More from the past

The conversation continues

Left to right: Listening across oceans; Late night

in Norway; and The best news right here

This is my series based on Skype images taken of

conversations with my friend the artist Henriette Sonne

in Norway, who I met at the Florence
Biennale in Florence, Italy, in 2009.
( I love this series, and am thinking of working
on some portraits in the near future.)

Last year on this day I talked about the wonderful artist Henriette Sonne
who I met in 2009, the first time I exhibited in the Florence Biennale
in Florence Italy. I did a series of portraits of her based on conversations
we had on Skype.  Now we would probably be talking on Zoom.

Listening across oceans

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

I particularly love her portrait The Writer from 2023. The Biennale
shows (I was in the 2009 and 2015 exhibitions) were exciting.  So
many great artists participated.  

These portraits bring back happy memories to me. 

Have a loving your life day.

Saturday night, and flowers would be nice

Tulips for Tucson

Acrylic on watercolour paper

10.6 x 13.8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015
(I'm thinking about my
friend in Tucson, the wonderful
artist Melinda Esparza today.)

It's the weekend, and a family member is recovering from surgery.
So that's my focus. It is starting to get a lot colder. I managed to do
my walk (10,000 steps) although the intersections are glare ice. And
I'll have to get a better neck warmer to pull up over my face. 

Stay warm, and stay safe and enjoy yourself. Here are some tulips.
and perhaps I'll get some live ones tomorrow.  The Irises hung in
for 6 days, which is unheard of with that delicate flower. So time for
more flowers. 

Have a loving your life day.

Not much to say -- journal sketch

Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024 

Today I spent the day at the hospital with a family
member going through surgery. So tonight I'm tired.
It's Friday night.  I just had a beautiful walk in 
Toronto's first real snowfall of the season. 

The wind blew our front porch Christmas tree over.
This is a very quick journal sketch.  Not at all accurate.
But it is of my mother, who was very beautiful.  So
I may try again.  She deserves it.

Have a loving your life day.

Be happy -- and flowers for a family member

From the market 

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

(available)

Tomorrow a family member will spend the day in hospital having
day surgery. Not fun, and I will be there too. Thank goodness
that so far we have almost free medical care in Toronto where we
live. 

So these flowers are for them.  And they are a reminder for me to
notice what is wonderful in life -- flowers of course, your
magnificent art, and your friendship.

Have a loving your life day.

Last opening for Winterlude

Me with my work on the
final opening of Winterlude
at the Heliconian

My three paintings in the Heliconian Winterlude

show, on until the end of January.

They are: (top) Sweet sunlight and coffee

Next row left: The cake house,
 and Sunset at the lake. 

I sped down (no not past the speed limit) to the final opening of
the Winterlude show at the Heliconian Club in Yorkville.  I'd picked
up some macarons on the way, and was going to go in and arrange
them on a plate. Except for one thing.  The building wasn't open yet.
I was more than half an hour early, and the show opened 2 hours later
than I thought. Note to self.  Read the instructions!

Amos, the building manager,  took the cookies for me. And I dashed
home. Then we had some errands to do, and I went back to the opening. 
It was just about over when we arrived, so Steven took some
photos.  And it was lovely to see that space.  The Visual Arts
meeting was going on in the conference room, and it was great
to see familiar faces.

Have a loving your life day.

Catching up with friends in a snow/rain blizzard

Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

We've been incredibly spoiled in Toronto to get no real snow until
January 8. Huh? And it's funny that Canadians are in shock.  What's
this stuff. Hello! It's Canadian winter, and snow is normal.

I did shovel our walk, and that's it so far. I worked on a painting
that has to dry before the next step. And I had long 
conversations with friends and artists.  During on conversation
I drew this sketch. The fellow in the drawing was in a group 
photo sent to me.

Have a loving your life day.

Monday madness

 Journal Sketch
(from today, Toronto)
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

Sometimes Monday is all about administration in an artist's life. That
was today. One call, or email after another to get I.T. help, make
appointments, order reference photos, you name it. So today is another
journal sketch day.

This is a self portrait of me in the midst of my husband colouring my hair
the other night. Yes that sweet man does that. The result during the waiting 
time was quite dramatic, and I took a photo so I could draw it today. 

Have a loving your life day.