Last minute portrait

Self-portrait in a sun hat
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

The little self portrait is my last minute entry in
David Lobenberg's Self Love Portrait Paint Out.
I've been thinking about what to paint since he
announced the cut off date -- today, but have
been so busy with other commitments that I
forgot about it, then woke up today thinking
Yeesh! I've got to get that thing happening.

I hauled out the hat I planned to wear, and set
to work. This hat (David insisted on a hat) is
a sunhat with very large fake cloth flowers that
pin on. You can take them off when you're
feeling shy, because believe me when I wear this
hat in the park, people look at me as if I have
completely lost it. Apparently we're all supposed
to be in baseball caps, or Tilley's! I look really
awful in both of those options.

So here's my finished little face. Thanks David
for the challenge and for teaching me to keep
on painting. I hope you let my entry in.

And David -- rock on!

Have a getting-to-know-your-own-face day.

For David Lobenberg

Self portrait
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

Today's painting is a little self-portrait I did for David
Lobenberg's June paint off. It's supposed to be me
looking at the computer and reading David's blog (or
yours). David is a witty writer, excellent painter in
any medium, and is constantly teaching us what
to do.

This painting is a kind of tribute to my blog friends who
have taught me the stylistic elements in the painting --
I never used black before I met all of you. I was
worried that it would look like a velvet painting. Not
true! Frequently I'm writing my blog late at night by
the light of the computer -- which is why it's a dark painting.
Computer light is very flattering -- and that's why my
hair is so bright (aside from the fact that I am a true
bottle blonde). Also I rarely used green until I read
Edward B. Gordon's piece on not having a favorite colour,
and I agreed, and began to use colours I'd avoided --
like green.

By the way July 1st is Canada Day, and Toronto
normally lets off tons and tons of fireworks. But
we're having a garbage strike. So it may be a
quiet holiday. Anyway -- Happy Canada Day!

Have an enjoying-the-day-off-(in Canada) day.