On the road in Fredericton
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011
opens this Saturday between 5 -7 p.m. at Studio
Vogue Gallery. Gill Cameron and I are showing
paintings I think you'd love. So if you're in town
drop by to take a look and say Hi. For the
rest of the week I'll post paintings that are in the
show.
Here's one that you haven't seen. I met this young
lady in the parking lot of an Atlantic Superstore
in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. We were
on our way home, and travelling on to Quebec City --
about a 14 hour trip from our place in Pugwash.
On that glorious day we were listening to a great
audio book in the car, The People of the Book by Geraldine
Brooks. It was one of those books you wish would never
end, and we were transfixed. You can find out what inspired
the author here.
So we stopped for coffee and a bathroom break at the
Superstore and were off. Just as I got back into the car
I saw this great looking girl hop on her bike beside us,
and I asked if I could photograph her to paint her for an
upcoming show. She said "Yes!" eagerly, I took the photos,
gave her a postcard of my New York show, and here's the result.
It's a big painting that I've dreamt of painting ever since
that day. What was wonderful was that the girl's
name was Hannah, and the central character in the
all consuming book was also Hannah. Plus the girl was
just the epitome of youthful confidence and joy -- a
subject I love painting.
Thank you Hannah.
Have an-enjoying-the-kindness-of-strangers day.
