My line of work

 The waiting room # 1

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

I spent the morning today in a hospital waiting
room with a family member.  Luckily I brought
my iPad along.  And though I usually like the
drawing app because it's a good way to produce
colour on the run, I thought I'd draw with black
line instead.  I've never used just black before
and loved how it felt.

 

 The waiting room # 2

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

I draw with my finger, (I don't want a stylus, or
to draw this way most of the time) and I like
the way that distorts or alters the drawing.  The great
thing about drawing on one is that no one suspects
you are drawing.  Everyone just sees the iPad as
a game console, or YouTube viewer and that
does help.

The waiting room # 3

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

 So here they are -- quick sketches of people
in the waiting room.

And all is well.  We were out and into the
first really warm, and bright day, just before lunch.
I've started a little painting, but it isn't ready
for your eyes.

Have a taking it line by line day

Transfixed!

Positively pansies

Acrylic on birch panel

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

$150.00 Canadian

payable by PayPal

contact me at the email 

address above.

There are so many painters in the blog world
whose work stops me in my tracks.  Painting
this little still life of the knock out pansies
I bought the other day I thought of many people
who inspire me -- my entire blog list and
beyond.  The daily painters, working on small
surfaces deal with the need to make big statements
without much room to turn around.  And they
do it day after day.

Thank you for teaching me so much about
colour, light, mood, delight -- all of it.  I think back
often to 10 years ago when I could not have
imagined this pleasure and feel so happy.
Then I look at your work, and I am absolutely
transfixed.

Have a getting caught in the 
headlights of others' work day.

Spring's bounty

Pansies are perfection

Acrylic on birch panel

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

(for sale $150 Canadian

shipping included)

This has been a slow starting spring in Toronto and I
don't mind.  I love the cool days, the soft green of
new leaves, and even the rain.  But for avid gardeners
the cool is unfriendly.  At the garden center the
salesman told me it was too early to plant.  Still the
bonus was that pansies were on at less than half
price, and I am a major fan.

You can expect some more paintings on this theme.
These gorgeous flowers feel so celebratory.
It is only a month since we had snow in our
backyard!

If you notice that I've included a price for the work
it's because Alyson Stanfield says we should let
people know our work is for sale when it is, and add
what it costs.  Done.  Thank you Alyson.

Happy slow spring!

Have a loving-what-you-see day.

Darling baby goes home and Happy Victoria Day!

See my doggy?

Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014
SOLD ♥   

I haven't been posting much lately because
I've been working on this commission.  This
is the fifth grandchild in my collector's family
that I've painted.  I fell for her right away.

Today my client came and took the baby home.
What sweethearts -- both my client and the baby
who I met only in the many wonderful reference
photos my client sent.  

Babies are a joy to paint -- I can't help thinking
about what the future will hold for her.  She
lives in a loving family with two older brothers,
and has grandparents who dote on her. So I
wanted the painting to be filled with the feeling
of happiness that I wish is always part of her
life.

In Canada it's Victoria Day, and we will go
and see a fireworks display to celebrate the
long gone queen's birthday.  The holiday
marks what some of us hope is the beginning of
summer.  It is a little warmer today, but still
pretty cool.

Have a joyous Victoria Day, and love 
what you're painting.

Great opening in New York at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery and Belated Happy Mother's Day!

 Baby it's you
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Looking for paintings for Alyson Stanfield's Mother's
Day paintings on Facebook I found this older painting
which sums up the feeling of loving children for me.
Saturday we visited the Amsterdam Whitney gallery,
in Chelsea where I'm currently in a group show, and had
sherry and cookies with Ruthie Tucker the gallery
owner and her husband Ambassador Alton Louis
Amsterdam III.  That was fun.  I had come to New York
for the opening on Thursday, May 8 which was
a gala affair, with champagne, and everyone in a party
mood.

On opening night at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery

with my paintings Wonder Water Image #1, #2 and #3

I am on the left with Steven van Schaik (my sweetie) and

Ambassador Alton Louis Amsterdam III, gallery owner

Ruthie Tucker's husband.

U.S. Federal Justice Elizabeth Lamb and I talk 

at the opening party. My painting Wonder Water Image

#3 is to the right, and the work of Philip Catania can

be seen behind us.

It was raining off and on so we visited some
galleries in Chelsea then headed for central park where
we almost got soaked.  Sunday was delightfully
sunny so walked to the Skylight Diner,
had a super breakfast, then cabbed to The Cloisters, an
astonishing museum.

I was delighted to speak to the artists, Angelica
Kahl from Germany and Andrea Harris, from Chicago
whose work I loved.   Andrea and I have been
in group shows at the gallery several times, and
it's always a treat to see her.

Have a planning-to-go-to-New-York day.

Loving the city and how a painting develops

 

 Water Image #1, #2 and #3

at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery

in New York City

Acrylic on canvas

90 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

This has been a busy couple of days.  The opening
at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery was wonderful,
but I'm sorry to say I didn't get clear photos with my
work.  The atmosphere was delightful.  Great
paintings, super talks with other artists in the
show, and from New York, champagne,  super goodies and
Ruthie Tucker, a most warm and charming host.
Tomorrow I plan to get some more photos at
the gallery, and then I'll include some of the
cellphone shots I took at the show.

It's very late, and I hope to write a longer blog
tomorrow.  I just came across these progress
shots for the painting Wonder Water Image #1,
and I thought they might make you smile.  It's
a long way from the beginning to the finished
painting.

 Wonder Water Image #1

(drawing charcoal, starting to

block it in on the canvas)

Barbara Muir © 2014

Wonder Water Image #1

(More blocking in. Starting on highlights

and dark areas (still no teeth!))

Barbara Muir © 2014

Wonder Water Image #1

(More decisions about shapes and

highlights.  The teeth begin, and

the ocean begings to come in

 behind her.)

Barbara Muir © 2014

Water Image #1

(And here she is on the kitchen counter

just before I took her to be shipped

to New York.)

Have a realizing-that-anything-is-possible day.

Arrived!

 Sketch -- coffee on Avenue of the Americas

Black marker on Moleskine paper

4 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Tomorrow is the opening of the group show I'm
taking part in at the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in
New York City.  I am so impressed with artists who
easily travel and set up shows everywhere.  Just
getting out of my house felt like a huge deal.
Even though I'm frightened of flying -- lift off felt
like exactly that.  All of a sudden the worries of the
past few weeks and the long, hard winter fell away.

WestJet is an awesome airline, and the staff were
so cordial and funny.  The best experience I've had
flying in a long time.

 Water Lilies by Claude Monet

at the MoMA 

We have already visited the MoMA today -- very briefly.
The fellow on the admission desk was unimpressed that
we arrived a half hour before closing -- but hey,
we got to our hotel, a good 25 minute walk away
at 4:30, so I was impressed that we strode our
exhausted selves over there.  I said "I'm pretty
sure I could see the Monet in half an hour,"
and we ran up the escalators to the fifth floor and
saw the Monet Water Lilies paintings, which never cease to
amaze and dazzle me.  Plus I see something new
every time.  I also saw the room of Matisses, which
fills me with joy, and a Derain I have never seen,
which was huge and magnificent.

 Sketch #2 -- coffee on Avenue of the Americas

Black marker on Moleskine paper

4 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Then we walked more miles, and I sketched
very quick sketches wherever we went -- (as
in 30 seconds maybe).  I'll show you some tonight.
Had a great conversation with a fellow in the bookstore
at the MoMA, who is also a portrait artist.  I do
love this town more than I can ever say.

 Sketch #3 -- coffee on Avenue of the Americas

Black marker on Moleskine paper

4 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

The Bathers by André Derain at the MoMA

I saw the man from the front desk when I was leaving
the MoMA and thanked him, and said the Monet room
was so great. He smiled and that was that.

Have a loving-where-you-are day.