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!