On a run around day -- memories of a lovely cat

 

 

My sweet cat Timbah sat down on my chair

every time I got up to wash my brushes, or

change the water. He was an avid fan of my

work. And I was just his avid fan.

Photo:

Barbara Muir © 

Steven and I have been busy non-stop today organizing,

sorting through photos, letters, documents.  Plus we

drove for a very long time to look at a car.  And we're

glad we did. The second hand dealer was closed, but 

we walked through the parking lot looking, and that
saved us a bad purchase.  So the long road back home and
more planning.  We need a new car.  

But we like the old design -- actually would prefer a sedan
to an SUV.  In short aside from sorting, not a lot of art
got done today. So I found this sweet image of a cat we

loved.  One of my artist friends asked in a post today 

which did we prefer, cats or dogs?  I love both, and

have been lucky to have both for my whole life. There

was a short break in university when I only had a cat, but
since meeting Steven we've been lucky to have had cats 

and dogs.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Monthaversary of our first date to Steven

Peaches for lunch

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Today is the Monthaversary of our first date. Yes we're weird, and
we celebrate that date every month.  Today we went to a sweet
Baby Shower party, and had a wonderful time.  We met such
warm, funny and fascinating people. Nature was very
kind, and waited to rain rather dramatically until the party for
the baby who will be arriving in 10 weeks was finished.

So sweet.  Got back in the car, went home -- and now it's movie
night, which seems suitably celebratory. 

The peaches seem right because I've just eaten one, and they
are a party all on their own. Steven bought a crate of peaches
at the market today and is going to be canning them this week. 
Yum.

Have a loving your life day! 

A happy day in the studio

Summer leaves
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

This seems like the right image on a beautiful summer day like today.

I've been working on finishing a portrait I started years ago, and it's

been so much fun.

My friend Pete Sinjin says that painting is the answer to feeling 
great, and it certainly was today.  I will show you the portrait when
it feels complete.  Nearly there.

Have a loving your life day!

Enjoying each moment

The image here is a little movie I took years

ago while walking on the vast beach

that's created at low tide in the Minas

Basin in Nova Scotia.  

To get an idea of the scale of the cliffs notice the size of the tall

trees, and the houses when you can see them in

the distance.  This is one vast space. The sound is the wind.

My dear friend and I were organizing for a yard sale we were hoping to
have this Sunday when construction popped up on our street.  So we have 
postponed the sale idea to September 7.  If you are in town, or coming back
to town, we have some gorgeous stuff we'll be selling.

The good luck part of the delay is that I got to spend a little time today
with Steven's brother, and a cousin from the Netherlands who we were
meeting for the first time. That was fun and the cousin is a wonderful

man.

I'm including this video of the Bay of Fundy because the conversation
touched on the topic of Maritime tides, and we talked about the Bay of

Fundy.  I love this video.  I'm missing the Maritimes big time.
This is a unique and very special place.

Have a loving your life day! 

The wonderful art of artist Vivian East

The Source

Oil on Canvas

30 x 30 inches

Vivian East ©

Since joining the Heliconian Club in 2019, I've met so many amazing artists.  
Vivian East is one of the artists whose work moves me every time I see it.

She says that art for her is about observation and exploration. She and her husband have traveled all over Canada in a camper, exploring landscapes that affect her visually and inspire her imagination. She works in a variety of media, and that gives her a wide range of possible approaches to what she creates. The other day I sat beside her drinking a coffee in an outdoor café in Edward's Gardens in Toronto. She was drawing a tree with watercolour pencils, and I was impressed with how easily she captured the image in front of us.

About the painting above -- The Source Vivian says,"In the Arctic, moisture is collected from melting snow and channeled in rivulets into streams, rivers and eventually the sea. I am awed by the way life finds a way, even in the harshest climates, and creates remarkable beauty as it goes through the land. Everything is connected-from the rocks to the water, to the plants and animals. We are merely a part of that process."

Primordial
Oil on canvas
17 x 24 inches
Vivian East ©

Vivian explains that, "primordial rocks were formed at the beginning
of the earth. The folding forms are reminiscent of forms seen in animals
-- more proof of our interconnected world."

Primeval landscape
Oil on canvas
15 x 30 inches
Vivian East ©

As you can see, Vivian's work is stunning. Her work belongs in the Art Gallery of

Ontario, and the National Gallery.  She has worked as a teacher, and run her own
art school, but now concentrates on painting, and the world is lucky that she does.

Yes she has available work, you can contact her through the link above.

Have a loving your life day!

The best laid plans of mice and men...

 

Summer love

Acrylic ink and pencil

on watercolour paper

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Forgive me -- the idea is from a Robert Burns poem -- To A Mouse, and the
line I'm thinking of is, "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley."
So today planning to get ready for a yard sale Sunday, and getting ready to
print a flyer, no parking signs went up on our street right in front of our
house.  An hour on line with the city, and then Enbridge, apparently the
company putting up the signs, got us nowhere.  

So.  The plans now are to see if this goes ahead, as neither the city, or 
Enbridge knows about it, and to create ads for a pop-up sale on Friday
and go ahead with the sale Sunday unless the street gets dug between now and
then.  Fingers crossed.  We're going to get ready anyway.

Have a loving your life day!

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!