The demand for loose

Grey Love 

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

In my art sometimes I'm loose, and sometimes uptight.
I like some of the work that develops from both states,
so I can't yell out that loose is better -- but I sure enjoy
watching loose painters like Susan Rothenberg, and
Bob Burridge paint.

In the past week I've watched videos of a few super
loose and dynamic painters painting, which is
probably why I could get this portrait painted last
night at my art group in such a short time.  I felt
happy to have a good size canvas prepared.  I loved
having a group of creative people around me --
and away I went.

Seeing the model at first, who was shy, (and I didn't get his
name, I'm sorry), I would not have expected this painting.  But
it flew out of me, and the model was brilliantly inspiring
in his steady, non assuming pose.

So there you have it.  Thank you to loose painters everywhere.
I will join you from time to time. And thank you to my
art group.

Have a painting the town day.

Conquering Fear and Flashback Friday

Look at this

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

A friend and I were talking today about fear of the unknown, 

and how it hinders an artist's life.  Then I was looking for a photo

of my art for a Facebook cover, and found this image of my son
and his then girlfriend, now wife, Megan.  It was a Skype painting.
Enter fear.

I was afraid of starting a blog, and my friend and fabulous
artist Flora Doehler persuaded me to do it.  Christopher
was going to teach in Korea for a year, and helped me
get started before he left.  Once he and Megan were in Korea, Skype
was the best way to talk, and not feel so far away.  During
conversations with Christopher I'd draw him on sticky notes
or whatever was on my desk.  Then I did a little sketch painting
of my friend Flora via Skype, and published it on my blog.

When Chris and Megan were heading for Korea I was so
anxious about those two being so far away -- a 14 hour plane
trip.  When I started using Skype I was afraid I'd mess it up.
But I got a job via New York company drawing people via Skype at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and did not
know that my Skype images were being broadcast on a huge
screen at the show. That connection led to journalist Howard
Wolinsky from Chicago calling and asking to see my Skype
paintings. Howard interviewed me on a YouTube video for the Skype
blog, I was terrified.  He asked me if I could get some new paintings
together in a week, so I did.  (Deadlines always help).

Oprah Winfrey's people saw Howard's YouTube video, and asked me to
be on a show called Where In The Skype Are You?

 Oprah?

I have never been so frightened in my life. But I did it -- and do
 you see where I'm going with this?  Essentially if you follow the
 dots -- Christopher and Megan going to Korea got me on Oprah.
And that show got me media attention, invitations to exhibit in art
shows internationally.

So yes fear is bad, and yes there are things to fear -- but some of
the things we fear -- especially when it comes to art -- will bring
us miracles.

Oh yes.  This is important!  After a year in Korea Christopher
came back to Toronto to work as a photographer, and then a director of
videos. Megan is working on her PhD in Early Childhood Development.
They are married now, and have a beautiful, brilliant daughter --
Alice.

Have a letting your fear go day.

Sorting Saturday -- wonderful finds in my photo files

Madeline

Acrylic and silver leaf on canvas

24 x 36 inches

Barbara Muir © 2006

I'm going to call today "Sorting through Saturday".  This
painting popped out at me when I was going through my
 photo files and I realized it was one of my favourites. I
like it--I love how loose it is, how it captures that little girl,
Madeline, so well, and the sterling silver leaf used on the front
of her dress -- which I had to repair after the painting sold,
because I'd been using gold leaf which doesn't tarnish on other
works, and I didn't know then that you have to glaze silver leaf
 so that it doesn't.

That was painted in 2006 when Madeline was 11, so she must
be 21 now.  The last time I saw her I was visiting her mother (the collector's)
house when Madeline was about 16.  Not surprisingly
she had grown up into a beautiful young woman.

Timbah (left) and Fiona in the cat train

She was a pleasure to paint.  In between sittings we used to go
and sit in the garden to talk sometimes, and she got us to make
a "train" out of boxes for the cats to pull along the floor.  She said
that the cats wanted a train, and she was right.  They did.

Have a fun sorting your things Saturday

Back to my art group again, and Happy Halloween!

Lillian 

Art Group Sketch

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

Hi everyone,

Tonight I went to paint with my art group again.  We had a wonderful
model, Lillian, who in her regular business life (outside of modeling)
travels all over the world, and has lived in the middle east, the U.S.
and for now makes Toronto her home.  She loves travel, and I am with her there.

I find that to be together for model night at my art group, I need prep
the canvas beforehand.  So I gessoed this canvas, and wiped on an
underpainting of blue.  Painting with my group I considered either moving
out of the blue, and painting a more realistic painting,
or staying with mostly blue and mauve.  That seemed to work better
in the short time I had.  I am happy with the mood, and it was fun to do.
Thanks again art group.

Steven in the door ready to hand out candy,
and the Pumpkin Princess hanging over
one of the shutters.  A friend persuaded
me to display her this way.

.

Here's what I was working on for Halloween.  I didn't completely finish what
I'd planned, but she worked out just fine, and may be improved for next Halloween.
She's a pumpkin princess, with wings, and is the antidote to the grim side of
Halloween, that I've never liked, and it seems to get worse each year.
Pumpkin Princess is trying to lighten the mood a bit.  She thinks we need
more fun, and less scary.  Or her creator does.  She's made out of canvas, and
although I didn't finish painting the back, she was sewn together and her wings
were stuffed. Our approach definitely appealed to mothers and fathers with small
children out trick or treating. So much fun!

Have a loving your creative life day.

Just in -- a video of my work in New York City -- go and check it out!

Hi Everyone,

My wonderful gallery in New York City, the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery,
just sent me a sweet video of my work on display there until the end of
October.  If you are in NYC please go and check it out at 531 West 25th
Street- Ground Floor-Chelsea New York.  And if you know a collector
who needs a special painting of a gorgeous Maritime landscape
take that collector along.

My price for the 30 x 30 inch works is $2500 USD.  The 36 x 48 inch
piece -- "Higher Love" is $3500 USD.

Have a going to New York and buying art day -- or call the gallery
and put in your order at 212-255-9050 and ask for Ruthie Tucker the
Executive Director.  Or email amsterdamwhitney@aol.com

Back to my art group -- a wonderful night!

Michelle -- Art Group Sketch

Acrylic on canvas

14 x 18 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

I've been a member of the Don Valley Art Club for
15 years.  One of the best things about that for me
is the portrait and figure drawing evenings held once
a week.  For the past two years a variety of injuries
and teaching assignments have mostly kept me away,
and I was missing it keenly.

So this week I got some help (carrying is not my
strong suit since I broke my arm last winter), and
joined my group again!  Yay!  What a welcome!
And a lovely hour and a half of painting followed.

There is something so inspiring about working
beside other artists whose work you love.  And a
live model is a particularly wonderful treat.

Michelle #2 -- Art Group Sketch

Acrylic on Birch Panel

6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

In this case Michelle was an engaging and lovely
model.  I set up beside Frank Pasian, who always
produces multiples in an evening, and inspired by him
worked on two sketches.  Both make me happy.

Have a working with your art friends day.

Goodbye to a wonderful show, and hello to what's next

Me and Gabrielle Fischer Horvath with my painting Cloud Magic

Cloud Magic

Acrylic on canvas

4 feet x 6 feet

Barbara Muir © 2018

Photo courtesy Gabrielle Fischer Horvath

The Water for Life show is one of the longest running exhibitions
I've ever been part of.  It started out in Niagara Falls at the Niagara
Falls History Museum in May of this year, and was featured there
until September. The show took a brief break and then moved to
Toronto to join with the Passion for Life exhibition at the Arta
Gallery this past weekend, and add to its purpose.

Angelina Herrera, international curator and Antoine Gaber Artistic Director of the

Passion for Life and Water for Life exhibition in Toronto

with my painting Cloud Magic at the opening.
Photo courtesy Antoine Gaber.

Some of my friends

Georgia Fullerton, me, Pooja Chauhan, Naomi Phan

Photo courtesy Georgia Fullerton

Initially conceived by Antoine Gaber and Angelina Herrera
as a way of uniting international artists in an exhibition to
honour water, and our dependence on it, plus to champion
every person on the planet's right to clean water,
it added to this mission in Toronto.  Here the exhibition got
behind the cause of breast cancer research, and each artist
contributed part of the value of their work to the cause.

Georgia Fullerton and I enjoying the super atmosphere at

the Passion for Life/Water for Life opening 

Photo courtesy Pooja Chauhan

I enjoyed the opening so much on Friday October 12.  There
was such a feeling of both friendship and hope.  And it was a
beautiful exhibition.  My work Cloud Magic that had been
on display in both shows was in a gorgeous spot the moment
you walked into the space at the Arta Gallery.

Thank you to Antoine Gaber and Angelina Herrera for giving
me the unique privilege to be part of these dynamic shows,
and to gain a whole new community of artist friends around
the world.  Woo Hoo!  It was amazing.

Have a loving the people you work with day.