Sunday, February 16, 2025

I am still incredibly grateful to Skype

Look at this
Acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir © 2011
(Christopher my son, shown
here with his wife Megan,
who was his girlfriend then.
from a painting created during my
Skype painting series.
24 x 24 inches
Skype was the first technology that
let me see family when they were
far away. In this painting they were
teaching in Korea.)

Today as it is Valentine's weekend for me and my sweetheart, Steven,
I'm going to post a piece I wrote last year that is just as important this
year.

"None of what happened in the past 16+ years of my art career would have
happened without Skype.  I started using Skype to talk to my son in Korea.
He and his girlfriend (now wife) worked teaching in Seoul, Korea for a year. 

I loved not only the ability to see my son and his girlfriend from across a
14 hour time difference, but I also like the distortion, and the breaking
up of the image when the connection wasn't working at its best. It made
for an interesting portrait dynamic, and I painted a few portraits based
on our conversations.

Ultimately working with Skype images got me interviewed by the
amazing writer and photographer, Howard Wolinsky, who was
writing a Skype blog at the time.  His video interview got me 
noticed by Oprah Winfrey's people, and on the Oprah Winfrey show
via Skype drawing wonderful Oprah Winfrey herself.

And all of that lead to art shows all over the U.S. and Europe. 
In this Month of Love I honour how love can power exciting
changes in our lives."

Have a loving your life day! 

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Saturday night -- movie night, wonderful dinner with family -- Happy Valentine's weekend

 

An Amaryllis in the kitchen -- with tulips
trying to get in the picture
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2025

It is movie night.  Had a super dinner tonight with family. So much fun.
And now we're going to watch a movie.  So like most Saturdays I won't
have much to say here.

Sending you this beautiful photo of an Amaryllis blooming in our kitchen.  A 
fond memory from the start of the year, and flowers for you on Valentine's 
weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

Friday, February 14, 2025

Happy Valentine's Day!



I hope you had a great day.  Very busy over here, and lots of love all day.

Here's what I said in a former post about the day, which works today too:

"In our house Valentine's Day is huge.  We decorate, we
talk about our favorite food, we eat more chocolate
than is at all wise, and in recent years I do a painting
for my own cards.  I love the idea of celebrating love.
That force for good is an incredible power, and I
can't thank my family and friends who love me enough
for the kindness, encouragement and wonder they've
brought into my life. And I thank them for giving me
the pleasure of loving them."

Thank you for your sweet support.  You all mean the
world to me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a loving your life day!

 

Thursday, February 13, 2025

A snow day in Toronto

Snowy day in Toronto
iPad drawing
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019

This was the most important topic in Toronto today -- the snow.  My car is in a snowbank,
and I tried to dig it out, unsuccessfully.  So I concentrated on the sidewalk and shared
driveway.  Our neighbours on the other side of our semi shovel our sidewalk, and we
shovel theirs.  

The snow, as difficult as it is (two cars cannot drive on our street at the same time at the
moment), is a nice distraction from world news.  And the children are very happy.
No school.

Have a loving your life day. 

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Sitting the Drawing From Life opening and planning

Spring Table
(work in progress. I am revamping this.)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir © 2007

I had a wonderful time sitting the 2025 Drawing from Life second opening
today at the Heliconian Club.  I met many great artists, and really got to
appreciate the work.  It was enlightening.

Now I'm thinking about the Vernal Equinox show, and revitalizing some
of my favourite spring paintings to add and renew them. We'll see.

Happy Valentine's Week.

Have a loving your life day. 

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

The love of flowers in the Month of Love

 

Pegann's flowers
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 
(Pegann was a wonderful woman
who used to sell flowers at the
Brickworks Market in Toronto.
We haven't seen her for a
few years.  I hope she's well.)

One of our longstanding ways to spend late Saturday morning, is to go to the
Brickworks Market in Toronto.  Our favourite farmer, who we buy eggs,
quiche, baked goods, the most delicious pies I've ever eaten in my whole
life and flowers from (in season) takes our order online, and then gives it to
us with a big smile on our arrival.

He is away now until mid-March, so that habit is not happening.  Pegann,
who sold beautiful flowers quit coming to the Brickworks market a number
of years ago, and we miss her. 

But in The Month of Love I want to honour everyone who makes our lives
happy.  Jens and Ayse from Marvellous Edibles Farm are wonderful, and 
we look forward so much to seeing Jens again at the market.

Flowers, as I have told my friends, are one of my addictions. (The other
two are coffee and love.)

Have a loving your life day.

Monday, February 10, 2025

Thinking about love, and why my life is happy

The Blue Sweater
acrylic on canvas
24" x 36"
Barbara Muir © 
(one of the most
important teachers
in my life has been
my sister Sally. This
portrait was created
based on a black and white
wonderful portrait by
my father.)

Thinking about Valentine's day (and yes we're in Valentine's week), I am happy 
I did this painting of my wonderful sister.  We had a great conversation today.
She lives on the other side of this country (Canada). 

Sally is a family therapist.  Thanks to her brilliant therapy partner when she
was in Toronto, I have a very happy life, and a happy marriage.  

Also Sally is funny and compassionate, and beyond kind. I think she probably
exemplifies a loving person as much as anyone in my life.  Such a pleasure
to talk to her.

Have a loving your life day. 

Sunday, February 9, 2025

To counter scary negativity -- Mike Dooley's whoop exercise

Flowers at twilight
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2023

It is Sunday, and we had a fabulous day.  We went looking for a projector to buy
for me.  The store guys were sweet, but the only projector they had cost more than
a thousand dollars.  So we went and got our weekend wraps, then drove to the lake
(I had to see Lake Ontario today), and ate our wraps looking at that beautiful water.
It was slate grey with some blue, but still wonderful.

Tonight we had a great dinner at home, and watched our favourite show.  It was
a really sweet weekend.

I came upon this exercise in my blog that I learned from Mike Dooley, and ended
up teaching to my Positive Psych classes at a local community college.  It does seem
silly, but it works. Since I learned it I have had an even more wonderful life than I was
already having.  True.  I am lucky.  And we have hard things in our lives. But
knowing how to return to joy is a quite lovely skill.  And it's helpful to those
around you too.  I don't mean you don't allow grief, sorrow, disappointment.
If you pay attention to the news these days, those can be a constant.  I mean
you can sometimes return to being happy.  Here's the exercise -- My husband
and I just tried it -- it does make you feel good!

"Stand up (if you can), put your arms in the air, whoop
like you just had the best news in your whole life,
cover your face because you're so excited you can't
hold your joy in, whoop again with your hands over
your head, put your hands on your chest, shake your
head because you're so astounded with joy, and say
out loud, "You won't believe what's happened." 
As I said I learned this from Mike Dooley at Tut.com 
and it is amazing what happens if you try this little
exercise once every so often.  Huge things happen,
wonderful things happen -- that's why I'm sharing it
with you.  (I got on the Oprah Winfrey show, invited
to show in Florence, Paris, New York!) My life has absolutely
taken off into a level of joy I couldn't have imagined since
I learned to do this.  No.  I'm not crazy, I'm one of the sanest
people you 
know.  And no my life isn't perfect.  People in my
family and intimate circle have serious health issues,
I do experience deep sorrow and loss, and even so...
Give it a try."

Have a loving your life day! 

Saturday, February 8, 2025

I do believe in love -- and this is Valentine's week (Yes!)

Time for love
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir ©

It's Saturday night and movie night, so I will be reposting some thoughts
from another year.  We had a great day today making art with young people,
listening to opera!, singing, dancing -- the best.  So here are my thoughts for
this Valentine's week.  (I said Happy Valentine's week to a woman on the cash
at our local supermarket, and she said, "It's Not Valentine's week, that's next
week."  I told her that my husband and I consider it Valentine's week now. She
was not pleased.)

"Coronavirus, horrific climate change, world leaders more concerned with
 pleasing billionaires than taking care of their citizens, and narcissistic, silly
 and irrational people dominating the news.  There is still love, and maybe
if we can make our passion for caring about each other dominate our choices
we can solve some of these giant problems.

I feel sorry for people who say they don't like Valentine's Day.  Why?  To say
the day is commercial? Make your own cards then, or like my mother used to
do make chocolate fudge for your children, or your love.  My husband and
I have just started decorating the house -- putting up the banners of hearts, and
Valentine's decorations we've saved for years.

Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate.  Celebrate whatever love you have.  Your cat,
your friends, your family near and far.  That love really is the answer.

And your kindness and love for me that you show me all year 'round helps me
to think of the world as a space of possibility, and affection, to feel like miracles
can happen.  A little bird told me."

Have a spreading the love day! 

Friday, February 7, 2025

News Flash -- narcissistic power hungry people don't love themselves. Loving yourself matters!

 

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.
David is a fabulous portrait artist. I
am working on a restaurant scene
painting for a show today.)

It's Friday night and it's been a busy day -- meetings, and endless errands, some
painting on a work that's coming along.  Because among other things for Steven and
me February is the Month of Love, it seems like a good idea to talk about loving
yourself.  We would have a much happier, more peaceful world now if more 
people knew that the core of love is understanding and appreciating yourself. 

My post from this day last year talked about this -- which makes sense.  So
let's start there:

"I've been thinking a lot about the importance of loving
yourself.  A very hard thing for some people to do.  When
I taught Positive Psych for 10 years to pre-health students, hoping to
improve their grades so that they could go on to study 
in medicine, either as nurses or doctors -- it was so exciting
to get constant proof that learning how to love, and accept
themselves sent students' marks skyrocketing. Their 
averages were consistently high, and between 75% and
95% of students depending on the year finished their
college courses in two years, and went on to university.

Forgive me for a long post again tonight.  Loving yourself
is the beginning of a life of love, and vital to highlight
in the Month of Love.  Here are some self portraits of me,
and a post from 2022 reposted from 2018.  We thought
COVID had lasted a long time in 2022  Three of my friends
just got it and it's 2024. (This year two of my friends just got
it, and it's 2025) Luckily I have not been with them.
I wish them a fast recovery

"A fact of a portrait artist's life is that if there is no one else
available to paint, you always have you, so of course I've 
painted and drawn myself many times. 

When I taught Positive Psych one of the first things we said
to students was, "if you don't know yourself, you won't love 
yourself, and if you don't love yourself, you can't love anyone else,
and you won't be happy."

This was not a popular idea when I was growing up -- loving 
yourself smacked of narcissism.  But in fact nothing could be 
further from the truth. If we love and accept ourselves, the world 
is less about us, and more about the people we love.  It's when we 
don't love ourselves that we go around hurting other people, don't end up
doing what we love, and generally don't enjoy our lives.
I credit Louise Hay, excellent therapy and Frank Daley, who
helping me get that concept, and then of course the constant work of 
quieting the ever present inner critic to keep the idea going. 

I know I'm lucky.  I love my life, my work, my family, my friends."
 
Have a loving yourself and your world day.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Artists get your dream visions down

Across the Highway
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2016

I found this note I wrote for a blog before COVID I think, and thought I'd share some
of it tonight:

"Dear artist friends, get your dream visions down.  This beautiful view across
the street at our school house is what we dream about.  (See the image above).
We dream about walking across the street from our little school house at this
time of night, late, late and seeing the stars, the entire Milky Way clear as can be.  

We dream of going to the beach, we think about it night and day, and
 feel so lucky that we have had this joyous experience year after
year.  The only year since we bought the school house just over 20
years ago that we didn’t go, was the year I broke my ankle. The year
I tore my meniscus in my knee — our wonderful friends down the road, not only
cleaned up the school house before our arrival, they brought over a
double bed and put it on the main floor, because they thought it would
be too hard for me to climb the stairs to the second floor to go to bed.

But this year as we will say over and over to one another, is different.
And this year we are focusing on all that is wonderful both here at
home, and where we can get too.  Ottawa was beautiful, the drive
was beautiful, and our street right here in Toronto is lovely. 

The dog and cats are waiting for me to feed them their night snacks.  Please
enjoy wherever you are, and if you’re in the Maritimes and drive
by our school house on Highway 6, say hello to the building for
us."

We did miss going one other year during COVID (yes I know it's still
during COVID), when we were not allowed to enter the province of
Nova Scotia. That was hard. And I still have all of the same dreams.
Plus the dog and two cats are waiting for me to feed them their night
snacks. Lol.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

A very happy art visit

 

Sweet Sunlight and Coffee
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023
SOLD ♥ 

Today I had such a super visit with the collectors who bought this painting. 
Their house is beautiful, and they took me around to see all of their art.
I was thrilled.  They have just superb taste, so to be included in that 
collection was a real honour.

Happy Light Cherrywood
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024
SOLD ♥ 

The couple commissioned this second painting in December, 2024.  The first painting
needed a companion on the wall, and my work made sense to them.  Such an incredible 
compliment.

So here they are together on the wall in their new happy home.  Thank you so much
my wonderful collectors.  I loved our visit, your home and your art. 


There is no happier feeling for this artist than to create work that people love. 
The best.

Have a loving your life day!


Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Painting all day and the pleasure of my art group

 

Art Group Sketch
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

A great day today -- coffee with neighbourhood friends, then painting all day.
Tonight I got this happy sketch painting in 40 minutes with my art group --
a small group of excellent artists.

Super tired tonight.  I do reuse, and reuse my canvasses for these sketches.
So yes there is a lot of texture.  Off to bed.  Have a great day tomorrow.

Have a loving your life day.

Monday, February 3, 2025

A toast to 4,000 blogs. A big number -- 4001 today

 

Me in the Porcelain Museum in
Florence, Italy pointing
to some cream jugs that were my 
favourite in 2009 when I showed
my work for the first time in the
Florence Biennale
Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2009

Yesterday I was busy with family, so I almost forgot that it was the day of my 4,000th
blog. I know that my blogs are sometimes just a run down of the day's activities --
kind of like a grocery list.  But in my artistic life they've had a major impact.
And I am so grateful for that.

What's happened since I started blogging?  Okay -- well I got to
be on the Oprah Winfrey show drawing Oprah live via Skype.  That
was big news. I was in the Florence Biennale twice -- in 2009, and 2015 -- an
amazing experience.  I met so many wonderful people there. 

I've shown in the Carousel du Louvre show 3 times, in the Louvre Museum in
Paris France.  I've exhibited in New York City 10 times.  I've met people, and
am friends with people all over the world through both my blog, and 
participating in international art exhibitions. 

So there's a start.  It's been a great time.  And even though blogging is not
as popular as it once was, I will keep on blogging.  So many wonderful
things happen because I do.

Thank you to everyone I've met on my blog journey, and to my husband,
Steven van Schaik for going with me to these exciting events and for
toasting me with champagne tonight.  4,000! (oops 4001).

Have a loving your life day!

Sunday, February 2, 2025

4,000 Blogs! And a day filled with love in The Month of Love

True love means 
springtime in any weather
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
© Barbara Muir 

I almost forgot to check!  Hey I've published 4,000 blogs! A wonderful
day today making art, and dancing with our young family members.
The best.  I'm super tired right now, so here's what I said in a former post 
slightly revised about this month.

"Steven, my husband and I are big fans of February, the Month
of Love. One way to take the chill off this, at the moment, very cold 
month (-3 Celsius/ 26 Fahrenheit) is to recognize, and be thankful
for all of the love in our lives 
from our family and friends. 
And I think we are very lucky.

This Valentine painting shows a little bird, and that makes it
right as a Valentine for Steven because he loves birds so much.
At the moment our Christmas tree is wired to the fence and full
of bird seed, and the birds love it.  We do have to clap when we
let the dog out so she won't catch any non suspecting bird. But
she's 12 and losing her eyesight, so they are pretty safe."

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Have a loving your life day!

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Happy Month of Love

Lovebird acting as a banner.
The original (on the left) is 
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

January had its hard moments with a family member going through
treatments, but also so much fun with openings and birthdays.
World news being quite awful I am so happy to be in the Month of Love.
I do love the first day of the Month of Love. And this has been a 
fabulous day -- an opening at the Heliconian Club of the Drawing from Life
show on for the month of February. I had so many great conversations
there.  So much fun.  An amazing life drawing show.

A few years ago, I decided that I would start thinking about
February as the Month of Love, not just the month for Valentine's
Day, but for a whole month of hearts, which I love, flowers and
happy thoughts when possible.  That can be a challenge. 

I ordered cards from my wonderful printer who has gone to Hong Kong
for a month to visit his brother, and I sold some of the cards at
the opening today. 

Meanwhile spread love wherever, and whenever you can. People
need love and affection. Your posts and work make me happy, and
help make me love my life, even when the news is grim. Thank you.

Have a loving your life day.


 

Friday, January 31, 2025

In a world that gets stranger by the minute -- I thank you for my happiness!

 

End of day at the prettiest house
This was the early stage of the work
Acrylic on birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
(This house -- like a white clapboard farm house,
was the prettiest house in the 
neighbourhood.  Unfortunately it
was sold to buyers who knocked it
down and built a big box of a house.
Sad. Still I'm happy I painted it
while it was around, and that the work sold!)

 10 Reasons To Be Happy 


"I've used the exercise 10 Reasons to be Happy which
I made up, but it may not be original, to great effect
when teaching.  At the start of a class I'd pick 10 people to
go the front and start a sentence with, "I'm happy
because", and then say why.  I explain that the
reason could be very small -- as in, "I'm happy
because there was enough salt for my eggs this
morning."  Invariably the people who came to the front
of the class, said their reasons, and let the class
clap for them -- got happier. It sounds like psychobabble magic,
but in fact it's the same principle as blogging and
showing work for artists, and as writing in a journal
and then reading it aloud to friends or people
in a writing group.  It gives people a voice.

Voice in art and in the world matters.  Getting a
chance to think about what makes you happy,
shifts your focus to the positive, and as I've told
you before, the former happiness teacher at Harvard
University, Shawn Achor, says that when we are
happy we think not only more creatively, but
better.  Here's today's list:

1. My wonderful husband.
2. Our family -- Christopher, Megan, Sam, Emily, 
Alice, Madeleine and James.
2. Our animals -- Sally, Fiona and Monet
3. My friends both here in Toronto, and around the world
through the art world.
4. My life as an artist
5. Our walks at Lake Ontario
6. Our neighbourhood
7. Our city -- I love Toronto.
8. My good health.
9. The art groups I belong to -- The Heliconian, and The Don Valley Art Club.
10.You! Thank you for everything!!!
Have a thinking-of-ten-reasons-to-be-happy day!

Thursday, January 30, 2025

The best thing about International shows -- wonderful friendships!

 

Journal Sketch
of my friend Miranda Brouwers
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

I spent the day painting today.  Last night I watched a podcast (with visuals)
by Nicholas Wilton, and it was just perfect for me as I paint for my solo
show here in Toronto in April. I had delightful conversations with fellow
artists today, and worked on two different paintings while I did.

This post from last year seems perfect for tonight.

"If you ever get the chance to show in International shows,
I hope you do it.  Of course there is so much to learn -- how
to navigate, what to send, how to manage shipping, where
to stay.  And the most wonderful part of the whole experience
is the friendships you make that last.

This is a really rough, quick sketch of one of those friends
for me -- Miranda Brouwers -- an amazing artist, and 
fabulous friend.  We met in Florence Italy at the 2015 
Florence Biennale, and formed what we called The Happy
People group, to cheer other artists on through the 10 days
of exhibiting.

We showed together again at the Louvre in 2016. And have
kept in constant touch ever since. Miranda is currently
devoting her work to beautiful cards, T-shirts, invitations,
and art that helps people celebrate the important moments
in their lives. I will do a more refined drawing another time.
Meanwhile have fun Miranda."

That says it all.  And every time we talk on the phone (once
a week most of the time -- the call starts with both of us laughing.
Such a treat!

Have a loving your life day.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Valentine cards

 

My Love bird Valentine's cards.
(I'll try and get a better photo tomorrow
I'll be selling them for $20 Canadian for 4.
All four will be in every pack with envelopes)
The inside message in all 4 cards is -- (drum roll) --
Happy Valentine's Day

Left to right:
Robin's Message of Love,  The Lovebird, 
True love means springtime in any weather, and 
Happy Valentine's Day from the Bluebird
© Barbara Muir

Life is fairly hectic.  But there were some nice notes today.  I have
the dates for my openings/receptions in April.  (The snow today would
fool you into thinking that's far off.)  Not true.  I will share those soon.

So I was painting, thinking, planning -- then I picked up these sweet
Valentine's cards from my printer, and felt both happy (because
I'm going to sell them in packs of 4, and happy because they are
so sweet.

Have a loving your life day!

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Working on being happy -- a full time job!

Fruit singing in a footed bowl 
Acrylic on birch panel
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 

This painting seems appropriate for tonight's blog.  I am as busy as it seems I
always am at this time of year, so here's some thoughts on happiness from a
while back.  Incidentally one of my phone calls today was with a 
magnificent artist who is struggling with COVID.  She says that she and her
husband relaxed about wearing masks going out in public and bam.  So it's
not gone.  

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 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.
(Actually today (January 28, 2025) it was quite sunny for a while in
Toronto, and then a lot of snow.) 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.
(In the case of COVID, if you have all of your vaccines, and
wear a mask in public you may avoid it.)  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, and to have the freedom to create."

Today I managed to get two coats of gesso onto a good size canvas.
And I sorted through my images and found some things
I would love to paint.  Here's to happiness!

Have a loving your life day. 

Monday, January 27, 2025

Drawing from Life 2025

 

Modelling in Paris
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

This is one of the paintings I'm showing in the Drawing from Life exhibition on at the
Heliconian Club this month.  The opening is Saturday, February 1, from 2 - 5 p.m.
I painted the initial painting at my Tuesday night art club meeting for the Don Valley Art Club.
On art group nights I have exactly an hour from the time my husband,
Steven drops me off, until he picks me up.  So with set up, and the group's 10 minute 
break, and clean up, I have about 30 -- 35 minutes to get a portrait. The other painters
are so stimulating, that it sometimes works out. Then when I go home, if I'm pleased 
with the painting, I keep on working on it as I did with this painting.

But when I went to make the image stronger for the show the subject looked so
lonely. I had photos of a beautiful garden we discovered in Paris, and I
decided to change her location and let her be in Paris.

Have a loving your life day.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Memories of last year with a loved one in hospital

Dynamic duo
Pencil sketch on letter paper
8.5 x 11inches
Aaron Chan © 2021

Last year at this time a beloved family member was in hospital.
So many hours were spent trying to keep spirits up, and 
be supportive.  One day I met this amazing artist.  What a 
treat -- Aron Chan. Here's how I described things last year:

"During our long days at the hospital with our family member,
we were so lucky to meet some amazing people who worked in
the ward we were visiting.  One person, Aaron Chan stands out 
because in a brief conversation we learned that we were both 
artists, and he showed me his super drawings of his health care
colleagues. He asks permission to take quick photos of friends
at work for reference.

He says, "There's no way I would be able to get my coworkers
to stay still, with their heavy workload."

Have a loving your life day. 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Movie night and life lessons

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 today. And yes
this polyptych (four canvasses) is
available if you need a cheerful work
for a big wall.)

We enjoyed an early very happy birthday party for a family member today— so fun.
This is movie night for me and Steven. I hope we can find a good, funny movie
-- so necessary as a break in the current world.

My blog from last year on this date had some great pieces of advice. I think they
still hold true this year so I may share them.

Artistically, I’m getting three pieces ready to be delivered for a show on Monday
morning. I’ll let you know the details of the openings for that on Monday.

"Some advice and lessons I've learned

#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 suggestions are not in any important order. Tidy the kitchen
before you go to bed, so that there 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 taught me, and the teachers on
his team, and all of our classes to love ourselves.  He said you can't
truly love another until you love yourself.  That was and is pretty radical
teaching for college classes, but boy did it ever work. 

Compared to the statistics for North American college students,
(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. (Easier to follow
this one on a walk, than in life when we don't always have
control of where things are going.)

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

Have a loving your life day.

Friday, January 24, 2025

Delightful coffee with a good friend

 

Around the table
Charcoal on paper
Jennifer Hinrichs ©

I had coffee today with a good friend who is an amazing artist.  If you don't know the
work of Jennifer Hinrichs, check it out.  We talked about art, our families and life,
and had so much fun.

I had my first show ever with Jennifer in her house.  We were such innocents that we
thought we'd be flooded with visitors and sales, with hardly any promotion. So we
learned a lot, and we kept exhibiting, and kept learning of course.  Jennifer has worked
as a magazine designer, illustrator, painter, and art instructor.  She is awesome.

Bonus I saw two more friends in the supermarket where I buy my groceries.

I hope you had a great day. Happy Weekend!

Have a loving your life day.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

How I make the day go well

 


Journal Sketch
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

For the next few months it looks like my main activity will be painting.
I'm getting work ready for a show that's due Monday, January 27, and
then beginning new work for a solo show in April.  So I do need
to go back to practices that help me.  I've learned them from all kinds
of people here, in my own life, on Instagram and YouTube, and in
classes I taught (that's right teachers learn from their students too.)

1.  Making a list of six things I want to accomplish in the day
really helps me to get them done.

2. If I write 2 - 3 pages in a journal, and do a sketch in my journal
I feel like the day has begun well.

3. Drinking a lot of coffee. Minimum 3, maximum 5.

4. Taking time to read.

5. Looking at what other people are doing creatively on Instagram, 
and YouTube.

6. Going into the studio, turning on music I like, and painting.


All of that happened today, so it was a great day.  And to cap it off
we went to Robbie Burns night at the Caledonian with friends, had
a great meal, listened to the bagpipes, watched highland dancers,
and had so much fun. 

Have a loving your life day.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Happy Monthaversary to my wonderful husband

 

Irises celebrate
Photo
Barbara Muir © 

Somehow I wrote my blog, and it disappeared.  Okay!
Here's what I wrote last year on this day:

"This is a special day for us, because this is the date that we celebrate
every month -- the day of our first date. 

A friend asked me what we did on our first date.
The answer is we went out to dinner at a restaurant on Yonge
Street south of St. Clair that's no longer there. It featured a D.J.
and dancing.  

A friend of mine worked as a server there, and she brought us Singapore
 Slings -- which I don't think we ever had again.  

Steven walked me home. And we have been "dating" ever since. 
We married 11 months after our first date, and the wedding
Monthaversary is in two days on the 24th.

The photo today is of beautiful irises on the kitchen table."
And yes there are irises on the kitchen table today.
Have a loving your life day. 

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!