Last opening for the Off The Wall show at the Heliconian Club tomorrow, January 8

The pick of Picton

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © Revised 2024

Tomorrow is the last opening of the Off The Wall show at the Heliconian
Club, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto from 4 - 7:30 p.m.  This painting is

still available, and there are many more extremely reasonable pieces
available. As always there will be treats and coffee.

Last year I posted this, which seems as apt today as it did a year ago.

"I found a post from 2020 on this day.  In January of 2020 we didn't know
we were heading into a pandemic. I remember friends asking if I would
avoid travel because of that thing they call COVID-19, and the attitude 
was casual -- like it would be about colds.  Then the school I work for
quit holding live classes on March 9, 2020, and millions of people lost their
lives to the virus.

I liked this post about purpose.  The world is still in a mess -- it seems
like it's worse than in 2020.  The wars are horrific, the climate change

is bordering on out of control.  COVID-19 is surging again.
My purpose remains the same.

" 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 feels impossible.  It's hard to see the light with Australia
(and Canada and other countries this past summer) burning,
 and a full scale senseless war in the middle east (and apparently more
than 100 conflicts worldwide.)  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.

As an 18 year old I first marched for peace.  Let's get some."

Have an enjoying your purpose day.

Great advice from one of my former blogs -- compliment each other -- Praise, praise, praise!

Two of my all time favourite paintings of two sisters, Etana and Solana.

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 ♥

A very good, and very strange day.  I took taxis to a hearing clinic for tests because I was
tired and didn't feel like risking driving.  Both taxi drivers were so kind, and such
good drivers.  One fellow had lost a relative in the 2014 incel terrorist attack in

Toronto.  His relative had stepped out for lunch and was hit by the van, and killed.

The taxi driver who drove me on the way home was broken hearted that Justin
Trudeau is not going to be our prime minister.  The whole take down of Trudeau
feels stupid and social media generated. I agreed with the taxi driver. 

Weirdly Pierre Poilievre who has the most support in Canada at the moment is
connected to an incel group who want to disconnect themselves from women.

But on an up note I have normal hearing! And I am moving back into my studio
this week to begin working on paintings for my solo show at the Heliconian club
in April, and now perhaps May too! I know.  Today I found out that I will have
approximately 102 feet of display space. Woo Hoo! I will use a lot of my currently

available work of course, and I hope to create some exciting new stuff in the next 

few months!

Let's cheer each other on.  Even in hard times we can do great things.

Have a praising your friends day.

Show name -- The Art of Celebration? I think yes.

This calls for ice cream
Sketch
Acrylic on birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014

Although my son Sam is very handsome, and this portrait in no way does him
justice, it does capture his enthusiasm, and perhaps his humour.  We just returned
from a day trip to see Sam and his wife Emily.  It was lovely.  In fact our whole
family was there and it was super fun.

I am having a solo show in April at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto,
opening on April 5 between 2 and 5 p.m. I'd love to see you there.  So I'm working
on a name -- I like The Art of Celebration because I think my work celebrated what I
see.  Pretty simple. But I like it . (I am pretty simple.)

Have a loving your life day !

Saturday -- an opening and Movie night

 

Tulips in the students' gorgeous present

Acrylic on bond paper (formerly a palette)

14 x 17 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Sadly the photos we took at the reception at the Off The Wall show
at the Heliconian Club  today didn't work.  And that's too bad because

it was a wonderful opening. I  sold work, wrapped it up, sold some cards, 

and had absolutely delightful conversations.

Then it was movie night with my sweetheart.

I decided to use this image I posted in 2022 in early January, because it
is joyous, and it's probably one of the most vibrant tulip paintings I

ever did -- yet it was a sketch.  The present in the title is the beautiful crystal
jug a student gave me at the end of term when I taught at Seneca
College.  We still keep in touch, and she now runs a farm.

It's very late.  It's been a stupendous day, and I'm tired.

Stay warm.

Have a loving your life day.

An artist on vacation? Come to my opening tomorrow (Saturday) at the Heliconian Club,

 

My husband Steven and Monet the cat 3 years ago today
Photo

Barbara Muir © 2022

I am on vacation (at home) this week.  This does mean cuddling on the couch in my studio

with Monet who is now huge.  But she is every bit as affectionate. And tomorrow it means

an opening at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto. Please come on in if

you're in the neighbourhood.  No it is not a church. It became a women's art club in 1909.

We will have goodies, and excellent coffee on gorgeous china, and a lot of beautiful art at
crazy low prices (yes including mine).  I'd love to see you.

Meanwhile back to the "holiday."

Have a loving your life day.

New Year, New Day

New Day

Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

(The painting I was finishing

when the Oprah Winfrey Show

producers called, and asked

me if I'd like to draw Oprah via Skype.
My answer? Yes!) 

This was a wonderful day.  I joined Steven who was out walking our dog Sally --

very cold, but no snow and it was sunny.  We said Happy New Year to everyone,
and a woman from the Ukraine said she could only say it in German, so she

did, and I did. (I studied German in grade 10, and miraculously a lot of it
stayed with me.)

Then we went down to the lake, and walked in the magnificent light at sunset.

Beyond magnificent.  I loved what I said about the new year -- and the
magic of possibilities in a former post:

"So I was looking for a painting by me that would speak about it being
a new day, and this work showed up -- called New Day.  And it was.

My whole life changed on the day I finished that painting, because 

that was the day I got called by Oprah Winfrey's producer, and asked
to be on the show via Skype in May, 2009.  My thanks to my wonderful
model Shakoya, and to Oprah Winfrey, who I will be grateful to forever. "

I feel quite hopeful about the coming year.  True there is a lot to be worried

about.  But I feel nothing but joy when I think of my artist friends around

the world and how we support each other.  As Tania Rivilis wrote the 
other day, "May the art be with you."

Have a loving your life day.

Happy New Year!

 

View from our hotel in Florence in 2016

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2016

Happy New Year! I'm choosing to look at 2025 in a positive light despite all 
indications on a world scale that that may not happen.  Once again let's work
together to create beautiful art, live generously and happily, and enjoy each
moment on the planet.

Like many others I am hoping for a ceasefire in every war zone. One quarter of 
the way through this century it's time we grew up and quit thinking that violence

can help anyone in any way.

Happy New Year.  I hope you have a wonderful year. 

Have a loving your life day!