We will never forget you

Constant Inspiration 

Acrylic and faux gold leaf on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

This is my niece Chloé's birthday.  Maybe that explains
the strange things that have been happening -- my unconscious is
missing her profoundly. On her birthday I say the same thing every
year.  We miss you Chloé.

"This would have been my niece Chloé's birthday.  Steven and
I remember when she was born, and we went to the hospital
to see her.  She was premature, and so beautiful. We watched
her grow up.  She lived in Ottawa, and spent a lot of time
at my mother's place on the river.  My mother had a pool and
all of the grandchildren loved being there in the summer. Chloé
was a wonderful person, creative, funny and kind.

Chloé died unexpectedly, and tragically in October, 2017. So
her birthday is a hard reminder of her absence for her family.
I could not sleep last night thinking about her, and wishing
I could have known how to help.  We all think of ourselves
as failed superheroes when tragedy happens to a loved one.

In my heart I hope it would make Chloé happy to know that she
is missed, and despite her early death that she will live on forever
for those who knew and loved her. We still do Chloé."

Have a loving your family day.

 

All in all -- Happy!

Untitled
Work in progress
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

There was a whole lot going on today -- picking up paintings
first thing in the morning, filling in more forms, getting more
help from sweet friends.

On a quick walk we ran into a neighbour thinking of getting
a commission done, and in between all of the other things
I worked on painting the beautiful pansies that are going
outside in their pots when it's warm enough, and coming
in when the weather dips below zero, (Celsius) which it
did today.

And when we went to Ikea for dinner (because we can
mask until we're at our table, and then we're a long way
away from people when we eat) -- the store got evacuated
before we ate our rather delicious dinner.  We have no
idea why.  But when they say please leave, you leave
your delicious salmon, rice and vegetable medallions
on the table, and leave.  When people got outside the
building, they said clear the area -- so? We are home
and safe, and...hungry! And I continued painting.

So here's today's tribute to the beautiful flowers we love.

Have a loving your life day.

Thank you community

Tea Alone

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013,

revised 2023

This has been a busy and tense day. Why? I am not a form person, and it
looks like my newer computer is not a form "person" either. So I’ve spent
the day filling in forms, searching online for links to fill in, and coming
back to find that the form has erased everything I'd already inserted. 
As I had two of these delightful projects going at once, it was 
thrilling if you like desperate, futile effort.

But that isn’t the point of my blog tonight. The wonderful thing is that
in the middle of my freaked out dilemma, people came forward to help me.
And I might actually get the absolutely essential work that had to be done
today, done before midnight tonight.

Thank you everyone. This painting is coming out of a show tomorrow,
and going into a new one next week. It is extremely excited about that news.

Have a loving your life day.

A great night with my art group

Giacomo
Art group sketch

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

I was feeling a bit down today -- so much to do, so little time,
and running behind. So I didn't know whether I should go
and paint with my art group or not, but we had dinner, and I
packed, and went anyway.

I'm so glad I did.  Such wonderful people.  And one of
the artists just got back from Florence, Italy,  -- a favourite
city of mine. So we talked a little bit during the break, and
I found out that another artist studied in Florence for a whole
year.

Here's what I got together in a total of 30 minutes. I felt happy
about it.

Have a loving your life day.

For the love of pansies!

Untitled
Work in progress
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It has been a great day.  As well as getting a lot of drawing
done for an upcoming series, I talked to my wonderful artist friend
in The Netherlands, Miranda Brouwers, and to my fabulous
artist friend in Hamilton, Marcia Labelle Cohen. Sweet connections. 
Another friend is heading down to the Galapagos. So exciting. 

Plus I worked on this almost finished painting of pansies. 
Thia is where I got to today.  I've enjoyed painting these
beauties so much.

Have a loving your life day.

A gorgeous day and more pansies

Untitled
Work in progress
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

Today was what we call spring here.  Not too hot, just
the right cold.  Steven and I went to the lake.  And I 
painted when we were home. The nice thing about
acrylic ink, is that it has to dry, so in between you can
do other things like take a walk, or go to the lake.

I think this is a work in progress, and towards the end
of today's efforts, I was painting while talking to my friend
Flora Doehler, the fabulous artist who lives in Bear River,
Nova Scotia.

Have a loving your life day.

To the market

Pansies in March
Sketch
Acrylic ink on
watercolour paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It is a windy, chilly, rainy day today.  Not too many people are
walking around in Toronto. You do see the odd family, fully 
covered in rain gear, bravely trudging along, but they are rare.

We went to the market to witness high winds, and fog along our
drive, and splashed through big puddles in the inside market to
see the wonderful farmer we go to every weekend when we can.

I bought a lovely, cheery pot of small pansies and sat down to do 
this sketch.  I hope you have a super weekend.

Have a loving your life day.