New York!

In the same building as the Amsterdam Whitney was a gorgeous

gallery space -- clearly ready to be rented -- it made Steven

and me think of my Toronto curator, and friend Daniel Anaka,
and how much he would enjoy New York.

The night before the opening we met artist Wendy Barrett
for drinks and dinner.  Wendy was in New York
visiting from Australia and I got a picture
with Wendy and with her wonderful book which
details how she worked on being creative for an entire year
no matter how difficult her circumstances were .

Here I am with Wendy

and below with her book Grabbing The Muse by The Throat

a great read for artists.

 Me with artist Denton Burrows on West 25th Ave. NYC
Denton Burrows is a great guy and he explained
all of the types of paint and ink he uses to create these murals.
(acrylic spray paint, and a huge ink marker for the dots
he's applying in the photo below)

Okay.  If you haven't been, maybe you wouldn't like
visiting New York, but I love it to a degree that is astonishing.
After my opening on Saturday, I walked out the door on
West 25th street to see this!

 

Around the corner -- we went into the Pace Gallery to take in an incredible

David Hockney show of images taken from his iPad:

One of David Hockney's Yosemite Suite series

iPad drawings printed very large on large pieces

of paper pieced together to make a huge image.

Here's another image from David Hockney's Yosemite Suite 

series to give you an idea of the size.  I'm a 

huge fan of David Hockney, and was delighted

to get to see this work.

 I'll add more to this tomorrow, but in the meantime, book your flights

and hotel so we can all get together in NYC!

Art Opening in New York City -- the city of art

 Executive Director of the Amsterdam 

Whitney Gallery and me in front of my

 Ocean series work.

Yesterday afternoon was excited to be part of an
opening for a group show at the Amsterdam Whitney
Gallery, in Chelsea, New York City.  It was a real treat
get to see the Director of the gallery, Ruthie Tucker and
her husband Alton Louis Amsterdam III.

My work, which was featured in the Florence Biennale
is there  -- a grouping from the Wonder Water Series.
It looks super, and it was delightful to hear how much
the guests and staff liked my work.

Doing the Happy People move for

Miranda Brouwers who

started that idea with me at

The Florence Biennale in the

fall and together we invigorated

a good size group. 

And I was incredibly happy

to see my work here in New York City!

The gallery attracts an intellectual, cultured audience.
Because my series is based on the idea of saving
the oceans, there were invigorating and perceptive
discussions on everything from climate change, to
the political climate -- which the New Yorkers we
talked to were quite concerned about.

Below you can read part of the compelling press
release Ruthie Tucker wrote about my work.  It is
such a pleasure to work with people who understand and
appreciate what I'm doing.

Have a checking out this show if you're in New
York City day.

Detail from the press release (thank you Ruthie
Tucker -- you are amazing)
-->

"Henry David Thoreau declared: "I would give all the wealth of the world,

 and all the deeds of all the heroes, for one true vision."  Canadian 

master Barbara Muir's narrative diorama collection entitled, "Ocean Series", 

reverberates a clear, unique artistic vision that reflects a deep reverence 

for nature and a passion for our oceans, landscapes and inhabitants of our 

environs.  Rejoicing in the penetrating beauty and profound effect that our 

environment plays in the quality of our lives and throughout the imperiled

 world, Ms. Muir states: "The young will have to fix what past generations 

have done to the planet -- a tall order."

Drawings fast and slow -- and an Art Opening in NYC today!

 Summer in Ottawa (Drawing in Process)

Black marker on Moleskine paper

10 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

Hi everyone,

I am in New York City for an art opening today at the
Amsterdam Whitney Gallery.  I'm in a group show there
for a month.

My love of New York City is profound, there is art
everywhere.  Everywhere we go people talk to
us about their lives.  The city is vibrant 24/7.

I haven't got any painting done in the past week,
but have been thinking about what's next.  Perhaps
cityscapes on a more complicated level.

Pansies in a cream pitcher

(fast sketch)

Black marker on Moleskine paper

10 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

We met the artist Wendy Barrett last night for dinner.
She wrote the book Grabbing The Muse By the Throat,
which I read and loved.  My photos of the evening
have not worked out, so I'm waiting for her to send me
hers -- which were great.  She is a super artist, and
delightful person.

So today I may even do two blogs! Yes!  (We'll see
there is a lot to see and do, and that is paramount).

Leaving Toronto

(super fast sketch as plane was moving!)

Black marker on Moleskine paper

10 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

Have a coming to my opening from 3 - 6 p.m. at
the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery NYC Day

My most recent portrait -- and step right up!

 

 The Daniel

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

About three and a half weeks ago, Daniel Anaka, the
curator of about 6 shows I've been in since last October
at the Super Wonder Gallery, sat for his portrait. 
One of the things I like about Daniel is his irreverent
sense of humour, and he enjoys teasing me about my
"sunny art."  He is also one of the kindest people in
the art world, exceptionally caring about artists and their art. 

I do want to focus on what is good about the world,
and I often wonder why artists don't paint people smiling.
It might not just be because they want to be taken seriously,
in fact full smiles are harder to paint than closed mouths.

So I asked Daniel to pose for me, and he posed in
a very serious way.  In between every 10 minute
session, he would laugh his contagious laugh
as he smoked cigarettes on our back porch, but
back in the chair -- boom stern, deep, pensive.

Posing in the studio (very crowded that day) 

with my studio companions

I am heading to New York this weekend, more on
that coming up.  But if you'd like to commission
a portrait I can do it all -- Happy, Serious, and
everything in between.  This painting was in
two shows in April, and is now with me until
Daniel gets his mansion -- which I feel positive
will happen soon, because he is a brilliant
curator, and an amazing artist.  

Have a commissioning a portrait day.
Incidentally I apologize for my blog,
it is going through a transition, and all
should be well in a week or so.

Shake it, shake it -- art is moving and shaking all over the planet!

The Beautiful Etana Cain with her portrait 

now wending its way to New York City.

Photo by Marieke Johanne

I do believe Etana will

be Prime Minister of Canada one day.

And she will make a great one.

Okay so my own art just showed in a beautiful gallery in
the Wychwood Barns in my Toronto neighbourhood.
But no sooner was the show down, than two pieces went
over to the Super Wonder Gallery, to be with a third
painting for the Reversion show that opens this Friday.
And -- and it's a big and, Monday my two paintings of
the women against the imaginary ocean scenes,
Wonder Water Image #5 and #6 got packed up to
head out to New York City with the large ocean
cloud landscape that went to the Florence Biennale
last year!  Wow!

Sometimes -- no often -- it feels like the work has a life
of its own, and it's taking me with it!  I do love that.
So I followed it to the magnificent show at Super
Wonder Gallery which opens his Friday night, April 29,
with stunning pieces from some of the best figurative artists
in the city, the country, the continent. (Pieces came up
from the U.S.A. to be in the show).

And I will follow my big installation to New York City
in a couple of weeks.  I can't wait.

I love this art community -- the wonderful artists who
are from all over the planet who admire my work, and
whose work I admire to the max -- make this a great
profession to follow.  So shake it, shake it.

Have a loving-your-life day.

A great opening -- it takes a village

 Gill Cameron and me in front of a wall of our work.

Gill does the gorgeous watercolours, and the landscape

in the center is mine.

Friday night's opening of Painted Passions at the
Wychwood Barns was a wonderful event.  Both
Gill Cameron and I were so touched at the number
of people who came out to celebrate our art.
It is a beautiful show, and Gill's landscape
watercolour paintings, and my landscapes,
portraits, still life and abstracts work harmoniously
together to create a fabulous overall show.

Gill Cameron and me in front of one of Gill's iconic

Georgian Bay diptychs.

The show's on until today Sunday at 4 p.m.,so if you're in town and haven't see it please come, look at some art
and have a cookie or two.

Some guests were moved to romance by the atmosphere

our paintings created. Come and see if the show

has the same effect on you.

Guests at the show, Daniel Anaka, curator at Super Wonder

Gallery, me, and super artists Carly Smith, and Ramona Nordal.

Ramona and I have been in a couple of shows together.

The youngest guest with her admiring fans. 

A friend sent a tiny blurry photo which give you an idea

of how busy it was

Have a coming out to our show day!

The show's up and it looks great! Please come out tonight 6 - 10 to celebrate with us!

 

The Maharini's Great Granddaughter with 

her Great Granddaughter

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

I spent the afternoon at the Gallery at the Wychwood Barns
with my friend Gill Cameron hanging our show.  Kudos
go out to Steven, for hanging my work for me.

Tonight I'm showing you one of the new works I'll
be displaying tomorrow.  I hope you like it -- I do.

I was trying to paint a tender subject in a bold, fresh
way.

Have a coming out to our show day.

Wychwood Barns Gallery -- 6 - 10 p.m.