What can artists do? How do we help the children?

Big brother, little sister
acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(Painting this I loved the
expression on the little girl's
face, and all the small
details that are so characteristic
of what young boys like --
Super Mario T-shirts, camp
necklaces, big, clunky black
watches -- it made me miss
my sons as small boys.)

I watched a some clips of people coming out of
Oprah's 2020 Vision tour, and they talked about
purpose.  I think that my purpose is to create hope,
spread love, joy and when I'm in person with
friends, family, colleagues and students, to
help us all get to laughter.

My purpose is to help us get happy.  But sometimes
this is really hard.  It's hard to see the light with
Australia burning and the threat of a full scale
war in the middle east.  But we have to keep working
on it.  We have to vote for people who care more
about climate change than money for oil, who care
about saving the planet.  And we have to end all war
everywhere.

I mean as an 18 year old I marched for peace.  Let's
get some.

Compliment one another - Praise, praise, praise

Wonder Water Image #6                                   Wonder Water Image #2

Acrylic on canvas                                                 Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches                                                        30 x 30 inches

                    Barbara Muir © 2015                                            Barbara Muir © 2014

 SOLD ♥                                                                SOLD ♥

One of my super best artist friends, and a wonderful artist
Flora Doehler, sent me the sweetest link. She featured a
painting I posted as one of the best figure paintings of 2020.
Hit the link to see her favourites.

The year hasn't had a very long run, just 6 days, but that was
a very kind thing to do, and it made me feel wonderful! It is
not a new painting.  But the thought of painting a big canvas --
the subject of the painting, has been inspiring me for the
past few days.

I spent the day in the hospital again today, so although there's
nothing but good news (my leg is healing), I have not got anything
developed enough to show you.  Instead I'm going to put up two of
my favourite paintings of 2019.  They weren't created in 2019, but sold
in 2019, and I love both the paintings, the subjects and the collector.
 Please check out the link to Flora's top 17! Blushing, and check out
her magnificent work if you don't already know it.

Have a praising your friends day.

Drawing in the big bore — how lucky I am,

Drawing -- a scientist

Graphite on drawing paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2020

The drawing tonight is of one of

my favourite women in the

world.  She knew about climate change

years ago, and did everything she

could in her practices in her own life, and

through donations, to stop it.

Reading about Australia I feel lucky to have the minor problem
of staying in bed. My constant dream when I'm working,
painting, marking papers, is to get time to lie down and read.
Got that today, and will have it until next Saturday on
doctor's orders.  But it's not the same thing as the dream,
because in the rebellious reality of human nature, all I've
wanted to do after reading my great book for a couple of hours --
is to get up.

The book? Brick Lane by Monica Ali.  I got it from one of the
local free book libraries in the neighbourhood.  Little cupboards
on posts in the shape of houses on people's lawns.  And they're
full of books! This one is very good.

But still I had the urge to get up and move. Steven my husband
kept suggesting places we could drive to.  But I have to keep my
leg up, and I couldn't imagine a long car trip with my leg on the
dashboard.

The news about Australia, which I was reading, gets
worse and worse.  Terrifying.  Jimmy Fallon posted a list of
Fire services that need our money.  Apparently firefighters in
Australia are all volunteers, and the government has not
provided them with adequate supplies.  When a country
almost the size of Canada is ringed by fire, everyone on the
planet needs to get involved to any extent possible.

Have a saving the planet day.

Fair is fair -- did I speak too soon? No. And I still love 2020.

Self portrait -- quick sketch

Brown marker on 

Fabriano notebook paper

6.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Not fair to do a quick sketch of other people, and 

not of myself! In my ongoing promise to myself to
draw every day, I am continuing. But here’s the thing.
(Favourite expression of one of my favourite bosses!)
I spent part of today in a hospital emergency ward because
of a bad pain in my leg. Essentially I have been ordered to
lie down with that leg up for a week!  A week!  Good news
is that should get rid of the problem.  Sound weird right?
Running, weights, something intensely physical?  Nope.
Lie down!  Argh...

So drawing  — however limited is going to be my best friend.
And I’m sorry because great painting ideas have been floating
 into my mind while I slept since before the holidays. "Slow down
 girl!" is the message. Let my leg heal. Alright!

I am allowed to walk, but can't stand, or sit without that leg high
in the air.  My walking friend was happy about the walking news.
Tried yoga with my hands on the floor, and the leg
high in the air.  But you can only do that for so long. LOL. I usually
stand or sit to paint.  So be content with awkward drawings please.

Happy weekend!

XOXOXOXO Barbara

2019 -- a wonderful year

Quick sketch --A friend and her chicken

Acrylic, marker, and ballpoint pen on 

notepad paper

4 x 3 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

(I am working on a larger piece and determined

to try and draw each day.  I saw this photo

and had to try.  This woman is one of the

reasons I stayed happy in 2019.  She is brave,

an excellent artist, and so incredibly kind to

and fond of animals.)

It wasn't that hard things didn't happen in 2019.  It wasn't
that family members didn't get ill, or that I didn't.  I had
pneumonia for 2 1/2 months in 2019.  And I worried about
the planet as much as anyone else.  But it was a great year anyway.
How is that possible?  It's because of all the wonderful people
like you who are in my family, who are my friends, and who I teach.
Plus I was in six art shows, and that made me feel fantastic.

I am without a doubt blessed by having so many brilliant,
funny, creative, talented, generous, delightful people in
my life.  I don't know how that happened.  But I am so glad that it did.

So looking back from the standpoint of being in the third
day of the new year, in perfect health, with wonderful
possibilities out in front of me, I want to thank 2019,
and you for making my world a good one.  Now let's
work on solving climate change.  Let's stop racism,
sexism, ageism, hatred, and figure out a way to help
the countries going through fire, famine, and destruction.

Have a loving your life day.

My top nine images on Instagram

Here are my top nine images on Instagram for 2019.

I just joined Instagram last year (2019)

and I enjoy it.  Some of these are sold.

But the big Cloud Magic top row,

the book of my FB posts, The flowers

in the blue vase, and the two pansy

paintings are available.

DM me if you are interested.

I kept seeing Instagram users show their top nine images, and

wondered how they did it.  Today I downloaded the App, and

this is what showed up. What fascinates me as an artist, is the

variety of work that attracted people.  As artists we are frequently

told to be consistent.  But this tells a different story, and it makes 

me really happy.

This story is -- do whatever you love to do, and people will like

their favourites. Isn't that comforting if you're one of the many

artists I know doing your superb, and varied work?  Happy New

Year, and thank you to my models, to the people who commission

my work, and the collectors who buy it.

Happiest of New Years to you all.

Happy New Year!

Quick sketch 

Red ball point pen, markers,

coloured pencil, and watercolour

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2020

Dear wonderful people.  I don't believe in resolutions, but I
do believe in happiness.  It's been a lovely first day of the
year - taking it easy, reading, drawing (something I do
want to do on a daily basis if possible), and now going
out to a movie with Steven (my man).  (Note*
We saw the movie Good Liar.  Awesome acting.)

For 2020 let's try to be happy! And if you can't be happy,
hugs, and the hope that you will be happy soon.  We have so many
big jobs ahead of us this year.  We need to try and
save the planet (job 1). I hope you have today to
relax and enjoy yourself, your family and friends.
Life is great, surprising and rewarding.  You make
my day every day with your posts, your art, your
thoughts, and your constant support and encouragement.

Have a beautiful week of the year!