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!