Looking forward to what's next in the Month of Fresh Starts

Self portrait

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Science points to the idea that we are
all renewing ourselves every minute of every day.
Our physical bodies renew, and it seems to me
our inner life, souls, and intelligence, renew,
refine, improve and expand every day too.

I'm posting this self-portrait I painted 10 years
ago -- perhaps for a David Lobenberg contest.
Thinking about what to post tonight, after working
on a small drawing I couldn't complete on time
for you,  I thought bam -- that portrait over my
husband's desk.  It says exactly how I feel.

Tonight I felt completely happy and content, having
immersed myself this weekend in art
shows -- the Heliconian exhibition I wrote up
yesterday, the York Artist Guild show in the
Unitarian Church that I visited just after noon
today to see the work of friend, Cheralea
Gilbert, and then the Art Gallery of Ontario
this afternoon -- very briefly, but enough to
be ever more excited about art.

In the swift changes of a decade, I'm sure
my outer aspect is not at all the same as
this, but here's the thing.  The past ten
years, like the past day, have been the best
years of my life without a doubt.  I have had
more fun, met more wonderful people, traveled
to more gorgeous places, and exhibited and
sold more work than ever before in my life.
So I'll let the former me's obvious joy say it all.
And I thank you for this magnificent ride we've
all been on.

Have a wonderful first day of the week,
and first day of a week of Fresh Starts.

Art Opening at the Heliconian Club -- and I'm a member in the Month of Fresh Starts

This week I learned that I've been accepted to be a member
of the Heliconian Club -- Canada's oldest club for women in
the arts.  That is the quite the honour.  And today I visited an
exhibition there featuring three magnificent artists: Catherine Maunsell,
(one of my sponsors) Susan Power, and Kye Marshall.  Catherine
 and Susan are painters and Kye is a photographer. The show is stunning
 and there was a good crowd out to the opening this afternoon which
ran from 1 - 4 p.m.

What did Gwen see?

Acrylic and ink on paper

27 x 30 inches

© Catherine Maunsell

(one of many gorgeous paintings

by Catherine Maunsell in the exhibition.)



Little Yellow Basket
Watercolour on paper
14 x 19 inches
Susan Power ©
SOLD ♥
(Susan power has many beautiful
watercolour paintings in the show
including still life, and figure studies)


The Iris: An Exploration
Series 1#2
Archival Pigment Print (Photo)
Kye Marshall © 2018
(Kye Marshall's entire
photography exhibition 
is based on the Iris. And she is displaying
are many exquisite photos on this theme.)  

It is a superb exhibition and I strongly recommend that you

contact the club to find out the times when you can see it.  The

space is used for many activities. 

It was a great opening -- work was selling very quickly, and guests

were having so much fun.  If you would like to see the show you

can get the information about how to contact the Heliconian Club, 

by clicking here.

Have an enjoying art shows day!

Old tech/new tech in the Month of Fresh Starts

Lunch on the love train

iPad drawing (with my finger)

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

(The old tech?  Drawing with my finger,

the new tech -- drawing on an iPad.)

I found this cheerful drawing on my iPad, and loved it, and

finished it, because I have no photo record of this meal on that

train ride, and here it is.  I must have been drawing on my 

iPad on the train recording the vestiges of a happy lunch - train style.

It was Valentine's Day weekend, and we were heading to
Montreal travelling first class!  I mean.  Well you know we
care about Valentine's Day. So aside from constant refills on
our wine, there was more than one delicious meal on
the way up to Montreal, and the same happy situation
on the way back.

I was touched that the meal(s) were on the Valentine's
Day theme.  Hearts and red napkins, and the whole mushy
love message.  Just perfect for us -- sweet suckers for
sentimentality.  I wish you that this weekend.  Sweet
and wonderful affection.  And if you take the train,
take the love train.

Have a loving your journey day!

A second opinion, in the Month of Fresh Starts

Rain Ahead

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
Available

(Love this painting which is

about one of the most dramatic

rain storms I've ever driven through.)

I keep thinking I'll take a break from the blog because

it's taking me so long to finish the current paintings, but
I'm addicted to talking to you, so here I am.  I was
recently diagnosed by an eye doctor as being close
on blind.  Funny I thought, I think I'm seeing well with
my glasses.  The wonderful people who create my glasses
didn't believe the prescription.  So I went to an
ophthalmologist (just a step up the eye care ladder) today who
said I had, "no major worries." Wow!  The changes in
my vision are minor! Moving on.

I still have the drops in my eyes, and they last a good long time
(5 hours) so tonight I'm posting this image, which I love even though
it's not new.  Weird about art that way eh?  Wouldn't
Leonardo Da Vinci be surprised.  (No I know I am not him!)

The point of this post is to get a second opinion.  If you are
worried about your work, or your health, or what to do.
Don't listen to the first (and maybe the scariest voice) you
come in contact with.  Get a second opinion, and trust your
gut in this Month of Fresh Starts. A new and more comforting
opinion is a Fresh Start. And for me part of getting my act
together (the serious work of the month) is getting to doctors'
appointments. Done. Check, and now back to painting happily
with my perfectly good eyes.

Have a trusting your gut day.

In praise of art teachers everywhere

Pansies in a cream jug

Acrylic ink and black

marker on Canson paper

5.5 x 8.5

Barbara Muir © 2019

One of my favourite art teachers painted watercolours

of very depressing cityscapes.  I say that to underscore
the value of appreciating beauty.  Because every spring
when the pansies arrived in flower stores, he produced
flower paintings of pansies. That gave the rest of us total
justification to do so. If a painter of grim realism could
paint flowers, everyone could.

Pansies in spring are really a gift of hope.  I love them,
and tonight when I had time for a sketch that's what I
worked on.  Thank you to my dear friend Flora Doehler for
introducing me to acrylic inks, which are phenomenal
to work with.  And I can't imagine any other paint
getting the rich purple of the pansies in this little cream
jug.

Have an appreciating your art teachers day.

Art group inspiration -- focusing on spring

The Wisdom of Spring

Art group sketch

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 16 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

In the month of Fresh Starts, I wanted to join my art

group tonight.  I was so tired, that I could easily have gone
to bed instead.  Early this morning a crew was making
a ferocious noise on our street. Whatever it was I did not
get a proper sleep.  But hey -- fresh starts! I planned to join
my Tuesday night art group.

So I did.  In advance I knew I wanted to try different colours --
do something not to just straight capture the model.  Although
I think I did with perhaps 40 minutes maybe 50 total to
paint in the hour I was there.

As I looked at the model I was thinking what if spring,
although it represents renewal, was also about wisdom and
understanding?  Then wouldn't this woman in her dark green
robe symbolize the wisdom of the planet, and how the earth
knows when the seasons should occur, and has a complete
understanding of their significance and meaning?  I think so.
Maybe that explains her serious expression.

Have an enjoying your fresh starts day.

Welcome to the Month of Fresh Starts!

Time for school

Pastel on drawing paper

Barbara Muir ©

I'm thinking of April as the month to clean up my act.
Not that every month isn't about that.  But this month is
cresting more powerfully into spring every day, and
it is the right time to take a good look at what's been
happening in the winter months, and to plan for the
spring and summer.

Here's a portrait of a little girl I did that I found in a drawer
of drawings. I'm touched by the seriousness of her expression.
She seems to be considering her next steps carefully.  As we all
should, as the world leaders should.  I'm going to call this the
Month of Fresh Starts, because all of nature renews itself in
spring, and we can too -- creatively, psychologically and spiritually.

Happy first day of the Month of Fresh Starts.