One year ago in Paris!

 

Pete Sinjin and me beside the river

Seine in Paris one year ago. It was so

wonderful to meet him, and to realize that we

already had a connection. Check out his work.

It's amazing.

Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2024

I feel so lucky in my life in general, because wonderful things like this happen.

Steven and I were walking along the Seine in Paris last year, and an artist (Pete

Sinjin in the photo) was measuring with his paint brush in the air the scene

he was painting.  I started to laugh because I don't know how to do that measuring
thing, and I don't do it. So we started to talk in our best effort at French, until Pete
said his name.  Then I realized that there was a piece on Instagram about a critic
who was not kind to Pete Sinjin.  I was one of many people who wrote
and said that the writer was ridiculous because Pete Sinjin's work is fabulous.
And it is!

So Pete asked for a photo and Steven took this.  It makes me happy just looking at

this happy picture, and Pete and I have been friends ever since.

Of course the painting he was creating that day was awesome, and so are all of his pieces. 

Have a loving your life day!

Only two days left to see The Art of Celebration

 Part of the show 5 of the 50 paintings on view.

I'm so grateful to the hanging committee, Peter Ramdeholl and my husband, Steven, for
doing such a spectacular job hanging the show!  We had a great opening on Sunday,

 

Have a loving your life day!

Thank you for the sales, and Kudos to everyone who helped to make this super show happen

Me and Steven
At my opening today in front 

of my painting Breakfast in the Hotel

Photo

Ellis Berman © 2025

It was a great final opening for my solo show The Art of Celebration.  It's on until April

30th.  We had so many guests -- friends and new friends -- and so much interest -- -plus some great sales.

So fun.  Thank you everyone.

Super tired. Going to bed.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Please come this Sunday April 27.

 

Hi everyone.  I don't mean to bore you.  But this is all that's happening around here.  My son
is in from London, Ontario to see the show, and we're all pretty excited.

Hope you're having a great weekend, and I'd love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day!

This is the weekend

A friend from our street talks to visitors

to the first opening of The Art of Celebration

about my work.

April 27 is the last opening 2-6 p.m.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave.

In the background are 8 of the 50+ paintings in the
exhibition.

This is it people. The final reception for my show the Art of Celebration opens from 2 to 6 PM on Sunday, April 27. I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t think I can say it enough, I would love to see you there. It’s a free exhibition in a very beautiful space The Heliconian Hall at 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. The venue is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever exhibited -- in a former church with a beautiful blue ceiling inside and couches all around the edge of the gallery space.

We will serve delicious coffee, and treats and you can enjoy something wonderful to eat while you walk around and look at the more than 50 paintings. So if you’re in the Yorkville area of Toronto this weekend, please do drop by on Sunday afternoon.

And thank you so much to the Heliconian staff and members for their incredible help and kindness. See you there.

Have a loving in your life day!

Happy Monthaversary to Steven

Fruit trees near Beamsville,

Ontario

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2023

Happy Monthaversary of our wedding day to Steven, my wonderful husband. We haven't
been out to Beamsville to see the trees yet and I hope we get there.  Things are just a bit
busy with the opening this Sunday, family coming to town, and endless organizing 

jobs.

I hope you had a glorious day.  It is sooooo beautiful right now -- spring just hit with

a force in the last two days, and everyone is gardening, cleaning up their gardens, and

enjoying the amazing flowers as they go for walks and drives through the city.

Have a loving your life day!

 

My last opening for my solo show this Sunday

Barbara Muir

www.barbaramuir.com

barbara.muir@sympatico.ca

A friend made a super invitation to my last opening for my solo show
The Art of Celebration this Sunday, but I can't seem to capture it
from Instagram. So here is my invitation, which I'm sharing every way
I can. If you’re in Toronto, please come and see my 50+paintings at the
 Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.

It’s been such a thrill for me to meet you there, and to see my work displayed
so beautifully. 

See you there Sunday, April 27th

Have a loving your life day!

A Happy DIscipline

Art group sketch

artist

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

On a day absolutely packed with work -- it was a great pleasure to be with my art
group.  Once again I had probably 30 minutes from the time I unpacked and set
up to get a quick portrait. 

The model tonight -- Margaret -- was wonderful.  I could have used more time, but
my very kind husband was waiting in the parking lot when I packed up and 
said my goodbyes.  He's a sweetheart.

Thank you Margaret and my art club group.  

Have a loving your life day! 

Happy Monday

 

These were my entries in The San Fernando Valley Arts
and Culltural Center's Food for Thought show in 2022
Some have sold, some have been revised.

I saw this image in my file, and it was a rainy day when I opened it.  The French toast

image in the lower right corner made me especially happy because Steven, my husband,
brought me abreakfast in bed of French toast, maple syrup and coffee this morning.  It was
the last day of a long weekend. So fun.

In 2022 Stand back for the pie in the upper left corner of this image won first place, and I won  $500 American in the contest with the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center in California in a virtual exhibition. And that was fantastic. Super exciting. 

It's been a very busy four day weekend.  I hope you had a wonderful time whatever you
were celebrating.

Have a loving your life day!

Super day

 

Pip the Lionhead rabbit delivers eggs

8 x 8 inchs

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 

This painting was a commission. And I had
never seen this kind of rabbit until
a random stranger had one in New Brunswick.

I wish I'd taken a photo of our son and daughter-in-law's dog Cheddar -- a very
beautiful Corgi.  Sweet, affectionate and well behaved at 10 months.  While
our dog, a 12 year old Border Collie, Kelpie,  Jack Russell was whiny, aggressive,

a pain in the neck. She is deaf and blind and we did travel in the car for 3 hours.

All that aside we had a wonderful time -- sat outside for most of our visit, and
ate delicious pizza to celebrate spring. We are not religious, so aside from a couple
of baskets of chocolate eggs, it was not very Easterish.  Which was fine.

Have a loving your life day!  

Happy Long weekend

 

Harold and the blue eggs

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

 Barbara Muir © 

It's Saturday night and compared to some years it's a very quiet Easter weekend.  Part

of our family is away, and the other part has moved to London. We're going to head over
there tomorrow, but we won't be having turkey, and a big whole family party.   Steven and I are not religious at all, but we really like to celebrate the coming of spring -- chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs, having a great meal and baskets filled with goodies.

I thought I'd add this piece from a former blog.  It's a story about my pet rabbit in
university -- Harold.  She was a girl.

"(I put Harold, the bunny rabbit on my blog every year since I painted her (yes a she), and think

happily of the time a university boyfriend, not knowing how innocent I was, gave me a marijuana plant for a present. While I was out at class, Harold, my rabbit, ate the plant, plus a massive chunk of the sheets and blanket in my rental room!  The young married couple I was renting from were not impressed. Neither was I.  I had to pay for new sheets and a blanket. But the whole story makes me laugh every year when I think of Harold)." Our current pets -- Fiona and Monet siamese cats, and
our dog Sally are remarkably easy to handle and a treat to be around. 

Have an enjoying celebrating day.

Happy Spring

 

Happy Spring cards lining up,
ready to go a couple of years ago.
The image is from the painting:
Harold and the blue egg
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir ©

Today was a beautiful day.  We are not religious, so we just enjoyed the day
off. We voted (it's the Canadian federal election and there were advanced polls.)
Then we went to the Art Gallery of Ontario and had a fast look around. (The 
gallery closed early.) I am always delighted by the Group of Seven paintings,
so that was fun.  We ran into an artist friend -- such a treat.  Plus I handed out
invitations to my show to people.

A great day.  I may make spring cards again, I don't know.  Toronto right now
is slowly moving into spring, and I am in awe when I see the carpets of bluebells
in some parks and neighbourhoods.  So magnificent.

Have a loving your life day!

Bunnies and eggs

Bunny in the Poppies
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

I'm not religious at all, but I do love celebrations as you know.  I love spring flowers,
family gatherings, delicious meals and the fun of bunnies, and chocolate eggs.  At the end of
2024 this bunny paintings became more general.  The eggs became poppies, one of
my favourite flowers, and a friend traded the revised bunny, for a lovely view of fields

with a shadow of an airplane on the clouds.  

She loved this painting, and I love hers, which makes me think of flying over France.  Yes! 

So happy long spring weekend.  We will get flowers, and get some chocolate eggs, but

we may not see family except the animals.  So we'll save the goodies for the reunion that
will happen soon. Happy holiday to everyone.

Have a loving your life day.

 

Painting makes life constantly new

 

Untitled (Work in Progress)

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

I painted all day today, with so much going on in my family, and still kept going.  For a break I had a
beautiful walk with a friend. This is coming along, one of a few works I'm working on in my
studio for a new show.  

I hope you will come to my opening at The Heliconian Hall on April 27, 2025.  This painting
is not in that show, but more than 50 good size works are.  The show looks good, and makes
me happy.

Have a loving your life day. 

Back to my art group

 

Art Group Sketch -- Thanh 

Acrylic and acrylic ink
on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

I was so happy tonight to get back to my art group for a fast

one hour.  My husband drops me off at 7:30, and picks me

up at 8:30.  That of course means that I don't have a lot of time
to 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 much done in 25 - 30
minutes. It was so much fun.

What's good about that is that I just paint and can't think.  This

week the model was great. I haven't captured him completely, 

and would have loved to work on it longer -- but

I like how far I got.

Have a loving your life day. 

Working on a new work and other reasons to be happy

 

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

I've been thinking about the 10 Reasons to be Happy exercise I started with my
students. Today I had a wonderful time working on a landscape I dreamt about,

and it was a good day.  So why not try the 10 Reasons list again?

10 Reasons to be Happy

1. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and I saw bluebells under the large trees in
      a nearby neighbourhood.
2. I dreamt of working on a painting for submission to a show this coming
      Wednesday. I worked on it today and I love it so far.

3. My printer redid the invitations for my final opening of my solo
    show on April 27, and they look great.

4. I went to my art store and got advice about which red to use because
    they didn't have cadmium red.

5. It was Steven's night to make dinner, and dinner was delicious.
6. Our French (from France) evening Police show, with subtitles in
    English has 14 seasons!  We just finished season 1, and we are
    hooked. It's called Murder In.

7. We went to the lake yesterday (Lake Ontario) and the beauty of that
     blue always makes me happy.

8.  I got a new canvas today for a painting I'll begin tomorrow.  
9.   One of the servers at the café, where we order wraps for lunch on the weekend
      came to my Wednesday opening, liked my work, and now she gives me a
      knowing happy look when we see her at work.

10. I have so many flowers (tulips) that I haven't had time to arrange them.

Have a loving your life day!

A beautiful spring day

It's been a colder spring this year --
but the farmer gave me these beauties 

yesterday, and flowers are coming back

to the market next week!
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2025 

So soon we can expect this! 

Daffodils from the farm
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

It was a lovely day today, and Steven and I went to the lake.  Always a magnificent
inspiration.  Canadians are funny. At 9 degrees Celsius 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit people
were out in shorts, and crop tops! The temperature rose to a whopping 15 degrees Celsius,
59 degrees Fahrenheit. (P.S. that's still cold.)

Have a loving your life day!

The why. Why do art?

 

One part of the display of 50+ works in The Art of Celebration
at the Heliconican Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto

Please come out on April 27 between 2 and 5 p.m. 
I'd love to see you!

It's movie night at our house so I am going in a minute to watch a movie with Steven.

I found a piece I posted last year at this time, and I'd like to post it again today.
It resonates with me. My current solo show gives you an idea of what a wonderful
time I've had giving in to the desire to paint.  This of course is also powered by a 
life full of kind, intelligent, creative loving people.  Thank you for being one of them.

"There are addictions that are easy to explain -- coffee,
alcohol, dope -- but art is a whole different story.

How do you explain it?  Something hit you over the
head with a passion to paint and draw, and you
can't ditch it.  I know almost no one who has
successfully quit drawing and painting.

The desire runs deep.  Even when it doesn't work,
even when we've got no time for it, even when
we need a break.  Even if we don't paint, or draw,
or sculpt, or take photos or one other arty thing --
it is there.  Planted deep in our skulls, brains,
hearts, probably in our blood cells.  This incredible
urge to make something."

True.  So if this is you I get you.

Have a loving your life day.

What did you do today?

 

Left to right Monet, Sally and Fiona

all female

Photos

Barbara Muir © 1. 2022, 2. 2021, 3. 2022

What did I do?  Made phone calls, wrote and thanked collectors, and helpers for
my April 27 opening of The Art of Celebration at Heliconian Hall, from 2 - 6 p.m. 

I planned new paintings and ordered reference photos to be printed. It was a
very good, organized day.  I hope you had a good day too.

Apparently it is National Pets' Day in Canada too today.  Then there's a National Dog

Day, and on it goes.  We love our pets, and they love us.  That's worth celebrating.

Have a loving your life day!

Catch up day

 

Our cat Monet enjoys catch up days

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

After the second wonderful reception for my solo show The Art of Celebration yesterday
it was time for other tasks -- calling collectors, calling possible guests for the next reception,

paying bills -- you know what I'm talking about -- catching up.

The next reception for the show is on April 27th from 2 - 6 p.m.  I'd love to see you
there -- The Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.  It looks like a church, but

it's a beautiful art venue.

Have a loving your life day!

Super opening today

 

At my solo show with the amazing artist --
Andrew Cheddie Sookrah
Photo
Vivian East © 2025

It was a delightful and quiet opening today, with friends, and new friends dropping

by.  I was so excited to meet the awesome artist Andrew Cheddie Sookrah, who
I've gotten to know through conversations on Instagram.  What a treat.  Andrew
had a great time with everyone he talked to. 

It was a pleasure talking to visitors to the show, and enjoying people seeing the art in this
happy exhibition. 

If you get a chance please come out and see The Art of Celebration on April 27 between 2 and
6 p.m.  We will have goodies, and would love to see you.

Have a loving your life day!

More invitations -- more openings--Please come out to tomorrow's opening

 

Here's the revised invitation.  Lots of discussion with

my wonderful printer at
St. Clair Printing & Graphics

He says keep all 3 dates on even after the first one is over.

Someone said that his name should be on the invitation.

My printer Chris would disagree. He doesn't put his
name on the prints he makes.

This is another photo of people
enjoying themselves at the
Saturday opening on April 5.

The full plate of cupcakes tells

you it was early in the opening.

Photo

Peter Ramdeholl © 2025

I look forward to seeing you if you come out tomorrow.  We will have lots of goodies, coffee,
and other beverages.  I hope you come and see it.  I'd love to see you.

Have a loving your life day!

The space between

 

Me and my friend artist Georgia Fullerton
in front of the portrait of her daughter

India Morgan who posed for

the portrait Our Garden.

The painting In the City on loan for
the show is the landscape in the photo,
and one of the first guests to the show,

artist and collector Ellis Berman sits on the couch
in front of the portrait.
Photo 
Peter Ramdeholl © 2025

One of my paintings in the show is called The fields between, and it's of the land where
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia join at the border. Today is a day between -- tomorrow
too.  But tomorrow the hustle, and prep begins again for the Wednesday afternoon opening
of The Art of Celebration -- my solo show at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue 
from 4 - 7 p.m.

I hope you'll come out -- I'd love to see you. People have said that the exhibition is

a joyous escape from the news, and on Saturday's opening -- from the rain.  So that
makes me happy.  Once again we'll have treats, and I'm sure it will be fun. 
The visitors Saturday loved being there.  That mood is always wonderful.

Have a loving your life day!

A day of immense gratitude

The Art of Celebration
The start of the opening at The Heliconian Hall 
Yesterday.  Guests were just beginning to
come in and enjoy the exhibition
Photo
Peter Ramdeholl © 2025

Yesterday (Saturday April 5) was the first opening for my solo show -- The Art of
Celebration. It was raining, and I knew that that would happen a couple of weeks
ago reading the long range weather forecast.  I also knew that Torontonians
don't like rain -- but there they were, collectors, friends, supporters, people I'd

given invitations to in the past few weeks, all coming in and enjoying the
exhibition, and it was so fun.

My thanks to the wonderful Heliconian staff (Peter Ramdeholl who took this photo)
and members for their help, and kindness, without which I couldn't have done it.
And major thanks to my husband and family for helping wrap the large paintings and load them in the van, and for help with the lovely classical music playlist. 

Have a loving your life day!

A super opening for The Art of Celebraton

A sample of the 55 paintings showing in my
Art of Celebration solo show

(There are 8 paintings in this photo.
The big still life is made up

of four paintings.)

It was a wonderful opening today at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave.,

and people loved the show.  It was great to see so many friends, and to meet
so many new friends.  I'm so grateful to everyone who helped with the show,
and to the Heliconian Club for asking me to have a solo show.

I hope if you're in Toronto that you'll come out either on Wednesday, the 9th
from 4 - 7, or on April 27 from 2 - 6. The show is up all month.  Other than
the reception dates, you can see it by appointment through the club office.

Have a loving your life day! 

Tomorrow's the first opening!

Hi Everyone,

I'm so psyched about seeing you tomorrow.  Here's the invitation again.

I've got to go and do a few things to get ready.  If you're in Toronto,
please come out to see the show.  Lots of delicious goodies.

Have a loving your life day.

Such an amazing team hanging my solo show

Steven and the club's Property Manager, Peter

hanging 

Breakfast at the hotel
-- a big job for sure.

The show is up at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto and eager to
see you (the show?  Yes the show is eager to see you!) Saturday, April 5,
2 - 5 p.m. Goodies, 55 paintings to see.  So come on down. Free of course.

My thanks to Catherine, Simone, Flo, Tanya, Nola, Heather, Steven and Peter.

You are all amazing and I am very grateful.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Packing the truck -- the show hangs tomorrow

 

The Cake House

Acrylic on canvas

14 x 18 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

Today I spent the day packing up my art -- more than 50 pieces, many large
for my solo show opening Saturday between 2 and 5 p.m. at the Heliconian
Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.  

My husband Steven and I packed and then drove through snow and sleet
to pick up a rental van to move the paintings to the show (too many, and
too big for a car. 

Then my son Christopher came and helped us too. What a great team.
Weird weather, and we are almost ready to take the paintings to the show.

Next -- get the treats for guests, look for a dress, and I'm sure there's a 

long list of other tasks before the event.

Love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day.

Super happy with The Happiest View

 

The happiest view 

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 60 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

For quite awhile I've felt that there was something missing in this painting,The Happiest View, and it was the waves.  Yes!

I am a huge fan of water.  Take me to a stream, a pond,  a lake, and best of all the Ocean,

and I am super happy -- no matter what time of year it is.  And I really love crashing waves.  These are mild ones, and this painting will be on view as part of Art of Celebration, my solo show at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto, opening this coming Saturday -- April 5, 2025 from 2 - 5 p.m.

Still painting and getting ready.

Have a loving your life day!