Or your sad babies, or your mothers, fathers, sisters,
brothers. Just finished this commission of a baby, and
the client was very happy. I painted the baby's older sister
a few years ago, and although their faces are quite different
I wanted the paintings to connect, so I painted similar
leaves going in the opposite direction on the current painting.
I loved the baby's expression -- that straight up joy that
babies express so perfectly. She is a beauty. I am always
touched when clients come back to me because they
loved an earlier painting.
Tonight my dear friend and wonderful artist, Sally Chupick,
(who I met through blogland) and runs the Gallery at
the Porch Door, dropped in and we had some
wine together. Sally is always so sunny and warm. It's a
delight to spend time with her. We had both had long days
and didn't feel up to a photo, so forgive me for not
getting one.
It's been quite the fall for my family. This past weekend
Steven and I drove to Windsor, Ontario to see Sam graduate
with a Bachelor of Fine Art from The University of Windsor.
Sam was so happy striding across the stage. Afterwards we
celebrated with dinner and champagne. Sam was thrilled.
On the drive home Steven and I stopped at various points
along the way so I could take pictures for future reference.
My artist friends traveled along the route with me in my
mind. Marcia LaBelle would have done a fine portrait of
Sam in his graduate's robes. David Lobenberg would have
nailed that confident look on Sam's face as we toasted him. Sheila Vaughan has already painted one of Sam's parents,
and would have done a moving job of getting the mood
on both of our faces. Susan Carlin could easily be
commissioned to paint the distinguished faculty in their
robes.
I could see how Flora Doehler and Nicki Ault would
handle the autumn colours. All along the road we saw
purple wild asters set against deep rusty reds, brilliant
yellows of wild grasses and fields in fawn
the colour of my Siamese cat Fiona's fur.
Farmhouse on Lake Erie
I could see how Laurel Daniel would elevate the scenery with
warmth and beauty, how Karen Bruson would paint the red brick
farmhouse where we stopped one time. I could imagine Edward B. Gordon's treatment of the dramatic low storm clouds,
and moody light. Róisín O'Farrell would have made the interiors
in any of the lovely old houses we passed gleam with delicious colour.
I imagined the lush, abstract drama Melinda Esparza would create
with those colours. Linny D.Vine would make whole towns appear
to be joyously part of Linnyland. I could see Sally Chupick's lovely
images of water scenes, and what Belinda del Pesco would
do with a quiet table setting at our morning breakfast. Liza Hirst
would get the light and gestures of the people at the take out place
where we stopped for lunch magnificently. Marilyn Flanegan
could paint me lasting and gorgeous images of the horses we
passed on quiet side roads.
Closer to home Julie Davis could make the stands of trees
against farmer's fields sing on canvas. Tammy Hext's impasto
would make the Niagara Escarpment at Milton monumental. Kim Rempel could easily create fantastic paintings of brilliant huge
trees in a farmer's field, and Catherine Jeffrey would capture
the rainy, dark Toronto streets with aplomb. And there are too
many other artists I'd love to mention but I could see their work
too flashing through my sleepy brain as Steven drove on. One of
those artists is Pam Holnback, who would also love the ridge at
Milton.
My painting today is a fast portrait sketch of Sam holding his degree.
Happy Thanksgiving again to everyone in Canada
celebrating, and now sleeping after at least one
fantastic dinner I hope. Tonight we had dinner
with Megan and Christopher home from their
wonderful honeymoon in Bali. Steven, Sam, Megan,
Christopher and I sat down to a feast of turkey,
stuffing, roast potatoes, salad and pumpkin pie.
The newlyweds had been swimming (diving) with
sea turtles, and saw beautiful schools of fish
set against the coral reefs, (which are reviving
apparently -- very happy news).
You know that I have painted my family many
times. They have frequently been willing subjects.
And I love the photograph above of them on their
wedding day.
Megan and Christopher
I also love my photo of them the day after, happily starting a new life.
Have an appreciating-life's-wonderful-moments day
Tonight we went for dinner at my sister's.
She and her husband make a big round table
bigger, by placing a huge wooden circle
over the smaller circle of the table, and then
no one is sitting on a corner. Brilliant. We
were eight delighted participants -- seven grownups
and a lovely five-year old girl. After the adults
enjoyed a little champagne to toast the evening,
the sumptuous meal began.
And here's the thing. We do it all tomorrow
again at home -- complete with turkey, potatoes,
and pumpkin pie.
As for art, tonight's flowers look a bit baroque.
Baby it's cold outside. I traded my trench for
a light winter wool coat, and a scarf. So we are
closing in on this series. Still my love of the
resilient Nasturtiums, and Cosmos hasn't faded
a whit. Once again Happy, Happy Thanksgiving
to everyone in my land, and to everyone in yours.
Have a plenty-for-everyone-so-let's- share-the-planet day
The painting sold in May, and it is just one of the
reasons that I'm grateful for a wonderful year.
In Canada this is the long weekend. Three
days off, lots of turkey, potatoes, pumpkin
pie, and time to hang out with family
and friends and enjoy everyone.
To my friends outside Canada, historically
our Canadian celebration has been about
many things, but in the last century was declared
a holiday on the second weekend in October
to celebrate the harvest.
It happens just as the fall in this part of
the country is at its most beautiful. I'm
sure aside from gratitude for the harvest
it's a distraction from what's to come (winter),
and a holiday separate from both religion and
gift giving, although both can be involved.
But everyone can celebrate the harvest and
be grateful for all that's good in their lives.
I am grateful that you are in mine.
The book I'm reading, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which a friend of mine
tells me is sad, talks a lot about art and the
sublime. It explores how art and literature
lift us out of the petty concerns of our daily lives
and give us glimpses of the sublime.
Nature has the same effect on me. The other
day as I was picking tomatoes off my crazy
grape tomato vines which are now crawling
down our outside basement stairs unchecked,
I stood up and had these flowers against my face.
And I was filled with wonder. I stood in silence for
a few minutes in absolute thrall. The sublime.
I know, I know. You were hoping for
more food pictures, or people, or anything
as a break from my recent obsession with
flowers. But it isn't over. Each cold night
worries me like a parent who can't stop
going in and looking in the crib to make sure
the baby's breathing. I'm not even a good
gardener, but nature is. So under a canopy of
huge Nasurtium leaves there are new flowers
popping up. I harvested them with a flashlight
one night, because I was so afraid the whole
beautiful, jungly plant would be gone in the
morning. And these fragile, almost colourless
tadpoles of Nasturtium flowers blossomed
in the little milk pitcher filled with water
inside.
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you?
Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada.
Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!
