A wonderful afternoon at Edward's Gardens

Ken's flowers
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I had a wonderful afternoon at Edward's Gardens today.  I was
meeting an artist friend for coffee whose work is fantastic.
Thank you to Mike the super kind fellow at the parking lot
trying to help me pay my parking with my phone. We did
not succeed, and to my friend Vivian for rescuing me, and
showing me how to pay at the machine (I'm not a techie). 

Then we met the amazing artist Rosemary who was 
creating spectacular work, Chris served us the delicious

coffee. I gave my cards to a group of basketball
guys in the Dandelion -- the coffee shop, who were flying a 
hand made paper plane over the guests' heads. And
we met so many lovely people on our travels -- Susan,
Linda, and the kind people teaching me how to say
thank you in Arabic. 

All the while we looked at and wandered through
magnificent views of spectacular trees, glorious|
flowers, and sat in sweet alcoves offering some
shade on a magnificently sunny day with a blue

sky, and gorgeous white clouds.

I did this painting a number of years ago.  It's
based on a bouquet of exquisite flowers in
Nova Scotia displayed in a super vase a 
neighbour there gave me.

Have a loving your life day!

Today is dedicated to happiness

Me on the beach at the Northumberland shore
a few summers ago
Photo

Steven van Schaik ©

I found a former post on happiness that I really agree with
(well it was by me. Lol.) Last night I watched videos by a
 neuroscientist T.J. Power, mostly about how doom scrolling
 is making us unhappy.  As trying to appreciate every moment
 of happiness in my life is one of the things I work on, I loved
what he said.

You know most of it.  Turn off your phone. Spend time in
nature, and spend time with delightful friends.  Of course
sadness rolls in.  There is so much hardship, terror and war
in the world.  But being lucky enough to live a good life to
me comes with an obligation to be grateful for what works.

For me being on the beach in Nova Scotia is right up there
as a top pleasure. This year we will go later.  It may be autumn.

So here's what I said in a former blog post:

"Okay.  I taught Positive Psychology -- for 10 years.
How you feel, and perceive the world is heavily influenced
by how you talk to yourself.  What messages you say internally, over,
and over, either give you energy, or knock you flat on your
back, or leave you in limbo somewhere between the two.

Okay I pick feeling happy.  I pick feeling up, and excited
about the future.  Now there's a mental and emotional
challenge for this current world! On it."

I like this.  There have been serious losses in our life
recently, but appreciating what makes you happy matters.

Have a loving your life day! 

Belated International Daughters and Sons Day four days late

Spring Break Shoreline

Acrylic on Canvas

30 x 30 inches 

Barbara Muir © 

(My son Sam, me and my son Christopher)

Christopher and Sam
my sons,
photo
Barbara Muir ©

Megan at The Stork Restaurant
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 

(Christopher's wife Megan --
 our daughter-in-law)

Wonder Water Image #5

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Emily, my son Sam's wife -- 
our daughter-in-law.

This year I was so busy I missed the day, which is too bad, because I so
love our wonderful family. As far as painting goes I'm working on a very
slow portrait, and a landscape.We're so lucky to have two wonderful sons, and that they in turn have brought two amazing daughters-in-law into our family. I love the love shared by our family.  So I'm sorry I missed the special day to honour my family, and am so grateful for all of the joy they've brought into our lives.

If you're reading this family please know how much we love you.

Have a loving your life day.

Some very happy and sad news this week

 

Wonder Water Image #6

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 

On the happy side this beautiful friend whose portrait I showed in the
Florence Biennale in 2015, just had a baby girl.  So that's exciting.
This is the second child for her and her husband, who have a 
beautiful little boy.

Sadly a friend we loved spending time with at parties, and 
celebrations died, and we have been thinking of her and
her family non stop. She was loved by everyone who

knew her.

I hope that you had a wonderful week.  I had a super time
at the last two openings of the Primary show at the Heliconian
Hall in Yorkville.  I met such amazing people from all over
the world, and some delightful new members of the Heliconian
Hall Visual Arts section (the one I belong to).

Have a loving your life day!

A portrait from my first year of blogging

 

Gill Right
Portrait of artist Gill Cameron

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir © 2008

This is one of 2 portraits I did of my artist friend Gill Cameron in 2008.
I did one called Gill Left as well.  My idea was to explore how different

people look from different angles.

In 2008 I was not good at photos, and this is a much more beautiful

work in person than my photo shows. Gill has moved out of the
city, so I don't know when I'll get to photograph it again.  But I love

the painting.  Gill is an amazing artist, and I so enjoyed having shows

with her when she lived in Toronto.

Have a loving your life day!

A strangely great day

 

The kitchen table today
Photo
Barbara Muir ©

A great, if strange day today. Our new doctor is a complete sweetheart, and funny.
And apparently all the tests on my arm and shoulder show nothing serious! So
we sat and talked and laughed.  My doctor is so fun he had to persuade me to leave,
so the next patient could come in.

Then the last Primary opening at the Heliconian was this afternoon/evening, and
it was so much fun.  Some talk about fall shows, I met a super new member --
also very funny.

Great day.  This is the art for today -- the beautiful sunflowers and lemons 
gracing our table.  Huge thanks to the man from Argentina who worked
hard at trying to get our music on at the show, and to Michelle, who did
get the music on.

Have a loving your life day!

Working on a portrait

 

A variety of portraits by me

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir ©

Last night at dinner Steven was asking me the usual questions artists get
asked.  When did you begin painting? At five I think.  How long did this
take? I don't know.  Completing work varies tremendously depending on
way too many factors to mention.

Tomorrow there is an opening at the Heliconian Hall for the Primary
show from 4 - 7:30 at 35 Hazelton Ave.  I am hoping to be there from
5 on.  No these paintings are not in the show. I put them up to remind

myself that yes I can paint/draw portraits.  Just ask Oprah. 

Have a great rest of the week.

Have a loving your life day!

A Happy Monday and a family birthday

 Peach party

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir ©

We were happy today thinking about a sweet family
member's birthday. We couldn't get together because
she is a long way away on vacation, but we left wishes,
and Happy Birthday songs via the phone.

A friend came over yesterday whose birthday we'd missed

in March, and she experienced our family birthday style,

when Steven and I, and our dog, Sally sang Happy 
Birthday to her.

I'm happy because I worked on a painting that's been
bothering me and it's coming along.  I also worked on 
revising a large portrait of our friend.  And I did a 
quick sketch of our beautiful sunflowers.

Also there was phenomenal rain today.  I've never seen
rain so heavy you couldn't see through it.  So as Steven
and I say, I watered.

Have a loving your life day!

 

International Cat Day? How could I miss it?

Monet and Monique (the kitten)

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2026

I saw on my Instagram posts — one from Strombo — George 
Stroumboulopoulos that yesterday was International Cats' Day. I do
know how I missed it. I was at the opening of the Primary Show
at the Heliconian hall all afternoon.

But one of the most important things in our life in the last 10
weeks has been raising Monique, our new Siamese kitten. We
were looking for a cat for a year after our older cat Fiona died
at almost 18 years old. Our younger cat Monet, who is four,
deeply missed the older cat. So we recently succeeded in getting
a new kitten, and as time goes on the two are getting along. Whew!

Of course the dog is part of the picture too, and she gets along
with the new kitten and with our four year-old cat Monet. So
here we are in the house of three sweet female animals – Sally
the dog, Monet, the cat, and Monique the kitten. Happy belated
International Cats' Day.

Have a loving your life day!

Great opening today

 

Magnificent Clouds
Acrylic on 2 canvasses
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2026
Photo by Steven van Schaik

(I hope I'll get a closer photo on 

Wednesday at the final opening.)

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Primary show opening
today at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue. It was a
wonderful opening.  I had so much fun talking to people. Such a treat. 

I'm sorry that I didn't take any photos in the show.  There were so
many fascinating people to talk to coming to see our work from
France, from Pittsburgh, from Toronto -- all over the world.
Awesome. So I've posted my own photo (actually my husband's). 
Thank you to Steven.

Have a loving your life day!

Friday night -- and a good day in art

 

Sam on Skype
Marker on bond paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I like this drawing of my son Sam at university a few years
ago. His bulletin board looks so organized. It was a wonderful
day today.  My friend who helps me get organized came for
the afternoon and we worked on editing the studio among other things.

Plus I did the old set the timer thing, and worked on two paintings
that were driving me crazy.  Infinitely better, but not ready to
be shown to you here.  I forgot that part of the trick of the 10
minutes on the timer, is that you keep going.  You turn the
timer off, and think just maybe I can do this, and then that,
and soon it's 40 minutes.  So I kept using that trick.

Now I am very happy, and grateful to all of you who come here,
and to my family for allowing me to draw and paint them.

Have a loving your life day!

The Ottawa visit

View along the road from Kingston to Ottawa

Beautiful farm houses all along the route

Photo
Barbara Muir ©

Last weekend we went to Ottawa for 4 days.  It was a wonderful, short
holiday. We stay in the same hotel every time we go to the city, and
it's right in the center of town, near the market, across the street from
the Ottawa Art Gallery. So good.

It rained heavily on Sunday, so we stuck to the room and read, and
enjoyed relaxing.  Plus we took a drive along the parkway after the
Iron Man event was over, and loved the beauty as always.  And
we visited my brother and his wife in Chelsea. Those two look
out on one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen -- gorgeous
trees, and down the hill, the river. Amazing.

My eyes are not quite recovered, but I'm painting anyway.

Have a loving your life day!

Mark your calendar and come on by on Saturday!

Joyous Sunflowers

Acrylic on canvas
24 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2026

Have a loving your life day!

 

Hi everyone -- we just got back from a visit to Ottawa

We actually arrived home after 10 p.m. tonight, and have unpacked,
and just finished dinner -- so the story tonight is that there are two
more public viewings (openings) of the Primary show.  One this Saturday
from 2-5 p.m.  The invitation is above.

I'd love to see you this weekend.  I have 3 pieces in the show, and I look
forward to showing them to you.  As always the openings are free, and
there will be treats -- cookies, coffee and more.

I hope you had a great long weekend. We did.

Have a loving your life day!

 

A weekend of wonder

 

Sunset

Photo
Barbara Muir ©

It's been a delightful weekend.  I've done sketches, and am thinking about
work.  I'm also debating whether or not to join some exciting international
shows. Steven and I have been taking a super break from our normal
routines and enjoying experiencing beautiful views as I take endless
reference photos.

It's a long weekend in Canada, and everywhere we go there's a happy
holiday spirit.  I hope you have a great day.  This photo popped up on
my phone, and even though I think it's a winter image, it captured 
a stunning sunset, and seems appropriate for the awe I've been 
feeling this weekend looking at nature.

Have a loving your life day!

It's the long weekend and I have so many reasons to be happy

View from the highway

Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

(So much of my 

work is inspired by my

travels -- It was a
rainy day but we took
a drive through some
amazing scenery.

I love being out on the road --

away from the familiar --

and thinking about making art

based on my delight at what
I'm looking at.)

My husband and I have decided to make the long weekend about taking
a break, and we are.  So today we rested, read, watched our TV show,
and took some delightful drives in the rain to see awesome views.
It seems a good day for the exercise I loved doing with my students --

10 Reasons to be happy

1. I am happy because I have a loving husband.
2. I am happy because I have a loving family.
3. I'm happy because we had a delicious dinner with family tonight.
4. I am happy because I have kind, funny friends around
    the world.
5.  I am happy because I'm an artist, and I love making art.
6. I'm happy that I get to  meet amazing people
    every year at openings and drawing sessions with my
    art groups.
7. I'm happy that I live in Canada -- never happier about that.
8. I'm happy that I've learned how to be happy, and am
    still learning, and love knowing that I'll learn more
     and more for the rest of my life. And I'm grateful for
    everything that you have taught me about happiness.
9. I'm happy that I've learned to love myself enough to
    choose spend most of my time with kind and happy people.
10. I'm happy that I don't believe in horoscopes, superstition
    or most dogma.
11.  I'm happy that I love to read and I have more than
        one superb novel.
12.  I'm happy that I know how to breathe to calm myself 
        down if life get tense. 

        Okay I went beyond 10. Of course I have so many more reasons.
        I'm happy that the Primary show has an opening at the Heliconian Hall
        Saturday, August 8 from 2 - 5 p.m. at 35 Hazelton Avenue
        in Toronto.  I have 3 pieces in the show, so come on out!
        It's free and there are treats.

Have a loving your life day!

A happy day of seeing some country roads

Full Serve

Watercolour on
watercolour paper

9 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Steven and I were enjoying a bit of a country drive today -- singing, 
laughing and marvelling at the beauty of the country landscapes.
Of course I'd like to paint absolutely everything we saw. Still --
It's movie night, a so I'm going to use my thoughts from a former 
blog:

"Steven and I are thinking about going on holiday.  It's
amazing how much planning that takes.  What I love aside
from actually getting away -- is the long preamble -- sometimes
months long, of talking about what we loved the last time
we went away. It is a type of love talk over dinner, or going to
buy groceries or on a walk -- especially when one thing we
love is travel.

A trio of paintings I did awhile back have come into view,
while I was searching through my blog for other images. 
And I wish I did more of these.  At the moment they have a
profoundly moral look. As in is this right at all? But at the
time, they were just about enjoying the look of people getting
gas, and relaxing on their travels.  The background in this is
Nova Scotia, and a perfect Nova Scotia house."

I hope you're having an inspiring weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

The end of July -- whew!

 

Picnic on the rocks

(I love this view from a 
few years ago)
Photo
Barbara Muir © 

I'm having trouble tonight with my computer which seems appropriate for
the end of a hard month.  What was hard? -- the fires all across northern
Canada, and in the U.S.,  Spain, France and the United Kingdom. The air
because of the fires -- orange in Toronto, and New York, hundreds of miles
away from the source, our southern neighbour's esteemed leader's response
to our fires with tariffs on Canadian goods, a family member having several
harsh treatments (successful but not fun), high heat making it too hot to sit 
outside.

But let's shift to the positive: it's over.  The Josh Johnson show at Massey
Hall was so fun! And we won the No Jet's Toronto protest against the
expansion of the island Airport all along Toronto's Lake Ontario parks, which
would have destroyed Toronto. So far. (There are still threats from the
Premier), plus we had some sweet family meetings, some delicious meals
from restaurants by the lake, and beautiful flowers in the kitchen full time.
Oh and our sweet, rambunctious kitten Monique, who catches a toy when
you toss it and brings it to you, and lies on your feet -- she is fun, and so is
the older cat, Monet and our dog Sally.

And there were sweet calls with friends and family, and super posts
on Instagram and YouTube. You people made the month good.

Have a loving your life day!

After all a good day

Journal sketch
Marker on journal paper
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir ©  

Here's a journal drawing I did awhile ago in a notebook, 
while travelling.  I love flowers, and love antique jugs, and
this sketch includes things I love -- clearly a summer bouquet.

I am happy tonight, that despite my eyes still being quite bothered
with floaters they say will disappear (one more week hopefully),
I walked my 12,000 steps.  It was hot, so I walked in a large mall.
It felt wonderful.  And the views were super on the way to
the mall and back. Blue skies, white clouds -- lots of inspiration.

Have a loving your life day!

Delightful memories of Florence

Today I'm super tired. Apologies. I did a drawing that's not good enough to share.
Meanwhile I found this sweet post about my first time in Florence, and loved
it, so I thought why not? Enjoy. 

"Lunch time

Steven walking across the piazza in front of Santa Maria Novella

The view of the Duomo from our desk, I can't crop or
adjust it -- sorry.

My friend, the beautiful artist Tamara van der Berg
pencil sketch
Barbara Muir Florence 2009

We keep sleeping in, which is somewhat of a miracle, because
the bells start right outside our window at about 8:30 and seem
to ring every 15 minutes. The sound is just magical. But at
night after we eat supper at some cozy little Trattoria we are
greatly tempted to walk around. The place is beautiful, and
decorated more and more each day for Christmas -- not in some
gaudy way, but extremely tastefully, and then of course the
place is mostly elegant and tasteful.

The fashion this year would surprise my friends in Toronto.
The must-have coat is very, very shiny, plastic coated nylon,
poufy down, quilted. Knee length for women, and waist length
for men. Even little children wear this. The slightly more
elegant people wear the same outfit in either white not shiny,
or brown or dark beige not shiny. So down is very in. On a
cold, rainy day you completely understand the whole thing.

Tell my friend Marcia that the hot water, very modern
radiators in our apartment make it quite warm, and we
heat our towels and even our clothes up on those. It's
lovely. Sensibly, just like in Toronto we turn the heat up
when we're home, and way down when we're out.

Now it's time to head down to the end of our street to buy
a delicious cheese and prosciutto panini (caldo)
heated up, and catch a little bus to the Santa Maria Novella
cathedral to see the Masaccios, then head to the Fortezza
da Basso to sit the show and be entertained by my very
funny friends. Miss you all."

Have an enjoying your life day.

A day for memories

 

Wonder Water Image #6

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 

It's a day for medical procedures for a family member.  All is well.
I've done some sketching, but it's unlikely that I will get to paint
today. I came upon this portrait I did as part of my ocean series.
It showed in the Florence Biennale.  I am working on a portrait
now (not today), and I am happy to have come upon this one 
again because I love it.

The painting is of a brilliant woman, the daughter of a friend.
I've been asked about doing portraits lately, and this work
embodies what I was explaining that I want to do when
I paint someone.  I want to honour them -- to make them happy
with the result.  And of course I want to be happy too.  I am 
delighted with this portrait -- one my favourite works,
and part of so many wonderful experiences. It's been
shown in Florence, Italy, in New York City, and here in
Toronto.

Have a loving your life day!

The other part of the job

 

Flowers for my father

pencil crayon on paper

21 1/2 x 26 inches

Barbara Muir ©
(the drawing was photographed
through glass because it's
framed.)

Oddly enough, I looked at my blog from this time last year, and I was doing the
same thing that I’m doing today. I am so grateful to the wonderful friend helping
me add to my website, and my Instagram posts. I know I'm very lucky indeed.

It was a wonderful weekend, and I’m so happy that the No Jets Toronto protest
worked, and got enough people to sign the Federal government survey about the
Billy Bishop airport to have the federal transportation minister cancel the plans
for expansion. I wish I could’ve been at the rally yesterday to celebrate that win.
Amazing. It looked so cool. With boats out in the water, and everyone holding
signs saying no to the proposal.

So back to work -- wishing you a wonderful week. Thank you so much
for your support.

Have a loving your life day!

Message from last year on a busy day

 

Video of me talking about 

Georgia Fullerton's GASP exercise.

It has been a busy and tiring day.  I'm about to have supper with my 
sweetheart (my husband Steven), and I'm almost recovered from my
eye surgery last Monday.  I found both a video and a post that moved

me.  I sometimes feel so down about the world that it's hard to be
creative. We've had a major win this week with the public making 
it clear that we don't want the Billy Bishop airport expansion on
Toronto island. But still this older post (lightly edited) applies"

"The news is, and has been hard for months.  I feel powerless reading
about wars, famine, politicians fighting for positions, instead of demanding 
ceasefires, (and fires in our country and many others), and that food goes
to the people who are starving to death, that we take
care of the environment. Plus as artists, we still need to create.  It is our
purpose to use our abilities even when things are so grim.  

It was a beautiful day here, if way too hot, and I found a post from a few,
years ago with a very bad video by me about how Georgia Fullerton's
GASP methodis somewhat magical, and worked for me. Forgive the
terrible quality of the video. To put it mildly I am not a techy.

"2020 was when this long, long pandemic began.  We
had no vaccines, and new variants kept coming at us.
One of my friends, the wonderful artist Georgia Fullerton,
held a GASP session for artists on Zoom, to try and inspire us
 to keep going.  I will quote that piece tonight, and show the poor
 quality video I made to go along with the blog post.

"COVID -19 (which by the way continues.  Now add measles

and RSV.  Close friends just had COVID) has shut a lot of
artists down.  We keep trying, but the impetus to paint has been
impacted by the facts -- so many galleries being closed, rare
meetings with other artists. 

On June 26 (a few years ago) Georgia Fullerton held a Zoom
event to introduce her GASP method of painting people's emotions,

and histories. She had wonderful, inspiring guests. And I don't know
about the effect on other artists, but it got me back into the studio
in a pre-COVID-19 way. I'm not saying the art I'm producing is great,
but I feel super painting. The joy of doing it has come back to me.  
I credit Georgia.  Oh and of course my husband Steven who came into the
studio and said he liked the painting I was working on.  We need
that support."

Have a loving your life day.

One story tonight

 

Aerial view of Billy Bishop Island Airport

This is a copy of a post by

Jeffrey P. Jones on Facebook

Jeffrey P. Jones added this explanation. Steven and I both filled in a Transport Canadapublic survey about expanding the Billy Bishop, which currently only deals with small planes. Our Ontario Premier Doug Ford wanted to expand the airport into a major airport accepting 10, million people per year. But 87,000 of us filled in the very skewed survey (which slanted towards making us accept the idead),and said, "No don't do it, this is an insane idea," (phrased much more discreetly of course. We held our breath, and then I read this announcement.

Tomorrow there is a No Jets Toronto walk along Lake Ontario across from the island to celebrate this win. Fingers crossed the win lasts. The parks along Lake Ontario's waterfront are beautiful, and the city needs them. As an artist who loves being near water, and frequently takes walks along the lake, I need these parks.

Here's the announcement shortened by me.

"The federal government has rejected a plan to expand Billy Bishop City Airport in Toronto. Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon issued a statement on Friday saying that he would not proceed with the expansion plan suggested by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

“We will always work collaboratively with our partners in studying the region’s connectivity needs and protecting the interests of local residents,” MacKinnon wrote.

“However, we will not pursue any plans that infringe on treasured public spaces like Little Norway Park or Hanlan’s Point Beach, result in elevated noise, have significant environmental impacts, or hinder Toronto’s ability to build much-needed housing,” he added.

The minister’s comments come on the heels of public consultations which ended Friday after a two-week period and elicited more than 87,000 responses."

So Steven and I are happy tonight, and so are many of our neighbours.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Monthaversary of our wedding!

 

Heart in the sand
B.M. (Barbara Muir)
Loves
S.v.S. (Steven van Schaik)
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2022
(The sand is the red sand on the
 beach we love in Nova Scotia
on the Northumberland Strait.)

It is the Monthaversary of our wedding. My blog was messed up, 
and I apologize. I am not a techie, even though I use technology
and love it.  

Today we are working -- me painting, and Steven in his office
downstairs, and then we'll have a candlelight dinner and toast
one another. It's a beautiful day, so perhaps we'll get to walk
by the lake.

This love heart in the sand is from several summers ago, drawn
on the beach I can't wait to see when we go back to Nova
Scotia this fall.  And yes we know we're lucky to be in love.
Wishing you a happy day, and wonderful weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

Missing Florence

 

View from our apartment terrace when

I stayed in Florence the first time

I exhibited in the Florence Biennale in 2009.

There was a church right against

our building, and that's the Duomo

in the distance.

photo

Barbara Muir © 2009

 It is a beautiful day in Toronto today, but for some reason I am feeling
nostalgic about my time in Florence. Florence was such a beautiful city. 
And I met one of my best friends at the 2015 Florence Biennale--the
wonderful Dutch artist Miranda Brouwers.

Here's what I wrote about Florence in a former blog:

"When I taught positive psychology, I taught my classes to carry a little

sign that said Today, and to make a list of what they wanted to do that
day, and cross things off as they did them.  What I didn't say is that
when unexpected wonderful opportunities come your way, take
part in them if at all possible." 

Next time I'd be sure to add that advice. Going to Florence in 2009
and 2015 to take part in the Florence Biennale was so fantastic. 
I saw this photo and had to include it on this very beautiful day.

Have a loving your life day!