An art packed weekend

In The Right Place At The Right Time

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I submitted 5 images for a slide show that is happening tomorrow

night at the Art Gallery of Ontario -- Toronto's major public 
gallery.  This is one of them, and I hope it's in the show.

The slide show is  part of a celebration for the Heliconian
Hall's 150 year birthday.  So if you're at the AGO tomorrow 

night, there will be an evening of music, plays, readings, and
my work with 21 other Heliconian artists being projected in a
loop on the wall of the Atrium.  Admission is free if you're a
gallery member.

Then on Saturday it's the opening of the World in a City show, 
which I'm in with my friend Georgia Fullerton's work.  We 
were asked to invite a guest artist, and I invited Georgia.
That opening (with treats and coffee) takes place at the
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto from 2-5 pm.,
Saturday May 2. And as always it's free. 

Have a loving your life day!

Two years ago in Paris

Pete Sinjin and me beside the river

Seine in Paris two years 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

 If you're in New York City (Brooklyn) this weekend on May 1, do
yourself a favour and go to Collier West Gallery, 369 Atlantic Avenue
from 6-8 pm. and see Pete Sinjin's beautiful work.  One of the magical
moments in my life in the past year happened when my husband gave
me a super Pete Sinjin painting for my birthday.  I was beyond thrilled.
Here's what I wrote a year ago about meeting Pete.

"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 the scene he was
painting and then holding his paint brush in the air. 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 possible 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.

P.S. On Friday night in Toronto at the Art Gallery of Ontario my work will
be part of a slide show presenting work of artists from the Heliconian art
club in the Atrium beginning at 6 p.m. Steven and I will be thinking of
you Pete.  

 

Time travel Tuesday

 

Part of the show 5 of the 50 paintings I had on view

a year ago in April 2025 at my solo show at the

Heliconian Hall.  This April The Colour

of Light is on at the Hall until tomorrow night

with Vivian East, Henrietta Walmark

and me. 

© Barbara Muir 2025

The past month has been super busy, and this week The Colour of Light
comes down on Thursday morning, and World in a City goes up that same
morning. So I am painting, trying to get my taxes ready, and a family
member has had two MRIs in the past week.  There's a lot going on.

Friday night sometime between 6 and 8 I believe the Heliconian Club,
where the shows I described above are happening at 35 Hazelton
Avenue is having a contemporary members' art shown on the wall
of the Art Gallery of Ontario's atrium.  And I am one of those artists.
So I'm pretty excited.

I just want to thank the Heliconian members so much for their help
and inspiration.  

In this case the excitement comes from time travel in the present, time

travel a year ago, and looking forward to Friday.

Have a loving your life day!

World in a City Opening May 2- 5 pm. Heliconian Hall Toronto

 

Spring Break Shoreline The Beaches
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2026
(I submitted this image to the show,
and 3 others.)

The Heliconian Hall, center of the Heliconian Club is inspiring in its
constant level of high activity. For those of us in The Colour of Light --
me, Henrietta Walmark and Vivian East, we go straight from the 
excitement of our own show, to a wonderful opportunity to express
our love of our city, and invite in guest artists to add to the delight.

I will be telling you more about it in my next posts.  I invited the
super fantastic artist, my friend Georgia Fullerton. Lucky you when
you come to the opening, because her work is beautiful, dynamic
and abstract. 

Have a loving your life day!

Thinking about Earth Day

 

Bluebird (family Musicapidae)

on a coffee cup

Bird Study #1

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

© Barbara Muir

Today was a wonderful family art day, plus we walked to
Cedarvale Park and enjoyed the freedom of the wide spaces,

and beautiful trees. I was super busy on Earth Day, but want to
honour it. Here's what I said in a former post:

"Nature is constantly reminding us about why she
matters.  So as I say every Earth Day, let's stop the wars,
and get more environmentally intelligent vehicles.  In
Ontario if you're driving an electric car it isn't better for
the environment because our electricity comes from nuclear
power, the most toxic and perpetually harmful method of
creating energy possible.  But the industry has infinite
political support from our current provincial government,
which is sad.

Enough. I love the planet. I don't have the answers. But
let's work on them together for this guy, and for us and
our children."

Have a loving your life day!

Belated Happy Monthaversary Steven and Happy Birthday Hugo

 

Left to right Marnix, Rolf Leemeijer, Miranda Brouwers, Hugo and me.

in front of my painting Dream Selfie -- Wonder Water Image #7
Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2016

I had the last opening of The Colour of Light yesterday,
and am behind on my greetings. Happy belated Monthaversary
(April 24) to Steven for our wedding Monthaversary, and Happy
Birthday to Hugo, one of my friend Miranda's two wonderful sons. 
Here's what I said in a former post:

"Today is Hugo Leemeijer's, birthday, (actually April 23rd)
a young man who I met when Steven and I were in Paris in
2016. Miranda Brouwers, and I were both showing in the
Carrousel du Louvre show in the Louvre. We met Hugo, his
brother Marnix, and their father, Miranda's husband, Rolf. 
We had so much fun. Happy Birthday Hugo. I hope you had
a wonderful day, and that you'll have a terrific year.  We are all
wishing you a super time.

I'm thinking of Miranda and her family today. One of the
things I love about my blog, and Instagram is the ability
to keep in touch with friends and family around the world.

As I said in a former blog, "my friendship with Miranda is
one of the loveliest relationships in my life. We talk on the
phone across the great Atlantic Ocean once a week whenever
possible, and always enjoy one another. (She's in The
Netherlands, and I'm here in Toronto, Canada.)"

I am so lucky to have sweet friendships in my life,
and am very grateful to Vivian East and Henrietta
Walmark for our wonderful show The Colour of Light
that comes down on Thursday morning.

It's movie night. I hope you're having a great weekend.

Have a loving your life day!

Our show on video link and a great last opening

 https://youtu.be/D0n4BaqInso?si=0f_cXV7ACqXVqRnM

Picnic in the kitchen
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2026

SOLD ♥ 

Hi everyone, if you want to see The Colour of Light on until April 29, 
just hit the link above to see the YouTube version.  I had some sweet sales
today. A dear friend Peter shot the video, and titled it with my name, but
 the show features the work of Vivian East, Henrietta Walmark and me. 
And it is a wonderful exhibition available by appointment only now through
The Heliconian Club, and 35 Hazelton Ave. Toronto

Sorry I can't figure out how to get the video to show up live in my blog.

Have a loving your life day!

See you tomorrow at the last opening of The Colour of Light

Our garden

(after John Singer Sargent's

In A Garden Corfu)

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

This beauty is one of 16 paintings I have in the show The 
Colour of Light with the fabulous photogapher Henrietta
Walmark, and the magnificent painter Vivian East.  It's

a spectacular show, so please come and see it at 35
Hazelton Ave., Toronto from 1- 3 p.m.  Yes I will be

there, and can't wait to see you!

Today has been spectacular, and I hope you had a great day!

Have a loving your life day!

A happy day!

 

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

(The upper left corner
work is revised and in The 
Colour of Light show 
going on at the Heliconian Hall.
You can see it Friday from
1-3 pm.)

I went to see a good friend today, and as always we had fun.
Plus I spoke to a dear artist friend in The Netherlands. So
I saw this image in my posts, and it's a perfect, sunny spring day,

so it seemed right for today. The French toast image in the lower right
corner made me especially happy because Steven, my husband,

brings me a breakfast in bed -- French toast, maple syrup and coffee
every weekend. So fun. Happy Monthaversary of our first date to Steven.

And Happy Earth Day. Let's try to save this beautiful planet.

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.
That was fantastic. Super exciting. 

It's been a very busy month.  I hope you've been having
a good time .

Have a loving your life day!

Please come and see The Colour of Light show this Friday from 1-3 pm.

 The last opening is listed at the bottom of the

invitation -- Friday, April 24 from 1 - 3 pm.

Free -- and free goodies and coffee

Hi everyone I'd love to see you at the last opening of  The Colour of Light
on Friday April 24 from 1 - 3 p.m. at The Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton
Ave., which looks like a church, but isn't. We will have delicious goodies. There
may be some music happening.  Yes the show is what's on our minds
around here. It's one of the most beautiful shows I've been in and |
we're all pretty excited, so we can't wait to welcome you!

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

Have a loving your life day!

We miss you Patti-Anne

 

Patti-Anne

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Our friend Patti-Anne died suddenly two years ago.  Today's post

is a combination of things I've written about her.

"One of the powerful truths about portraits is that they make the
person feel present when you look at them, I wish Patti-Anne
was still with us, she died way too young, and if her doctor had
been more knowledgeable, it probably wouldn't have happened.

I'm combining some blog posts about Patti-Anne and the painting
today. Patti-Anne died  of an aneurysm.  She'd been experiencing severe 
headaches for more than a week.  The doctor gave her Tylenol on her first visit,
and when she went back a week later still with severe headaches, the doctor
prescribed an antibiotic. Here is the post I wrote last year slightly edited.

"I painted this portrait of Patti-Anne Fitzpatrick before I started my blog,
16 years ago, and before I understood that I needed good quality photos
of my work.  Patti-Anne died yesterday when she was taken off life
supports after suffering a severe aneurysm.  She is profoundly missed.

I thought I'd share this blog post I wrote about her when I had so much
fun painting her portrait. It was long before COVID and she sat
and posed for me in my studio.

"Patti-Anne, my former boss Frank's wife, is what Frank would
 describe as, "beyond gorgeous," and a very funny woman.
One of her favourite expressions is,"too funny!" as she cracks up
watching a comedy skit. She is also a pro golfer, so when Frank
asked me to paint her, I knew I had to honour her love of the
outdoors.

Of course she posed in my studio, but I placed her on my back
porch, with a sunny, abstract floral background. I love the energy
in the painting -- her athletic strength and femininity coming through,
and the clear expression of the sparkling sense of humour I enjoyed
so much while she sat for the portrait."

Goodbye Patti-Anne, we miss everything about you." 

Have a loving your people day!

A remarkable day

 

Some guests at the happy Wedding Anniversary
(which was packed)

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2026

Don Thompson pianist and Kye Marshall cellist
at the from Bach to Bop concert

at the Heliconian Hall this afternoon

(a fantastic concert)

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2026

What a day! First a delightful afternoon party for our friends' wedding 
anniversary -- with delicious treats, wine, cake and champagne.
It was so much fun seeing friends from the neighbourhood, and friends
who have moved away. Sweet.

Then a concert at the Heliconian Hall that was wonderful with
Kye Marshall and Don Thompson. And Kye
Marshall introduced we three artists in The Colour of
Light Show at the intermission.  So fabulous.

I hope you had a fantastic day.  Please come out to the last 
opening of our show The Colour of Light on Friday, April
24, at 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, from 1 - 3 p.m.

Have a loving your life day!

And suddenly it begins-- spring

Mario's Forsythia

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2026

Now that we're back in the city (Toronto), we're happy to be back
with our animals and in our familiar house that looks better than
 ever since we've been away. Ottawa is on the verge of spring,
 but it's not quite happening. And there is still quite a bit of snow.

Today on our drive to the market we saw forsythia everywhere and 
blue scilla or bluebells blanketing lawns and hills -- so beautiful.
Plus we saw some white magnolia trees coming into bloom.  I was
laughing with joy as we drove along.  The whole city is a visual treat.

It's movie night, so that's it for today.

Have a loving your life day! 

Sweet holiday -- now the work begins again

 

The Blue Sweater
acrylic on canvas
24" x 36"

Barbara Muir © 
(Happy Birthday to this
wonderful woman!)

Of course artists don’t get holidays. I wrote my blog every day and
posted on Instagram. But Steven and I spent a few days in Ottawa
while he worked on contacts for a new contract. And for me just
being away from my studio which, yes I love, was a holiday.
Also the drive was so inspiring that I have hundreds of reference
photos for new paintings! Wow!

If you’re in Toronto please come out to the fourth and last opening
of The Colour of Light on April 24 between 1-3 pm. As always the
show is free and there will be goodies, cookies and coffee. We’d love
to see you. And it’s a beautiful show! 

Have a loving your life day!

Visiting relatives and staying happy

Loving the kitchen china

Acrylic on canvas

24" x 48"

Barbara Muir ©

SOLD ♥ 

It's late and we just got home from a delightful visit with 
family.  This former blog came up when I was scrolling and
it seemed right for today so here goes:

"Reading the paper there's an interview with a woman knocking
the current desire to stay young when in fact you're not.  She
is slamming the whole concept of staying fit and eating right
as an aid to growing old gracefully.  Okay.  As a writer I know
that this is a writer's trick.  You can research and find evidence
to back up any theory. And a book going against a trend is always
going to provoke controversy.  But I prefer the anecdotal.  The people
I know, including close relatives, who have followed the stay
fit and eat well formula are living fairly great, vigorous older lives.

I'll add one though -- staying happy.  Another journalist did
a book about how bogus the positive thinking idea was.

Is it?  I don't think so.  I think happiness is one of the (most) important
goals in life. So I believe if we do our best to stay fit and to stay happy
we may have a shot at enjoying life now, and when we're older.
I have had hardship in my life.  I had a near fatal illness 10 years ago.
Very close family members have been ill.  Both friends and family have died.
But I think happiness after grief has diminished is both a choice, and
a job.  Take today.  My desk is piled with papers.   my email inbox
needs attention, I have painting work to do.  But what's at the core
of this activity and this life? Me.  If I don't take care of me, I will
be...not.  So every now and then I tell myself a slightly distorted story,
and say I have nothing to do.

Am I crazy?  No I am probably one of the sanest people you know.  And
for the next half hour I'm sticking to my story and reading my book.
Then I'll contradict myself, make my list and get on with it.

P.S. I taught Positive Psych for 10 years, and learning how to be
happy definitely helps people have more fulfilling lives."

Have a loving your life day!

World Art Day

 

In the right place at the right time

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016
SOLD ♥

I love the concept of World Art Day honouring artists, and I feel very 
lucky to have seen some great places in the world through my art, (Paris,
Florence, Italy, New York City) and to have friends in places I haven't
visited (yet) through art. One of my best friends is in the Netherlands,

where I haven't been yet, and she got this painting into an exhibition
there. Miracles happen through art. That friend and I met at the
Florence Biennale. And this painting is of a nature conservation
area called The Worp in the Netherlands. It sold last year to a 

collector in Toronto.

To all my artist friends, and all the wonderful collectors and art
show curators -- thank you so much.

Have a loving your life day!

Pansies are back and 10 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 © 

10 Reasons to be Happy

Those of you who follow me know I love the exercise I
started when I was teaching Positive Psychology -- so

here goes:

1.  The pansies are back and I have two pots of the 
beauties on my front porch.

2. It was a gorgeous rainy and sunny day today and
Steven and I took lovely drives to get lunch and dinner.
(Steven knows I love the sound and feel of water 
splashing up against the car when we drive through

puddles.)

3. Steven is taking the week off, so I am joining him
as much as possible, and having fun.

4. We saw a dear friend today who we haven't seen for
months.

5. We had coffee with family and laughed and talked
about everything.

6. I got new sunglasses for just about nothing, and
hope they work.

7. We sat eating lunch in the car in a beautiful spot by water as
the rain fell down, and as the rain slowed down we 
opened the windows and heard every kind of bird 
singing. It was sweet.

8. I am enjoying reading a great novel. 

9. I am more than delighted that you come and support me here.

10. Tomorrow is another holiday day -- a miracle after
two months of solid work preparing for the super show

The Colour of Light, on at the Heliconian Hall, 35
Hazelton Ave. in Toronto for the month of April. 
Please come to the next opening April 24 from 1-3 p.m. 
Free coffee, cookies, treats -- and of course the show is

free.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Spring -- a gorgeous day!

 

Looking forward to full on spring
Daffodils from the farm
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

It was a beautiful day today.  I worked with a friend trying to get images ready
for an exciting project that's coming up. (More on that later).

Steven and I took a sweet drive while I did endless cloud research.
The clouds today were magnificent.  It's late and we are just going
out for dinner.  So more tomorrow.

Have a loving your life day!

This painting made people happy

Spring beginning
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
BarbaraMuir © Revised 2026

This painting got a lot of attention at our openings, which made me happy. 
I revised the painting changing quite a bit for The Colour of Light show,

because the colour of our backyard is always inspiring.

It's been an incredibly busy weekend. We attended an event about the
Heliconian artists from early last century on Friday night, an opening
yesterday.  And today was family art day -- working on decorating 
boxes and collage.  A lot of fun.

Sorry I don't have a better photo of the work. I'll get one and post it

soon.

Have a loving your life day!

 

Art Show and National Pets Day

 

Left to right Monet, and Sally 

both female

Photos

Barbara Muir © 1. 2022, 2. 2021, 

What did I do?  I went to a delightful art show at Kingsway Lambton
United Church because my friend Vivian East who is in the show
The Colour of Light at The Heliconian Hall with me and Henrietta Walmark
for the month of April was exhibiting at the church. Artists had their own areas, and
Vivian's work was magnificent, but I spent all of my time there talking to Vivian
and other wonderful artists and guests, and didn't take a photo. 

At home I made phone calls, handed out invitations for our April 24th
opening of The Colour of  Light show, at Heliconian Hall, from 1 - 3 p.m.
Plus I went to the lake (Lake Ontario) with Steven and saw our friends
at Al Pacones who loved the work at The Heliconian. Then we saw the ducks, 

the swans, and the geese. It was beautiful. I hope you had a good day too.

It is National Pets' Day in Canada today. We love our pets, and they
love us.  That's worth celebrating.

Now it's movie night. 

Have a loving your life day!

Library & Archives Unshelved: Artists of the Heliconian Club open house event

Archival material and ephemera from the Special Collections
and Heliconian Club File, collection of the
Edward P. Taylor Library & Archives, at the AGO 

(Art Gallery of Ontario)
Image courtesy The Art Gallery of Ontario

Today Steven and I enjoyed a very cool event at the Art Gallery
of Ontario showcasing art and memorabilia from the AGO Library
and Archives collections featuring artists from The Heliconian 
Club -- and as you know I'm a current member. The Heliconian
Club was formed in 1909, but took over the Heliconian Hall
on Hazelton Avenue in Toronto in 1923

Here's how the AGO described today's event:

"Friday April 10, 2026, 6-8 PM (drop-in)

Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study Centre,
Art Gallery of Ontario

This drop-in series, hosted by AGO librarians and archivists,
offers visitors a first-hand glimpse of highlights from the
AGO Library & Archives collections.

In this installment, Acting Special Collections Archivist
Camille McDayter will share archival materials relating
to the lives and careers of women artists who were
members of Toronto’s Heliconian Club. This year marks
the 150th anniversary of the construction of Heliconian Hall,
home to the club since 1923. 

The display will feature a selection of photographs, sketches,
 correspondence, and ephemera, shown alongside works
 on paper from the AGO’s Prints & Drawings vault.

Please visit the Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study
Centre at any point between 6 and 8 PM to experience
 this glimpse into Toronto’s artistic history."

So we did visit, and so did many members of the Heliconian
Club, and many art appreciators, artists and collectors.
It was a wonderful event.  

Have a loving your life day!

An amazing day yesterday

Flowers for you
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 18 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026

SOLD ♥

As I told you a  wonderful opening took place yesterday at the
Heliconian Hall for the Colour of Light show on all month by
appointment and open for viewing on April 24 from 1-3 pm. 
This painting sold based on a gorgeous bouquet I bought from
Marvellous| Edible farms at the Brickworks market in Toronto
last fall.  The collector has a beautiful art collection and I feel
honoured to be part of it.

This show has been an exciting and in a way brand new art
experience for me.  Our determination to be kind and
fair to one another from the start of this idea has made

the whole experience a pleasure.

I was just discussing change with an artist friend

yesterday.  And apparently 330 billion of our cells
renew every day.  That sounds like a lot, but
apparently it's only 1% of the total you. So we are

changing every minute of every day. What a great
idea. To all the guests who came yesterday who
"use to be" artists. You still are.  Just begin again.
The world will be delighted that you did.

Tonight I felt completely happy and content, having
immersed myself this past week in our art
openings.  And I thank you for this magnificent time
we've all shared in great conversations.

To everyone who volunteered to help us, and to all
of our visitors -- thank you.

Have a loving your life day!

Super opening today at the Colour of Light exhibition

Picnic at home
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026
(and my husband and I
did picnic at home tonight.)

A delightful opening at the Colour of Light opening today at the Heliconian Hall.

I met so many people from all over the world! So cool.  People really enjoyed the
show.  I don't think I've showed you this painting before. The show is up for the month of
April, so I will try and show you more of my work in the show as April continues.

Our next and last opening is on April 24 from 1-3 pm.  We'd love to see you there.

My thanks to all of my friends and collectors who came out today, and to 
everyone who helped with the show -- thank you! To Steven, my husband who
has helped infinitely. And of course my thanks goes to Henrietta Walmark the wonderful
photographer who inspired the show, and Vivian East who very kindly decided to
join us, and whose paintings are awesome.

Now for a bit of rest before the next exciting artistic adventure.

Have a loving your life day!

Please come and see our wonderful show tomorrow April 8, 4 - 7:30

I brought us a picnic
Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2026

Tomorrow there is an opening of The Colour of Light between 4 and 7:30
This is the third opening of The Colour of Light - featuring the

fabulous painter, Vivian East, and the amazing photographer Henrietta
Walmark, and my art at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Avenue
from 4 - 7:30 p.m.

I hope you'll come out -- I'd love to see you. People have really enjoyed the
exhibition, and said it's a happy escape from the news. That's part of what
we're hoping to do -- make people happy. Once again we'll have treats, and
it will be a good time. Our visitors on Friday and Saturday loved being there. 
So much fun and beautiful art!

Have a loving your life day!

Happy day off

 

Pip the Lionhead 

rabbit delivers eggs

8 x 8 inchs

Acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir © 2015

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend too. We are 
lucky that today is a day off for both of us.  This is another
kind of bunny. We are not religious at all, but we do like the bunny
and egg fun -- which goes way, way back in history.

It's a short post today.  Wishing you a fabulous day whether you're
hard at work, or like us, deciding how we'd like to spend the day.
Perhaps a trip to the lake would be good although it is very
cold today.

Wishing you a happy day whatever you are celebrating. 

Have a loving your life day!