Not painting is like not being in love

 

Kitchen dress up
(not quite finished)

12 x 16 inches

acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 2011

First of all Happy St. Patrick's Day. 

Why paint?  Who me?  Yes I hear you asking
that question and I'm almost embarrassed to tell
you the answer.  To not paint, for me is like not
being in love.  I've had a boyfriend except for the
year I was 12 since I was three.  (Please don't
tell my children), and I started painting at four
(once again keep this to yourself.) As an exuberant
human (good therapy has helped me define that as
a good thing), I love people.  Can't help it.  I love
my husband, my family and most of the people
I meet in my daily life.  In that I am unusually
lucky and blessed.  And I love painting.

Painting people -- absolutely ideal: people + painting =
happy.  We all know the negative side of a love
relationship -- the quarrels, the misunderstandings,
the separations, but what about the delicious fulfillment
of being with someone who makes you laugh, sing,
dance and decide that life is one of the best gigs going?
That is why I love painting too.  It does all of those
things for me.

Forgive me now.  I have a date with a paint store.
Got to go get more canvas, more paint and continue
this passion of mine.  Thanks for sharing your passion
for this activity with me. And to Steven the source of
my joy, thank you too.  Now to all of you who keep
me focused on this wonderful art, thank you.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Barbara
 P.S.  This blog post was inspired by the
 super TED video on Alyson Stanfield's 
artbizblog today, I am answering the
question posed there -- which is 'why do you do
what you do?'