Return to the couch

The comfy couch
Charcoal on manila paper
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

It's been a busy day -- I went to the opening of the Colours
of the Earth show, and I hope I'll have time to write about that
tomorrow. It's been a hard day in some respects, and it's
Saturday night -- so I need a break.  Looking through old
posts I found this one about the art store where I buy my
supplies, and the idea of couch art. 

What's funny is that I wrote the piece in 2009 almost at the
start of my blog.  And I still feel the same way about the
lovely people at my favourite art store, and still share the same
sense of humour to my delight.  Plus this couch, which still
looks like this, is still in my studio.  So many amazing
things have happened in my art life since that post -- so here
goes.

"The staff at the art store where I buy my supplies are a delight --
witty, informed, artists, all working the art store job to support
their art. One of the super artists in there, Greg Nordoff
is classically trained, and we always talk to one another with
great understanding, and humorous sarcasm. I love it when I
see him behind the counter, because I know he's going to take
my incredible anxiety about some major project, and make me
laugh about it.

Greg can draw or paint the human form like Leonardo da Vinci,
so I had to laugh when we had a discussion about galleries
wanting "couch" size art. That would be 36" x 48". Recently as
a joke Greg painted a couch on a couch size canvas. "It was
really good," he says. "But it was a joke too in a way."
"Brilliant!" I said. And I went home and drew my studio couch for you.
I don't think I'll start doing couch paintings, and I'd be delighted
to have my art show up over the couch -- as it does -- in many
art lovers' houses. But I still like Greg's humour. And I was
just wondering what to paint or draw, when this idea popped
into my thoughtscape and I thoroughly enjoyed drawing my couch.
By the way this couch (sofa) was a garage sale find. The quality is great
under the sagging slip covers my animals do their best to
destroy. And it's comfortable. What more could you ask for?

Have a loving-the-couch-you're-with day "

The anniversary of my mother's death

Today's flowers from the garden

Watercolour and black marker on 

watercolour paper

6 x 9.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

My mother died 10 years ago today.  I have been thinking
of her all day, and got to talk to my brother about that
day.  The family who were there to say goodbye to
Mommy, went out for lunch together -- and for me
that happy/sad occasion was the real celebration of
my mother's life.

I did this painting the week that she died.  Some of
what I wrote then seems right for today.

"Today I knew in my soul that my mother wants
me to carry on, to make art, to live life with
every fibre of my being.  So I went into the garden
and picked this small bouquet.  It made me feel
a taste of the delight I knew being in the world
as my mother's daughter -- a flicker of happiness
started in my heart.  One day I will be fine.

Meanwhile tell everyone you love that you love
them.  Spread love anywhere you can.  Yes
it does matter.  It all matters. And you matter to me.

Have a spreading-the-love day."

Colours of the Earth at the Heliconian

Moody Beauty
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2023

I am delighted to tell you that this painting is in the Heliconian
club's Colours Of The Earth exhibition, and yes it is for sale. 
The next reception is from 2 - 5 p.m. this Saturday, October 14,
 at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave in Toronto.  

It is a wonderful show, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, so drop by if you
can.

Have a loving your life day.

The importance of joy

 

After Breakfast
Black marker on bond paper
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2013
(Hotel breakfasts are starting
to happen again.  Room service 
breakfasts are my favourite.)

The news is soul crushing.  I think that makes it all the more
important to try and find joy. My heart goes out to everyone
in war torn zones. It is beyond devastating what you are living
through.

My mother was a great believer in noticing what was good.  I
don't know how she did that with incredible lung issues, and
being blind for the last years of her life.  She had wonderfully
supportive neighbours.  That was part of it.  When she
was blind she would sneak out to her pool with a swimming
noodle, cross a flagstone path, open the wrought iron gate, and
walk across the very smooth surface around the pool and swim
-- at night.  The neighbours who were watching out for her 
didn't know.

I am posting a piece I did on joy awhile ago. I think it
resonates:

"Joy (or happiness if you like) is most potent in the

heart of hard times.  When you lift your eyes up 

out of sorrow and look around, it's there waiting 

for you.  I think perhaps it's the force of nature

saying -- "Look! Look at me! I'm always here 

to make you happy."  

These are harsh times in many ways.  The news

is brutal and heart breaking.  Anxiety is rocketing,
and instead of crawling back under the covers, joy
beckons us to keep going, call a friend, and make our

voices heard, donate, volunteer and join

a vast joyous choir across this beautiful planet. 

What do you do to express your joy?  Do you paint, 

write letters to friends, spend time with family, or go

for a walk?  I'd love to hear your ideas.

What do I do? I come here and spend time with you. I 
call a dear friend or two, and I settle in to read a book,
I paint, I teach and I dream big."

Have a figuring-out-the-joy day.

A definite coffee type of day

Coffee with milk in
a cup
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(This painting seems perfect
for today.  And I like that it
went to live in
Texas with my friend, 
the artist Susan Carlin.)  

I saw this painting scrolling through my blog.  As I was doing
very fast sketches of people drinking coffee in my journal (I 
usually post them here if they work.), I was thinking about
how much I love coffee.  This painting went to my wonderful
friend the artist Susan Carlin, in San Antonio Texas years ago.
And I'm glad she has it.  

The day after Canadian Thanksgiving is a day when you need
coffee -- to get back on track. I drank my standard three cups and
have been painting most of the day.

If you celebrated Thanksgiving this past weekend I hope you
had a great time.  Steven and I had a delicious dinner on our own,
but dressed up.  So much fun.  And then tonight -- turkey dinner #2.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Thank you family and friends
Photo: 
© Barbara Muir

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. The Morning Glories put out 10 flowers
today to celebrate.  Steven has been singing and making pumpkin pies
and tarts in the kitchen, and we just put the bird in the oven.  I made
cranberry jelly last night, and boy are we looking forward to this
dinner.

We are on our own this year, and we will dress up, and eat this delicious
dinner with gratitude for all of our wonderful family, and our sweet
friends.  We feel very grateful.  Have a lovely day.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend

Jens Eller of Marvellous Edibles Farm at
the Brick Works market with my
painting:

It's a fine day sweetheart

Acrylic on cradled birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

In Canada Thanksgiving is timed to celebrate the harvest.
We are lucky to know farmers who were chefs in Europe
-- Jens Eller (shown above) runs their organic farm with his
wife Ayse Akoner.  

In addition to growing the most delicious vegetables, flowers,
and making superb jams and jellies, the Marvellous Edibles farmers
make some of the most delicious desserts I've ever tasted -- their pies
are out of this world, with a crust like none you'll find here. Beyond
delicious.

This weekend Jens, who we see at the Brick Works market
every weekend if we're in Toronto,  took home a painting
by yours truly, and he was pretty happy about it.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to you. 

Have a loving your life day.