Another ink drawing from the past -- Inktober rules

Phil
black marker on watercolour paper
12 x 9 inches

Another drawing in celebration of Inktober.  I'm prepping for a show

this week -- and it's landscape painting, so the ink portraits I'm

showing you here are from a decade ago, and were portraits of

people attending the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas.  I remember

that this fellow was a great guy, and very cooperative.  I had to draw him

live via Skype at the show, and then produce a more formal drawing

from reference I took in good light via Skype. This was the

final drawing.  He had a great sense of humour, which comes through

here, and I hope all is well in his life.

Have a loving what you do day.

Ode to Inktober

Nicole (the more polished drawing)
black marker on watercolour paper
12 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Sometimes when we switch modes, it's hard to switch
back.  I am in full painting mode now, and have had
to let my Inktober work fall to the wayside, even
though I may pick it up in another month.  Like
NovemInkber, or DecemInkber.

Here's an image from 10 years ago.  It was for one of
the biggest jobs I ever had -- drawing people live at
the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Luckily I was allowed to do two versions of the drawings.
One was an informal one I did live via Skype while
they sat for me, and the other more polished one, was
the final one from reference I took of the person in
better lighting.

Have an enjoying what you're doing day.

In the studio -- the best place to be

On the easel: Untitled -- Work in progress (early days)

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Some days you get it right.  Today was one of them.
We were off to the market early because Steven was
buying apples for applesauce.  I only like MacIntosh
apples, but I do like Steven's applesauce made from
various varieties.

After some time in the studio, we went out to our favourite
park.  There is a heavy wind and rain warning for tonight,
so we wanted to see the leaves before they were blown/rained off.
The lake (Ontario) was rough with gorgeous high waves,
smashing in 20 foot bursts against the rocks at the shore.  It was
mighty cold, but we went to the pond, which was a bit sheltered
from the wind, and fed the ducks.

Then back home and more time in the studio.  I am quitting
for the night with the sound knowledge that I love
painting and will paint again tomorrow.

Have a doing what you love day.

Wild nostalgia, the blog has the answer

After Breakfast

Black marker on bond paper

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

I spent a good part of the day drawing.  First from a photo

by my father that was very touching of a little girl in
profile, with very dramatic light.  I was almost finished
when I looked at it and realized it absolutely wasn't
working.

Then I worked on a drawing of an artist friend of mine
who lives in Chicago, and after about an hour thought --
you know what this isn't going to do it either.

What gives?  No idea. Huge end of week fatigue for sure.
Lots of obligations, I don't know.  Flipping through my blog
for an image for you I found the one above.  And I found
the message that joy is the easiest choice.  Thank you my
blog, and my normally upbeat self.  Joy is the best choice
if you can choose it, and so much of this day was wonderful,
that that made sense.

So the drawing tonight fits Inktober, though it's about six
years old.  And it's of one of my favourite meals ever --
breakfast in the hotel.  This image is of the table after the
meal -- but that delighted, happy vibe is there.

Have a choosing to have a joyous day.

Throw back Thursday -- a painting of local bounty

The pick of Picton

acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Available $200 plus shipping

I was standing in my studio today.  (I've been painting edges, and running errands

and thinking.)  And suddenly I saw this painting on a ledge above the window.

I think my eye is so used to those paintings (there are four small ones there), that

I don't notice them.

But I did today.  And I thought -- how lovely.  Plus it's throw back Thursday!  What

could be more perfect.  The painting is of market tomatoes from Picton, Ontario,

Canada, sitting in a bowl on our kitchen table -- with the strong late day light we 

get at this time of year hitting them. 

They look like an offering to the Gods of Fall -- who it seems are many.  We are

having such a spectacular fall in Toronto this year.  Just over the top gorgeous.

Have a loving your city (or town) day.

Baby Catherine and the too amazing coat

Catherine in the coat and hat

Inktober drawing 

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

When I was a little girl I adopted a family.
Really they adopted me -- because I was told
to go outside all the time, and would be hanging
around the nearby streets with my dog. The long
and the short of it is that a nice family let me
come in and see the baby.  I fell in love with
the baby, and the couple proceeded to have
three more from the time I was seven when
I met them, until I was thirteen when I moved away.

I loved, loved, loved these babies, and before long
I was helping change their diapers, playing with them,
and I was allowed to take them for walks around the
corner to my house and my mother.

My mother was sad about changes in baby clothes,
and snowsuits, and things that tried to make babies
look older than they were.  She was an amazing sewer
and sewed this beautiful coat and hat for one of the children,
Catherine, in a deep rose corduroy (so it would be
washable). The coat had pleats and so much material,
but it was sweet, and Catherine's mother was sure to
let me dress Catherine in the coat and hat if I was bringing
her to see my Mother.

Have a loving your memories day.

More Inktober -- the teenage muse

Moody

Black marker on paper

5.5  x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

The Inktober drawing today is about the sudden change

in the world when a child steps onto the edge of teenage
life.  This can happen as early as 11, but by 13 it's
in full force.

As parents you are no longer right about much.  And
even when you try hard to please your preteen,
you can botch it up.  I was calling this bad hair day.
Because the model is angry about a haircut, but
I think I'll just call it.  Really?  or  Moody.

Have a loving your teenagers day.