Opening of the Encounter show at the Heliconian Club today

Me with my paintings

On the left:

Water Image #1

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

On the right:
Jesca's favourite place
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2024
Photo: © Steven van Schaik

(Yes the paintings lean
out a bit from the hanger, but they
are perfectly square. The position
distorts them slightly.)

The opening today at the Heliconian Club was wonderful.  I had so much
fun talking to visitors and the artists that I didn't take pictures of the rest
of the show.  Forgive me.  

I met such fantastic people -- wow.  The show is super, and if you missed the
opening today, there is a second opening on this coming Wednesday,
September 11 from 4 - 7:30 p.m.  I plan to be there for that opening too, and
would love to see you there. The show is free, and...

I will bring cookies.

Have a loving your life day. 

Looking back -- 10 years ago on this day.

 

Tide coming in by the farm

Acrylic on birch panel

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2014

Ten years ago on this day, I did this little painting which I love based on my 
memories of the beach we usually spend a lot of time on in Nova Scotia.

Tomorrow as I've said is the opening of the Encounter show of new member's

work at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave.  I will be bringing macarons, and
will be there from 2 - 4 p.m.  The opening runs until 5 p.m.

I love this blog from 10 years ago, so I'm going to share it with you today.

"Tonight's painting is another view of the beach
and coastline, where I have spent part of my summers
for many years.  This landscape is part of my psyche.
It belongs to me.  In the words of one of the
characters in the Joshilyn Jackson novels we
listened to full time in the car out east. "Mine!"  She
even writes about a baby who wants the ocean in
A Grown Up Kind of Pretty.

On one of my old Louise Hay audiobooks,
(I don't know which one), she talked about
enjoying other people's good fortune, beautiful
houses, every kind of luxury, and she said,
"we never really own anything, it is only on
loan to us."  I loved that idea, because of course
it's true.

You are not allowed to claim the beach in
 front of your cottage as private in Nova
Scotia where we walk on the beach.
My school house is a 25 minute car ride
from the beach. I don't own that beach,
but my eyes, heart, memory and spirit own
 it inside out.

Market flowers, and peaches.

Starting to prep for the long winter.

I miss it but love Toronto too.  We went to the
market today, and came home laden with
peaches and flowers.  I thought of my friend
Flora, in Bear River, who grows a huge garden,
cans and freezes endless amounts of veggies and
fruits and paints giant, gorgeous paintings.  My
admiration for all that energy knows no bounds."

Have a loving-the-places-you-"own" day.

The Heliconian Encounter show opening is from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, August 7

 

Jesca's favourite place
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

This is not the final piece.  One of the things I forget to do when dropping off

work for a show early in the morning, before my second coffee is to 
photograph the work.  I added quite a bit to this painting, and changed
some things, but didn't get a photo of the final product.

I do hope you'll come out to see the show.  The show organizers gave me the

 perfect place for my two portraits, and I am grateful.

Have a loving your life day.

Come out to the Encounter Show at the Heliconian Club Saturday!

 

Water Image #1
(close up)

Acrylic on Canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

Please come and see this (the photo doesn't show the full work) at the Heliconian Club, 35
Hazelton Avenue, Encounter show which opens this Saturday, September 7, from 2 - 5 p.m.
I will be there from 2 - 4 p.m. and would love to see you. The show is free and there will be coffee

and treats.

This is one of two paintings I have in the show. I'll reveal the other one tomorrow.

Have a loving your life day.

The lake is the answer

Sunset at the lake

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2024

Being by water makes me happy.  This view of a spectacular sunset a few nights
ago, plus the swans did the trick.  Awesome. It was the last day of August, which
felt like the last day of summer, even though summer isn't officially over until 
September 22. 

I am getting a couple of paintings ready to go into a show on Thursday.  More 
about that tomorrow.  The opening of the Encounter show is at the Heliconian Club,
35 Hazelton Avenue, between 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 7. I will there.
It's free, and they serve great coffee and cookies.

Have a loving your life day.

The best of summer

Friends in Quebec City

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

Today was stupendously gorgeous. We went to one of our favourite parks
on the west end of the city, and had a magnificent walk beside Lake Ontario,
which was showing off — a delicious blue against a pure blue sky.

We saw the usual ducks, geese, and seagulls. Plus we saw one of our favourite
swan couples from afar. And 100s of dragonflies flew overhead clearing the
air of the late afternoon midges.

I revised this painting a bit today. I thought the feel of it was perfect for that
last day of summer vacation, the women are sitting on a bench on the boardwalk
in Quebec City—one of my favourite places. The city has that French charm
we love so much. 

I hope you had a great summer. We did.

Have a loving your life day. 

September 1 feels like New Year's Day

 

Coffee at 8th Avenue and 23rd Street, NYC
charcoal on bond paper
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

I'm posting this drawing, because other than writing my blog and my
Instagram posts, this is a day off.  September feels brand new.  So I'm

thinking of what I'd like to do in a dreamy way.  I'd love to show in 
New York once the American election is over, provided Trump doesn't
win.  I love the city, and this drawing sums up the happy feeling I get there
perfectly.

Plus of course I want to go back to Paris.  As for today we had a super
time hanging out on our sunny back porch with the animals (2 cats and
a dog), talking to neighbours, getting some groceries, and then going
for a beautiful walk to find the source of some great music that was 
energizing the neighbourhood.  A decent length walk got us to the party.
Amazing music to celebrate a fellow's birthday.  Lucky man. We
sent him our birthday wishes through another guest, then walked 
around the block so we could hear the music full strength again
from the next street. Awesome.

Happy long weekend.

Have a loving your life day.