The 12th thing I learned over again in 2025 -- life is amazing!

 

Pete Sinjin, the Brooklyn plein air painter
I met randomly walking along the Seine in Paris
in May.  As we spoke awkward French
to each other about what he was doing (measuring
lines with his paint brush in the air), we
shared names, and he found out I'd
been one of a number of artists
who said that his work was 

great, when a silly art critic tried to put him down.

Instant friendship. Amazing!

Photo

Steven van Schaik (my husband) © 2024

I've told you the story of meeting Pete Sinjin in Paris before.  It was awesome.

This year surprise beyond measure, I got one of Pete's paintings for my 
birthday!  One of my favourites. And get this-- my husband ordered it in August
for my Halloween birthday! Yes I was blown away.

I'm a bit under the weather tonight, so this will be short.  I'll show you the 
painting another day. It's magnificent.

Then last week I met one of the stars of We Will Rock You at my art show

on the afternoon before Steven and I went to the show that evening.  So

magical.

Stay open to awesome happiness.

Have a loving your life day!

The 11th thing I learned again in 2025 -- Pets are amazing -- the sweetest

Monet the cat
It's the fourth
anniversary of her
adoption.

We normally (well three times) have celebrated Monet's adoption
anniversary today, but today was not the normal day.  So to honour Monet --
here's what I said last year edited for what's changed:

This is the fourth anniversary of our adoption of our cat, Monet.
She is a wonderful warm, intelligent cat.  My husband Steven
has his office in the basement.  He comes up to the kitchen for lunch,
and Monet comes up with him.  When he is ready to go back to
work, he says, "back to work," and Monet runs downstairs and jumps
into her basket on top of the dog's cage in Steven's office.

Our dog Sally will sing Monet a Happy Adoption song tomorrow night
because it's too late now for our neighbours. And afterwards
Monet and Sally will get a treat.

This year we lost our beautiful cat Fiona, who was 17 3/4 years old. 
We all miss her.

Sally the dog is lovely and 13, and having health issues.  She's blind and
deaf and totally cheerful. Love her. 

Monet needs another cat friend, so we will be on the lookout for a
Tortiepoint siames kitten.

Have a loving your life day.

This is # 10, and should perhaps be #1 -- I learned again to work on being happy!

Me with my painting

 Breakfast in the Skylight Diner NYC

30 x 30 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 

At Art Shopping Carrousel du Louvre

in the Louvre, Paris

June 2015

SOLD ♥ 

Does workimg on being happy sound simplistic, or like I'm ignoring the world.  No!  A friend even accused me of using "platitudes." But no. I acknowledge every way that I am lucky in my life.  And in the face of a world that seems to get
more messed up, and depressing by the minute, I try to notice and enjoy what's
good, heartening and enjoyable. 

As I said before, "I still believe that if we take action whenever we can,
and give what we can, to help with what we can, we owe it to those who
are suffering to appreciate how blessed we are." And I know I am.

My family is not enduring a senseless, devastating war.  We have food,
and shelter, and people who love us, and at the moment work. Plus
we're looking forward to a festive season with family and friends. 

I was extremely lucky to teach Positive Psychology at the college
level for 10 years. That taught me a lot about how to be happy.

Have a loving your life day.

 

#9 What I continued to learn in 2025 - humour is such a gift!

Steven and Me laughing
I know that I'm lucky I married
a man who loves to laugh. 
This photo was taken during the holidays 

quite a few years ago, but laughter remains a
major part of our family life with way more
stockings on the fireplace. Our whole family is lucky.
Photo
Chris Muir © 

It wasa very good year -- I had a solo show, and met so many lovely
funny people. so I'd have to say it was a great year -- so much love, 

for me great art shows. 

And the thing I continue to learn over and over is that funny people
(basically my whole family), make life so much better. That
doesn't mean that sorrow, loss, hardship aren't part of the picture.
It means the ability to enjoy life, and to see what is funny is 
so important.  Thank you for all of the laughter you gave me
in 2025.

Have a loving your life day.

 

The eighth thing I learned again in 2025 -- my love of Paris and our friends there continues

Maison Sauvage 

Rue de Buci, Paris
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

The eighth thing I realized again in 2024 is that I love Paris -- more than ever.
This year we couldn't visit Paris and we were sad about it.We did visit the Musée D’Orsay, and the Orangerie.  The first time we walked to the

Last year we visited the Musée D'Orsay it was closed. We sat down on a curb to watch young 
skateboarders jump off a five foot high structure onto the concrete below.  Of
the five in the line to try it, only one didn't fall.  We were amazed that they could
 pick themselves up, and try unsuccessfully again. And again!

After that we walked happily back to our hotel. We saw friends and just loved
every minute there.

Of course it is my dream to go again.  And if you can, I hope you do.

Have a loving your life day.

 

Great afternoon at the Heliconian Off The Wall show

Help yourself

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

SOLD ♥ 

A great day today at the Heliconian Hall holiday Off The Wall
show.  This is one of my paintings that sold, to a wonderful
collector.  Thank you so much to everyone who bought my
work.

It was a lovely mood today -- lots of treats for people to eat,

and our holiday music.  So fun!  If you haven't seen the
work please come out on Wednesday from 4 - 7:30 p.m.

to 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.  The building was a church
until 1909 when it became and art club, so come on in! 
(Not a church).

We will have wonderful treats and goodies like we had today,
and coffee, and we would love to see you. 

Have a loving your life day!

My message today is simple

 

Such an exciting meeting -- come out to our art show on Sunday!

Snow scene on Cherrywood

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 
(This painting is the
work on my holiday cards.
It's a view of the house
across the street.)

I'm supposed to be writing about the 5th thing I learned in 2025.  Okay
-- You never know what wonderful things can happen.  Yesterday
at the Off The Wall art show at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton in
Toronto I was going out to the street to ask people to come in.  A fellow
came in, asked if he could go up on the stage at the back of the Hall.
He saw the grand piano and got excited then he began to sing, and 
his voice was miraculous.  We asked him to continue and he sang
a beautiful holiday song.  It was so moving that a visitor to the show
started crying.

That singer came off the stage.  I asked his name, and if he was a 
singer full time, and he said that he was currently in a show
called We Will Rock You.  I said that I was going to the show
that night, and he hugged me and said wait after the show to
see him again.  That was so exciting. Caleb Ajao plays Brit in the show
We Will Rock You, currently playing at the Ed Mirvish Theater.

So we went to the show last night, and it was amazing, and Caleb is a star 
in the show.  Just beyond awesome to watch.  Afterwards we saw him
and he hugged me and my husband, and we told him how fantastic he
was, and the whole show was just stunning. 

So that's my story.  Who would know sitting a show on a quiet afternoon
at my art club, that this would happen?  So incredibly cool!

Thank you to everyone who has attended the show so far. You make
us artists so happy. 

If you haven't seen the exhibition, please come out on Sunday from
1 - 4 p.m.

Have a loving your life day!

A day of wonder -- I'll explain tomorrow

 

Cottage Flowers
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

If you are near 35 Hazelton Ave. in Toronto, please drop by the Off The 
Wall show at the Heliconian Hall.  It's quite beautiful, and I will be there
from noon until 3 p.m.

It's going to be a short post tonight.  Hang in with me,  More tomorrow.

We got home late from the fabulous music production of 
We Will Rock You.  So it's bedtime.

Have a loving your life day!

Another thought that repeats -- Lesson #2 of 2025 -- people who love are loving

Wonder Water Image #5
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2015
Emily, my son Sam's wife.
This painting was exhibited Florence 
and sold in New York City
SOLD ♥

I'm sharing a message that grows more powerful for me every year. "Today my message is the same as last year, and even more important. Hang around people who love things -- the chances are really good that they will be more loving. So I am repeating last year's post from this day:

"It is my daughter-in-law Emily's birthday, and Steven and I feel
so delighted that she is part of our family. She is kind, funny and loving.
I did this portrait of her in 2015. And we love Emily.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Thinking of the concept of love. I am borrowing some thoughts
from a post from a couple of years ago. It would be hard to match the love I feel
for my family and friends. And it's my experience that people who throw
that word around, who love people, and paintings, music, humour, ice cream,
and flowers, and coffee, and wine, and pretty clothes, and their jobs -- also
love each other, the environment, the planet, fairness, equality and will fight,
not in a shallow way, to take care of the people, the neighbourhood, the city,
the country, the planet that they love.
I am all for spreading love, for loving as much as possible -- for complimenting
a book, a movie, a friend, a loved one. We are trained to be reticent,
and it isn't getting us anywhere. So guess what? I love that you are reading this.
And please go out and gush over your family and friends. Love, love, love.
You cannot ever love enough in this lifetime."

Have a loving your life day. 

The second thing I learned again in 2025

Victoria (Art Group Sketch)

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

(Not bad for 35 minutes
total.  A beautiful model.

I wish I'd had more time.
Thank you to Victoria's
mother too, who was

a complete sweetheart.

I like the concept I learned from Howard Wolinsky of using the last month
of the year to write about what you learned in that year.  So I think I'll do
it again for 2025. Here's what I wrote last year on December 2nd (slightly
edited).  The same lesson applies this year:

"My friend, Howard Wolinsky, who I met via the phone and Skype when
he introduced me to the Skype community as a Skype Sketcher, recommended

writing a list of things you learned in the year during the month of December.

I like what I wrote last year.

The second thing (really the first thing) I learned again in 2025

I wrote a piece in 2015 to explain why I sign so many of
my letters with XOXOXOXOXO, and it resonated with me again
today.  I miss all of the things we did without thinking before
COVID.  Now we still have to think about gatherings, and vaccines,
for COVID, Flu and RSV, when and where to wear a mask. Fewer
people are bothering to wear a mask in public, but many of my
friends are sick. Here's what I said back in 2015, and I still
feel the same way.

"To all my friends and family who cannot be in
Toronto this year for the holidays, please know
that I love you and you are in my heart.

I learned the strong power of love when I held
my mother's hand as she lay dying 12 years ago.  It was
not about regret, although of course I wish I
could have spent more time with her.  My sadness
was about knowing I couldn't see her, hug her
and speak with her again.

After she died I knew I had to live to the fullest,
not for her, but because she would want me to.
And I understood in the most intense way
possible that however many years I had left on
the planet, they would not be enough to give
out enough love to the people I care about,
and to the world.

I don't mean to overpower people with the
XOXOXOXOXO.  I just mean to say I know
without question that however many X's and
O's I can put at the end of a note they will never
convey how important the concept of being
loving, and kind is to me, or how much I care
for the recipient.

Many friends at this time of year are sharing
ideas about beliefs and ceremonies they
enjoy.  But the common thread in everyone's
background is the importance of love and kindness.

Thank you for yours in 2025, and thank you
to all my friends and family for helping us to
enjoy yet another year of happiness. 

XOXOXOXOXO to all of my friends and family
everywhere!"

Have a loving your life day. 

Magnificent Monday

Center Stage

Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

It was a very beautiful, sunny winter day today, and everything went right.  

Tomorrow starts crazy early, and the week is packed, but I feel incredibly

happy to have had a great Monday.  I'm delighted with the current

exhibition Off The Wall at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto,

happy about the upcoming openings and if you're in town please come.

This painting is in the show.  It's quite beautiful. 

This week the exhibition and sale is open 

from 10 - 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 4,

1 - 3 p.m. pm December 5,

and  I was told that there's an opening Sunday, but I 

need to confirm that.  

Have a loving your life day! 

A great day making art with family -- and another sale

 

Carolanne 

Black marker on paper 

Inktober drawing

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

So much fun making art, and listening to holiday songs with 
the family.  

This is another piece I sold yesterday at the Off The Wall Show
at the Heliconian Hall.  Here's what I wrote about the drawing 
in a former post:

"I don't know what happened to Carolanne McFarlane.  I can
only hope her life has been great.  I did this portrait from a very

moody photo my father took of her.  I don't know how
he even got the shot, because Carolanne was very sunny.

But when we moved away to Toronto I lost touch with
my former neighbours, who were so much fun.

I realized working on this drawing how much my father
loved light.  He loved to make his photos as dramatic as
possible -- and yet they were about everyday subjects --
our neighbours, the scenes we lived with every day, my
mother in the house or the garden.

What I love about the photos that he printed in his
basement darkroom is that the people are very
much alive, even though he only printed in black
and white."

I'm so glad that work sold.  I really liked it.

Have a loving your life day!

A great first opening of the Off The Wall show

 

Wonderful news

Watercolour and marker
on watercolour paper
9 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © 2018
SOLD ♥ 

A great opening today at the Heliconian Off The Wall show.  I hope
you'll come to one of the 4 next openings if you're in Toronto.

Everyone who came today had a super time.  I sold several
pieces, and had delightful conversations with our guests.
The best.  Check out November 28's blog (yesterday) for dates
and times.

Love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day!

The big story today? Come to the Heliconian Hall amazing small paintings art show tomorrow!

Hi friends,

The day is almost here. Drop into the Heliconian
Club tomorrow (Saturday, November 29), if you're
 in Toronto -- 35 Hazelton Avenue.  I'll be there from
2 - 5 p.m.

Great art, great coffee or tea in beautiful china cups, 
great treats -- cookies, baked goods -- great company!
We'd love to see you. 

Yes the club looks like a church, but it's not, it's an art
 space, and has been for more than 100 years.  So come on in.

In addition to small works of art starting at $40.00, I will
be selling holiday cards, and art cards -- 4 for $20.00.

I'd love to see you there. 

Have a loving your life day!

Happy American Thanksgiving to my American family and friends

Happy American Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends in the United States.

I hope you all have a great one. I love our Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, because it's about family, friends and delicious food.  The most fun.

Today I delivered 31 paintings to the Heliconian Off The Wall painting show.  The event is actually a Black Friday weekend event, happening on Saturday, November 29, with beautiful art by Canadian artists at such reasonable prices, that if you're in Toronto visit 35 Hazelton Avenue between 2 and 5 and pick up a stunning piece of art for someone you love, or your boss, or anyone who might delight in what they see. Your gift will be wrapped, and ready to go the moment you decide to buy it.  

The best!

And if you're doing the Black Friday boycott this is the perfect alternative. 
Hand made Canadian art.

Please note the Heliconian Hall is not a church.  It became an art club in 1909.

(And side note, there will be delicious cookies, and coffee and tea in china cups.)

Have a loving your life day. 

Come out to the show!

Help Yourself
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

I have 31 paintings in the Heliconian Off The Wall Show opening
this Saturday, from 2 - 5 p.m.  Come on down to 35 Hazelton
Avenue to see the show.  It's a sale -- so all of the work is really
inexpensive.  If you like something you see here, or on my

instagram site, and it's not "on the wall," just ask me, and I will go
and get it for you if it's not sold already!

That's the whole idea of the show -- sell it, pack it, give it to the
collector, and hang new work by the same artist in its place. 
Pretty cool.

Here's one of my paintings that I love.I'm showing a variety
of work in the exhibition and that's just my work. 

(I haven't seen the show yet .  It goes up Thursday.)

Have a loving your life day

Happy Anniversary tomorrow Sam and Emily

Our son Sam and his wife, Emily
Photo
© Emily and Sam's Wedding 
Photographer, 2022

Tonight I will repost my post on this from last year, edited.  Congratulations

Sam and Emily on your three year anniversary.

"In the middle of getting ready for this weekend's opening, I had
to stop for a minute and remember my son and Emily's wonderful
wedding, three years ago tomorrow.  We had so much fun.  We
danced all night -- I got 13,000 steps just dancing -- the best D.J.

We are so happy for those two -- happily in love -- so fantastic.
Here's to another incredible year!"

Have a loving your life day. 

Getting ready for the Off The Wall show

Loving the new kitten

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

In the Off the Wall show, which opens this coming Saturday from
2 - 5 p.m., I will have drawings and paintings.  I'm quite fond

of this piece capturing the joy a child feels when the family
gets a new kitten. 

I hope you'll come out to the opening.  The highest price in this
show will be $200, and I will have many works at a much lower
price than that.  And here's the thing -- it's Canadian art.  

The show is guaranteed to be wonderful, and there will be
goodies, and coffee and tea -- and it's free.  Please come out

if you're in the 35 Hazelton Avenue neighbourhood.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Diane Mohan's moving call for peace at Gallery 1313 Queen Street W.

 

We attended a fabulous art show at Gallery 1313 on Queen Street West.  I wish I'd
taken more photos, but I was captivated by the work of Diane Mohan, which is
why we visited the show.  Her work in this show Meditations on Peace
is all about peace.  She has written peace in 7 languages and behind the larger
word, and she wrote calls to bring peace to the many conflict areas in the world.

The title says it all, and Diane says the works are like prayers, or meditation.

I had a great conversation with her about it, and her motivation.  Thank you Diane
for your work, and for inviting us. We desperately need peace in the world.

Have a helping make peace day!

Happy Monthaversary Steven

 

Steven and me in the lights
of Times Square
We love New York City,
and hope to visit again someday.

Today is our Monthaversary
of our first date.

No we weren't in Times Square.

A run around day -- we went to the market, exchanged one of my
birthday gifts, bought more sunscreen, went to the art store for
hanging clips for framing, and had a great take out lunch staring
at Casa Loma lit up and blue when most people would be 
eating dinner. 

Now it's movie night.  We had a very happy Monthaversary of
our first date.  Bizarre, but we celebrate that day every month,

and our wedding Monthaversary two days later.

In this hard world, we need to appreciate our good fortune.

Have a loving your life day!

Friday feeling

 

The heart of the party
marker on bond paper

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

Here's a little drawing I'm putting in the Heliconian Off The Wall show (framed).

I drew it from a sweet random photo I saw online, and love the woman's look
of contentment holding a baby and a dog. I may have added the hearts
(you think!) If you know me you know I love hearts.

It was a very busy day, lots of tasks, some very sad news, and meeting some
super people when we were out getting frames.  Including an abstract artist
and her sister. And their parents, and the artist's husband -- a writer.  

Wonderful people everywhere in Toronto.

Have a loving your life day!

Getting ready for the Off The Wall opening on November 29

Moody Beauty drawing

Coloured pencil on bond paper

10 x 10 inches (framed)

Barbara Muir © 

Today a friend helped me with framing some work for the Off The
Wall show.  It was so nice to have someone with me in the studio,

helping with decisions, and the framing work.  She calmed me down.

I love this drawing -- which lead to a large painting of the same
name. I love the scenes in Nova Scotia. 

Off The Wall is a small drawing and painting show, with a top
price of $200.00 (This will be quite a bit less.) The idea is that
people can buy work and take it with them.  We had a great time
 last year.  The beautiful array of super artists' work would all
make great holiday gifts. 

Have a loving your life day! 

Here's a lovely former blog post about Paris

 Neighbours across the street have come over a couple of times in the 
past couple of days to talk about Paris.  They took their two teenage
sons there a year ago.  Before they left they asked us about what we
liked about Paris, and we tried to be concise, although our answer
could easily have been everything.

So here's a happy blog post from 2016 about showing in the Louvre.
The best time. Enjoy!

"

Me with Alessandra Masha Mascitti

in front of my painting in the Carrousel du Louvre Exhibition

Dream Selfie -- Wonder Water Image #7, Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2016
SOLD ♥

Travelling for art shows is not free.  Immediately people

I know who always know what to do in every situation
chime in with, "you could do this...or you could
do this!"  The facts are -- yes I know very well what
the options are, AND, I'd still like to do it.

Notre Dame in Paris before it 

suffered a fire. (Now it
is open again in 2025.)

So.  Today if I were throwing a dart at the globe spinning
before me -- I would choose Paris.  I am straight up with
no holds back in love with Paris.  I feel for Paris taking
a hit on its iconic cathedral -- Notre Dame, and I would
really like to go there again.

Me with Miranda Brouwers in front of

her painting in the Carrousel du Louvre 

exhibition in 2016

The Russo brothers were wonderful to exhibit with in
their EA Effetto ARTE Gallery booth at the Carrousel du Louvre,
and I their curator, Alessandra Masha Mascitti is a friend.
Yes we would want to see her very much. (Editor's note -- we
saw Alessandra this summer, in 2025, and we had so much
fun!)

I love the people, the Louvre, the Musée D'Orsay, gallery,
the Seine, the food.  In 2016 when we were in Paris we hung
out with our friends Miranda Brouwers and Rolf Leemeijer and their
sons Marnix and Hugo, and had the best time. I would
love to do that again too."

As  the holidays approach, it feels like it's time to travel,
and to plan the delights of the coming season.  Paris.  I miss you.
Maybe spring 2026!

Have a loving your life day!

Dipping into the pansies

 

Untitled
Acrylic ink and marker on
watercolour paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

Today I focused on small works in preparation for the Off The Wall show,

opening on November 29, at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave.,
in Toronto from 2 - 5 p.m. I love pansies, and acrylic ink is such a
pleasure to  work with.  The colours are delightfully rich.  So it was a fun day.

Very busy too --a meeting in the neighbourhood this morning, painting
all day, and painting with my art group tonight. Crazy. And fun.

Plus my friend helped me revive what I thought was a dead Fitbit, so
I'll be counting my strides again.  Oh yeah! The best!

Have a loving your life day!

Looking through possible work for the Off The Wall show

The yard in snow
Maison De Haute Couleur
Charvin watercolour and marker
on Fabriano watercolour paper
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

If this painting isn't in the box of paintings not sold a year ago at the Off
The Wall show, back it goes.  Last year even during the period of the
Off The Wall show, I was getting ready for my solo show in April.  That turned

out to be 55 works. 

I love this painting, and am glad to say the yard doesn't look that way
today. No snow.

A day of mutiple medical appointments.  I'm tired but happy.

Have a loving your life day! 

A beautiful day -- sunny and no snow

 

Winter light Cherrywood
Acrylic on birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Steven and I had a delightful day today. The sun was out in the morning. 
And as we headed down to Lake Ontario the brief dark cloud cover
dissipated, and we were treated to brilliant clouds and blue sky.

And quite a lot of wind.  So we had a fabulous walk by the lake.

The park we go to is so beautiful, and everyone we met was
cheerful today.

This painting makes me think about winter -- glad we had no snow today.

Love it, and --.

Time to get back to work.

Have a loving your life day!