Happy Halloween

Steven in the door waiting for

Trick or Treaters.

Many came tonight.
This is a photo from a couple
of years ago.  Tonight we were
masked, and in winter coats because it was
very cold. 

Tonight I put on one of my nice, dressy warm winter dresses,
and a witch's hat and stood on the front porch in the cold
letting kids come, and pick halloween chocolate bars out of
a basket on our porch.  It was so much fun. After an hour or so
I had to look for my warmest winter coat, and even put on gloves
towards the end of the night.

Our next door neighbour was out giving out candy
too.  The children's costumes were wonderful, and not one Barbie
costume, even though it was predicted they would dominate the
scene. And the kids were sweet -- so polite, careful not to take too
much candy even when we said they could.  

So that was Halloween this year. Sweet.  I ate about five chocolates,
and then had a super dinner with Steven when it was over.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy day before Halloween

Me at the gala opening with

the fabulous Ruthie Tucker

I was looking for a photo of me in a witch's hat because tomorrow
is Halloween -- a special day for me.  So I didn't find one, but 
I found this photo of me with the gallery Director at the Amsterdam
Whitney Gallery in New York City, Ruthie Tucker, taken 12 years ago. 
How is that relevant?  I got a beautiful note from Ruthie today, and
she is one of my favourite people -- plus I am very happy today, and
this photo captures the feeling of exuberant joy I'm feeling. Thank you
Ruthie for all that you've done for me.

The conversation continues

Left to right: Listening across oceans; Late night

in Norway; and The best news right here

This is my series based on Skype images taken of

conversations with my friend the artist Henriette Sonne

in Norway, who I met at the Florence
Biennale in Florence, Italy, in 2009.
( love this series, and am thinking of working
on some portraits in the near future.)

The world is in turmoil. We need small moments of joy so we can
continue to do whatever it takes to change the horrendous events
we're witnessing. 

Have a changing the world day.

Need to get ready for Halloween

 

Our porch on a rainy, windy Halloween night.

The canvas pumpkin princess reigns supreme.

She is pinned at the bottom, and

stuffed with newspapers.  We 

recycle the paper.  She goes flat and

rolls up to be put away for next year
when the fun is over. 

I am so inspired by the artists I follow today. And by the gorgeous
fall day we've enjoyed.  Cold, a bit rainy, then sunny, and beautiful.
We are not ready for Halloween.  We have the pumpkins, but
Steven hasn't carved them.  But hey we've just put 
up our pumpkin princess.  I am not into the death's head,
gruesome part of Halloween, all the more unpleasant when
friends have died -- as is true of the past few years.

Still I love the spirit of celebration -- so we've bought the
candy, and we'll figure out a way to give it out safely. We will
be masked. 

The image today is from an earlier Halloween when we were
ready. Check. It will look a lot like that again.  We did buy
10 little pumpkins and put them along the walk.

Have a loving your life day.

Artists overdoing it

Sam's birthday cake portrait
from Grade 8
Icing on cake with candies
Barbara Muir ©

Talking with my son Sam and his wife Emily tonight, he reminded
me of an embarrassing birthday cake I made for him when he 
was in Grade 8.  He said it made his friends really nervous because
they didn't want to eat his face.  So funny. Of course not, but we'd
brought really great arty cakes to school for him all along, and
suddenly he was not the little boy we'd been celebrating all
through public school.

Mothers eh?  Especially artistic mothers.  I like the look
of the cake now (long gone of course).  Sam was and is very
handsome, which I didn't capture in the portrait.  And I
learned that portraits are a lot harder in icing.

Have a loving your life day.

A day off

Nasturtiums on the kitchen table

Photo
Barbara Muir ©

It would be good to have a day off because I've been painting
steadily for quite a few weeks, and just started teaching one
night a week, a week ago. Teaching is super fun, and the next 
day I am super tired. 

I actually had a day off today -- went and visited a friend, and 
sat outside with her talking.  It was lovely.  And Toronto was
so warm, that it was like summer.

So I'm taking a day off, maybe even a couple, but I did gesso
a canvas last night, and am thinking about my next piece.
I am probably going to do a portrait of a fabulous young
woman I know.

Have a loving your life day.

National Pumpkin Day

 

Steven carving a pumpkin
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2019

Hi everyone,

Halloween has always been a big deal with my family.  This year
it's going to be super cold.  I still love seeing the little kids coming
around in costumes.  We will wear masks and probably hold out
baskets of treats at the door. And wear warm costumes ourselves.

It all starts with the pumpkins.  Those beautiful big traditional
orange beauties are on every front step here.  And I love them.
How it works in our house is that I draw the design on the pumpkins, and
Steven, my husband, carves them.  It is an incredibly messy and
fun exercise. So we will have to get ready tomorrow for next
Tuesday's festival. 

Happy National Pumpkin Day.

International Artists Day

Chu Okoli's photo of

Rolf Leemeijer, Miranda Brouwers,

Me and Chu at the gala dinner for the

2015 Florence Biennale

Chu Okoli © 2015

Wow! I just found out that it’s International Artists Day, and I want
to say thank you to all of the wonderful artists around the world 
who have inspired me! Plus I want to thank all of the artists from
so many different countries who share their work, who support me
with encouragement on Instagram, Facebook and my blog.

If you possibly can, I recommend participating in International art shows.
Fees and shipping can be expensive yes. And the benefits and joys of 
participating certainly are more than worth it.

I have been lucky to show in the Carousel du Louvre Art Shopping show in
Paris, France 3 times, in the Florence Biennale twice, and in shows in New
York City 10 times, plus I've had work featured in the Netherlands, and
in California.  My whole life as an artist transformed in exciting ways

with these experiences. They brought me a worldwide artistic community and 
wonderful new friends. 

Happy International Artists’ Day!