The new and the old

The breakfast phone call
8 1/2 x 11 inches
marker on bond paper
Barbara Muir © 2009

I love this drawing.  This is a drawing of my son taking a phone
call at the kitchen table 15 years ago.  I love both the mood and
the detail.

It's been a super productive day.  I've almost finished a small new painting
based on a random photo I took as we travelled through Nova Scotia. 
There is a characteristic Nova Scotia clapboard house -- that I just love. 
That is the only place I've seen them, and believe me they are beautifully built
 -- created as many were by the same people who built the fabulous ships
in the region.

We planted our tiny front garden, which needs more flowers, but looks pretty good.

It rained, and then cleared, and the sun shone, and then it rained again -- all
day.  Rain/sun/rain/sun/rain. A super day for planting.

Painting again feels wonderful. 

Have a loving your life day.

 

Busy and tired

 

Slow down time

Charcoal on bond paper

Skype drawing

8 1/2 x 11 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012

I am finally better enough (recovering from this horrid cold)to do things, and
I've been going all day, so I'm going to use a former post that seems fitting. 

"I like this drawing of my son Sam from 8 (now 12) years ago.  
He was talking to me on Skype at the end of the day, and was getting
up and biking to work at a Starbucks to open the store at 5 in the
morning.  He was tired, like we all are now. 

Things looked up for him after this.  He moved into a house with a
bunch of kids he liked, and had fun for the rest of his university studies.

And now he is happily married, so it all worked out. What I like about
the drawing is the fact that he is listening. And he's good at it.  

It seems to me, living in a family of talkers.  As teachers, actors,

project managers, film directors, writers -- we know how to talk.

That is a lucky break for us.  And at this time in our world, it's

also important to listen.  Hear what people are saying, and figure

out what to do. And that's about all of it."  

We need to listen to one another and be compassionate.

Have a loving your life day.

World Environment Day

In the right place at the right time

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016
SOLD ♥

What seems odd to me is that World Environment Day isn't one of
the most important days in the year.  More important than birthdays,
or Christmas, or any religious holiday.  Our environment, which means
our planet, is in big trouble.  So if we want to keep celebrating all of
the other vital holidays, maybe we should focus on fixing what we're
doing here first.  

It is a dear friend's birthday, and wanting to celebrate her is utmost in
my mind, and I do wish we could give all of us the gift of taking care
of the environment, ending wars, and stopping our foolish habits 
of valuing money above all.

I saw another friend today and we talked about kindness, which made me
want to reprint the content from an earlier blog.  This piece was
about blogging, but I've had the same experience on Instagram,
so here goes.

"The big learning for me about blogging, was that it's a positive
environment.  If you don't like what an artist does, you move
on, and don't comment.  If you love what they do, you tell
them!  Oh Boy! That is revolutionary!  Because all over the
world (except perhaps in Finland -- which I hear has an amazing
education system), parents are taught not to praise children
too much!  This still happens.

But here's what praise does.  Everything.  If people praise
your work, you feel empowered.  Seriously.  You feel like
getting back at it.  You feel like doing more.  It may
not directly affect how you're working, but it definitely
keeps you working.

In the lovely world of art blogs for some reason this is
understood through some secret unspoken code.  And Hurray
for that.  So go ahead praise an artist, your kid, your romantic
partner, your boss, whoever you possibly can.  Oh -- and
part two -- mean what you say!

I'd add -- also give yourself a pat on the back.  Acknowledge
each time you've done something you're proud of and reward
yourself.  It doesn't have to be a trip to France (I am ready),
but a phone call to a friend can make your day.

Have a praising what you love day!"

Begin again

Tea in the gallery with Marcia

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

(In the original I tried to include

a suggestion of Marcia.  Looking

at it later, I realized that the

figure part, and yellow background

weren't working.  I painted out the

figure and changed the background 

colour and like it much better.  Besides 

Marcia deserves a proper portrait.

 I promise I will do one soon!)

I am inching towards recovery from one of the worst colds I've ever
had.  And no it's not COVID, although a doctor suggested it might
be pneumonia.  Let's say might "have" been, because I am getting
better.

Today Steven took me to my favourite art supply store, and waited

while I went in masked to buy a canvas for an upcoming 
commission.  I loved being there and seeing my friends John and
Michael. So that my friends is a big deal.  I am moving back into
thinking about art -- a definite sign of major improvement.

Have a loving your life day. 

How about five things we're grateful for right now

Miranda Brouwers with her husband Rolf
Photo
Barbara Muir 2015

I talked first thing this morning to my dear friend in the Netherlands,
who always makes me happy -- the artist Miranda Brouwers.

Then I read a piece on Instagram by Neil Pasricha, a writer whose work I love 
about five things people regret when they're dying. I'd like to turn that
around and talk about five things that are great in my life. I think
appreciating what you have matters.  

5 top joyous features of a happy life:

1. I'm delighted that I'm alive.

2. I'm so happy that I love my partner.

3. I'm so thrilled that my partner loves me to the moon and back.

4. I'm so happy that I get to do work I love, and that I meet 
    wonderful people through my work.

5. I feel overjoyed that I have an amazing family, and wonderful
    friends. 

Neil put the message about dying people's regrets on his fridge,
I'm thinking of posting this list on my fridge and as always
I'm grateful to Neil and to all of you for the inspiration.

Have a loving your life day.

The week of the yellow Iris

Iris in the kitchen
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

I don’t think I got a good photo of the Irises, which is too bad.
We have incredible yellow Irises in the garden. and beautiful
purple Irises.  

Nature is a constant mystery -- a good one to focus on in these
trying times. When I look out our basement door window at night
the yellow Irises are highlighted by the garage lights and glow against
the dark night. So dramatically beautiful. 

Summer teaches us to love each moment. Most flowers have their
time in the garden. Frequently brief and then something new captivates us. 
Wishing you a happy week.

Have a loving your life day.

A wonderful story from my artist's life (there have been so many)

 

Portrait of the Artist

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 

I love this story from one of the few juried art shows I participated in with
the Don Valley Art Club in Toronto.  It's Saturday, and I'm a bit tired after
our big trip yesterday. So please enjoy this:

"One of the most exciting evenings of my life as an artist happened
 the night I won Best Portrait, for this odd little painting submitted to
 the Don Valley Art Club spring show. That year the judge was a man
who travelled extensively for Windsor Newton. In choosing my painting
he said that he had just been to a show of portraits at the Tate in London, and
that my work was equal to anything there.

Wow! There were oohs and aahs from the crowd, and a friend of ours rushed away
from the room and purchased the painting on the spot. The evening was not only
wonderful, surprising and a hit on every score. But the funny thing was that because
it was a self portrait, it never occurred to me that someone would buy it. I had
painted it more or less as an artist's joke for my family, because my true artist's
costume, is a pair of paint covered jeans and an old sweater. But this was funny.

The moral of the story? Have fun painting, because the art world is full of surprises.

Have an exciting and surprising day."