A good night for memories -- showing in the Louvre

Left to right Marnix, Rolf Leemeijer, Miranda Brouwers, Hugo and me.

in front of my painting Dream Selfie -- Wonder Water Image #7 

in the 2016 Carousel du Louvre exhibition

Tonight is a big one here in Canada.  We've just had a federal
election, and all of the TV stations are talking about nothing
else.  Plus I taught tonight, which was wonderful, but when
I came home after 10:30 I just wanted to relax.  Yes I voted,
and the candidate I voted for won, so that is good news.

I am loving doing the Inktober drawings for you, but
practically speaking today it just wasn't going to happen.
So one of the things artists need to do in addition to moving
forward, trying new things, learning and loving life, is to
look back on the amazing things that have already happened.

Showing in the Louvre with the EA Editore team the first time
was amazing.  The second time in 2016 was so fun it would be hard
to match the great time we had.  My friend Miranda Brouwers,
who I met when we both exhibited at the Florence Biennale,
was in Paris too, and in the same show.  Plus she brought her
family with her, and Steven and I got to hang out with her
husband Rolf, and sons Marnix and Hugo. It was the best.

That trip makes me yearn for Paris and Europe and my friends
there. So here is a fantastically wonderful art memory.  Thank
you to everyone who made it happen, and thank you to my
collectors who bought the work I exhibited there as soon as
I returned.

Have a loving your memorable times day.

A perfect day in October -- make that Inktober

Loving the new kitten

Inktober drawing

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Here's another Inktober drawing.  I was hoping to show the
kitten the girl is holding, but the page wouldn't let me include
it.  Still I think the look of absolute love you feel holding a
baby animal is there.

It has been the most beautiful day here in Toronto.  After a
week or so of cold, it was so warm that when we went
for a short walk I had to take my jacket off.  I hope you
had a magnificent day.  The trees here are brilliant and
range from the green we're used to, to vivid red, orange and
yellow.  Plus they are luminous in sunshine, and they make
you want to do nothing but stare.

I hope you had a superb day.

Wishing you all that you want in the coming week.

Carolanne -- another Inktober portrait

Carolanne McFarlane

Black marker on paper 

Inktober drawing

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

I don't know what happened to Carolanne.  I can only hope

her life has been great.  I did this portrait from a very
moody photo my father took of her.  I don't know how
he even got the shot because Carolanne was very sunny.

But when we moved away to Toronto I lost touch with
my former neighbours, who were so much fun.

I realized working on this drawing how much my father
loved light.  He loved to make his photos as dramatic as
possible -- and yet they were about everyday subjects --
our neighbours, the scenes we lived with every day, my
mother in the house or the garden.

What I love about the photos that he printed in his
basement darkroom is that the people are very
much alive, even though he only printed in black
and white.

Have a loving what you do day.

More from Inktober -- Friday portraits

Let's talk

black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Mur © 2019

It's been a great day for art.  I worked most of the day
on a painting that is coming along nicely.  And
tonight I drew this Inktober portrait.  So much fun.

I loved something Elizabeth Gilbert said about being
a "celebrant" today on Instagram, and understand that.
I'm working on pieces that celebrate the landscape,
and they're for a climate crisis show  My focus on
seeing how amazing the world is, is my way of
saying, "let's take care of this place."

Have a celebrating each day, day.

Happy afternoon with a major collector

Adriana's celebration

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2012

To take a break from Inktober today I’m posting a

painting of one of my top collectors who I
visited today. I've had the honour of being
like a family portrait painter for her. And
there is a new personality joining that group.

Over tea and delicious cookies we discussed the current
planned piece, which should be fun. And she
said I could take a photo of a portrait I love that I did of
her.

All in all a wonderful time, and a mood of
delightful anticipation.

Have a planning for joy day.

The 16th of Inktober -- Portrait time

Bibby's new dress

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

What I love about Inktober is the challenge of trying to
draw something -- if not every day, as often as possible.
Today it's a portrait, and I enjoyed thinking about texture
in terms of line, very different from painting, although
many of my favourite painters' portraits begin with
a detailed line drawing on the canvas.

The portrait tonight is of a little girl who just got a new
dress.  I could keep going with the portrait and fill in all
of the pattern and texture of the dress, but I felt like
her expression mattered the most, and it's all there.
What a treat to draw.

Have a loving your work day.

The sunny side of life -- Inktober

Manu in sunlight

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

It was another beautiful day today, and this
portrait based on one of my father's super
photographs goes along with that.

I'm hoping that our garden flowers will make it
through another chilly night.  The anemones are
absolutely magnificent and it will be a definitie
loss of beauty when they're gone.

I am a fan of Inktober whether I'm doing it
properly or not, because I continue to work
on a bigger piece and it's still not finished.
To be able to show you something new makes
me feel wonderful.

It is a very fast paced world now, and the
time and care that goes into more painstaking
work doesn't fit the model of immediacy.
But drawing does, and I am delighted that
it does.

Have an enjoying all that you do day.