The Mystery of Manet

Quick sketch of Manet

Black marker on Moleskine paper

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

Based on a photo by Nadar

I drew this little drawing of Édouard Manet
today trying to discover what made him
the heart throb of his era in Paris.  According
to the novel I'm reading, I Always Loved You
by Robin Oliviera, women were in love with
his looks.  He may have been more imposing
wearing the high silk top hat of the time.

But for me he looks a bit too wooly, although
the jaunty polka dot cravat must have been the
height of fashion.

I love Manet's work, and may try to draw
or paint him in more than a hasty sketch.
Drawing someone makes them real to an
artist, and I have never thought about
what Manet looked like before, only about
his work, which was definitely the focus
of my art history classes. 

Have a wondering-about-your-heroes day.

More on the chemistry of art

 Sean

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2007

SOLD ♥

It's been a busy day, so I am showing you
an older piece. Last week at my art group,
there was a great discussion about alla prima
(working from first strokes).  Carol Marine,
whose work I admire greatly, is a wonderfully
decisive painter.  Most of the time I am not
so clear on exactly what I want to happen.  Light
changes, moods change -- the painting
changes.

This painting -- the portrait of Sean --
a super boy I painted in 2007, stands
out in my mind forever as a direct
experience, clear, fluid, easy, and
joyous in its creation.  I've debated
this before on the blog -- wondered why
this happens.  But when it does I am
so grateful.  One of my collectors said,
"your work gets looser looking the longer
you work on it, doesn't it?"  And frequently
that's what happens, but when I painted Sean
it was as if I'd known him forever. 

He was the last in a three part portrait of
his family.  His two sisters Madeline and
Elizabeth were also a joy to paint -- and
perhaps learning their features as I painted
them in the summer and fall of 2006
prepared me for the ease I had with Sean
the next spring. 

Sean, Madeline and Elizabeth
36" x 6'
acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 2006 - 7
SOLD ♥

Have a creating-with-ease day.

Art talks

 Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

I didn't get too far today --what I like about
painting on wood is that if I just use a wash
and then sand the wood, the surface sucks the paint in
and insists on the wood texture. That's why I spent time
reinforcing my lights, and moving some borders.

A wonderful artist friend, came to tea and we talked
about painting. She's taking a course with an instructor
who says the subject isn't the point, it's the paint. I know
what he means, but the point for me is capturing
what I love looking at. And light is what gets me.

I'm reading a novel on Edgar Degas and Mary
Cassatt I Always Loved You by Robin Oliviera.
In the book Mary Cassatt and her friend are
talking about painting the old way --
classically -- and the new way -- like Degas.
It's fascinating to me how new the Degas way still is
for so many painters a century plus later.  The novel's
a delicious read.

Have a getting-the-light day.

Dreaming of hotel breakfasts

 

 Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

It's been a long day -- and I wanted to
paint again.  This is a breakfast painting.
I started drawing on a prepared red wash
piece of birch with a pink coloured pencil,
and soon switched to blue. (Pink didn't show
at all!)

I felt contrary -- if someone's rules say
start with darks, I wanted to start with
highlights.  My inner rebel knows there's
 no 1, 2, 3 to painting.  Also instead of
planning too long -- jump in.  My
inner overbearing mother hands out
advice like candy. 

So I did.  Here's how far I got today.
I'm working from a blown up photo
of a delicious breakfast I had somewhere.
I've forgotten where.  But I know I wasn't
camping, and I know that it was wheeled in
to us on a cart covered in a white cloth.
And I know the china was white, not
hipster black (thank you hotel of my
dreams).  In other words it was perfect.

Have a dreaming-of-romantic-breakfasts day.

Painting fast -- artists need artists

Totally confident 

(art group sketch painting)

Acrylic on canvas

14 x 18 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

It made sense to get back to my art
group tonight.  I dashed over to the
studio, whipped out my paints, and
caught this image of the model
in less than an hour. The title
describes tonight's wonderful model.
She was completely happy with herself.

There weren't many of us there, and
the conversations were intense, funny,
and packed with information.  Everyone
was doing amazing work, and I was just
experiencing paint.  What a treat!

Have a being-with-fellow-artists day.

The magic of drawing and More from the dresser

 Happiness framed

Black marker on moleskine paper

4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015
(I may work on this a bit more
tomorrow)

The little silver frame in the drawing here
has always been a favorite.  But until I
sat down to draw it today I didn't know
why it is so perfect.  I never noticed
that it was surrounded with ribbons
connecting a ring of cornucopias (ae).
Drawing is a gift because it opens
our eyes to what is right there.

As symbols of the abundant life the
horns of plenty couldn't be more perfect
to frame the first person who taught me to be
a mother.  The fun we've had as a
family, with two wonderful sons, and
now a daughter-in-law has been
abundant indeed.

Have an enjoying-the-magic-of-drawing day.

Happy Robbie Burns Day

 

 Crowds at the dresser top

Black marker on Moleskine paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

Happy Robbie Burns Day.  We were lucky
enough to celebrate yesterday with some
diehard fans of the traditional celebration.
The Caledonian is listed as one of Toronto's
best Scottish restaurants, and they do the
event up proud.  There were readings from Burns,
toasts to the Haggis, a brilliant bagpiper,
and highland dancing.  Oh and the food
was delicious.  Glorious evening!

Today's drawing is of the dresser top in
our back bedroom, where we've been
essentially camping out since October.
In the cold it's one of the warmest rooms
in the house -- but this still life is a bit
more crowded than it would be if half
of these items migrated down the hall.

See if you can pick out my son's
monster clay sculpture in the midst of
this.  I like it because basically it is just
a glossy (glazed) lump of brownish
green clay, with a great big tongue
sticking out of it.  A helpful symbol
if you were having a bad day.

I have had a delightful day, and hope
you have too. 

Have a drawing-your-life day.