronto, Canada.  

I so look forward to our weekly calls, and I'm always happy about the
conversation. Happiest of birthdays to my dear friend.  And love to all of
the family."

Have a loving your life day. 

A good idea

View of clouds in Paris

walking along the Seine

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2022

I started a painting today, and I also found this photo and the suggestion
that it would make a good painting! It would. So much has happened
in the year since we got back from our trip to Paris.  But my joy
at the thought of our time there hasn't diminished.  And my desire
to return is strong.  

I like this photo of Paris by the Seine, and it seems right for
tonight. And I think I should do a painting of this some day.
I started a painting of the Canadian countryside on the way
to Nova Scotia today, and I'm looking forward to working on it.
I know I keep talking about Paris that’s what love is like. I hope
you get to go there someday if you haven’t already. Meanwhile
I recommend the French cop shows on Britbox.

Have a loving your life day!

To continue with pink

Pink in the city

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

When we were driving home tonight from picking up some essential
groceries I spotted this view. It’s happening. The trees that are in this
painting are at their full flower right now-- so beautiful.

I immediately thought that I need to rush out, and take some photographs
of this beauty while it lasts. I know we only have a few days, which doesn’t
seem fair, but it is the reality. But I was too tired. Maybe tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I’m so happy that I cared enough about that glorious view to
create this painting.

Have a loving your life day!

Pink light

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 36 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

People who know me know that clouds are some of my favourite things.  Each summer
we drive across Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to our little 
100+ year old school house near Pugwash, Nova Scotia.  The drive itself is
magnificent, and when we get to Nova Scotia the clouds we see are so spectacular.
In certain places you can see for miles and miles, with gorgeous clouds filling
the sky. This painting is in the Passages show on for the month of May at the
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. 

I hope you had a great day.  It rained a bit here, which was just what the gardene ordered.

Have a loving your life day!