Outside and Way Outside

Finding the poster with my
painting outside the Amsterdam
Whitney Gallery in NYC. The poster
above my hand shows my painting
in the upper right hand corner.

Over the next few days, make that weeks
I'll post pictures of our New York art experience
when possible. My blog is still a bit difficult to
access, but it feels great to be able to write here
at all.

Here's a picture from when we first arrived and
walked over to see the Amsterdam Whitney
Gallery. The Gallery is on the fourth floor of a
building filled with galleries on a street filled
with galleries in Chelsea, NYC. The curator,
Ruthie Tucker wants the gallery to feel like
a home, so there are comfortable and pretty
chairs, small tables here and there to hold
cards, and information, and the gallery is made
up of three large rooms.

The Liberty display at Times Square

We walked everywhere possible in New York,
given our very short stay. And took the
subway, and in the last couple of days cabs,
just to get places quickly so we could see more.
One night we walked over to Times Square.

Have a getting-the-technical-stuff-in-order day.

I seem to be back!

The Baroness Julia (that's all I know -- more
info later) and me at the opening at
the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in Chelsea
New York!

Hey everyone,

Here's to blogging. I am back from New York, and if this
works expect more after Mother's Day supper.

Missed you,

Barbara

The odd thing about travel

Toronto through the car window. Love you Toronto.

So as excited as I am about leaving town today, and if
I find a way to post, I'll add to this little note, there's
some things about travel that intrigue me. When
we're heading out to Nova Scotia in the summer,
it takes us a whole day to pack -- so that we never
actually get out of town before the evening.

Usually we're heading to Ottawa to see my mother
first, and she optimistically has dinner on the table
at a reasonable hour. But by the time we arrive,
hours later, she's eaten and reheats our delicious meal
in the microwave.

I am so pumped about going to New York. It is
without a doubt one of the most exciting things
to happen in a long list of exciting events.
But as I leave, Toronto looks more beautiful than
ever -- and I'm a fan full time. It looks so green,
flowery, friendly. And leaving makes me realize
how much I love my friends here, and the people
I deal with in my art group, and at school. Such
great people in every aspect of my life. I feel
a tug towards them. I'm like a mother leaving
a young child, though in fact my children are
grown and heartily independent.

So here's to you the beautiful Toronto, and
here's to you the fantastic New York, and to
everyone from all the other places I know
I'll visit one day.

Have a seeing-your-home-with-new-eyes day.

Heading for the big apple

Driving through the streets of Toronto
today. The weather was crazy -- sun showers --
a heavy downpour beautifully lit.

By the time you read this I may already be in New York
City. I will be posting as often as possible while I'm there
to keep you in the loop.

I'm afraid the art I've been up to today is the art of office
managing the art business part -- and shopping for clothes,
something I rarely do.

This happy couple is going to New York City
Steven and me at the party the other night --
trying out some fancy duds.

I thought for your entertainment I'd post some pictures
from our last trip to act as a contrast to our current
destination. So here they are.

A Tuscan farmhouse rose in December -- wow!



The rose in context -- set in the rolling farm landscape
in Tuscany, Italy


Fearless artist takes a stroll in Siena, Italy

Have a getting-to-see-other-points-of-view day.

A happy finish

Golden Sunlight Cherrywood
acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

This little painting -- Golden Sunlight Cherrywood
sold yesterday at the Don Valley Art Club spring show.
I know I showed it to you while I was working on
it, and I finished it up on time to submit to the
show a week ago on Monday.

I liked the fact that it looks so cheerful when it
was painted mid-winter. Light always makes me
joyous, and the end of day light that day was
spectacular. The man who bought it was struck by
the happy mood, and I told him I work on being
happy full time. So that is a wonderful thing to know.
The painting has gone to a collector who understands
what I was trying to do.

It's a busy day here. So I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Enjoy the spring.

Have a looking-on-the-bright-side day.

"Sitting" the show

Mother and Child
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

The Don Valley Art Club Spring Show at Todd
Morden Mills is on next weekend too, and if
you're interested in owning fine art, it's the place
to go. More than 150 painters and graphic artists
have work on display in the magnificent gallery
created in the Old Mill building.

Today I was sitting the show, but instead used the
giant space to circle endlessly and try to get my
steps. In the process I sold eight paintings for the
club, and was overjoyed at that. So it was a very
good day.

I haven't shown you the final version of my
Mother and Child, but I took a photo of it today.

Have a getting-out-to-the-shows day.

Artist's night off

Getting ready to go out on the town
The artist escapes her studio

I love Saturday night, and frequently lately have
worked straight through the weekend as though
it is just the same as the rest of the week.

But not tonight! We were invited to a little
dinner party at a friend's house -- also an
artist, and had a wonderful time. It has been
a super day -- grey and rainy the way April
should be, but warm and flower filled the way
May should be.

The evening was filled with the scent of flowering trees

Now it's late and I hope you've had a brilliant
Saturday doing what you love to do. I know
I have, great company, great food, superb
witty and funny conversation. Fantastic.

One of the guests built this sculpture on
the table and wanted it featured
on my blog. So here it is.

Have a loving-the-beginning-of-May day.