Primary Show Opening tomorrow

 

Invitation to the Primary Show at the Heliconian Hall

tomorrow July 8 from the 4 - 7:30 p.m.

Free and free treats

I know this looks strange, because the opening I'm mentioning is the second one
on the invitation -- July 8 -- tomorrow.  But I will be there for the entire
opening, and would love to see you.  I have three pieces in the show, and it's
pretty amazing.  I had 50 of these invitations printed by my favourite printer
today.  He eliminated the speaker symbol, so all I've had to explain is the 
dates. 

If you're in Toronto please come to the Heliconian Hall tomorrow. You will love the
show. 

Have a loving your life day!

Missing Europe

 

A fruit market we passed

walking to the church of

Santa Maria Novella

where many Medicis are

buried in Florence, Italy.

Photo

Barbara Muir © 

Some of the best times in my art career happened in Florence showing
at the Florence Biennale in 2009, and 2015, and in Paris showing the
Louvre in 2015, 2016 and 2022.

Florence was magnificent, and I'd love to go back.  Paris is easily accessible
for me because I have wonderful friends there and we've been enough
times that I know how to get around.  I just got invited to show in the
Carousel du Louvre show in October today.  And I will seriously
think it over.

Have a loving your life day!

A busy day, and thinking about my son

Young Man Reading

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I love this very loose abstract sketch of my son, Sam. And I'm

thinking of him because he called when Steven and I were 

driving around shopping and doing errands.  He just wanted

to say Hi, and I was just going into a store, but as the day 
raced on it was too late to call by the time I was home and
had time. 

Sam is sweetheart of a guy, and since he and his wife left
Toronto we have really missed them.  They used to live
two blocks away, which was wonderful.

Here's what I said about this in a former blog:

"I have been lucky for my entire artistic life to have a super

supportive family.  This painting is of my son Sam who
posed for me many times during his late teens when he
was living at home, and a ready subject.  Christopher,
my son, my daughter-in-law Megan, Steven, my husband
and our various animals have all posed. And I am grateful
for them.  Big time."

Wishing you a happy and creative week.

Have a loving your life day.

 

Eternally grateful to Flora Doehler

 Flora on Skype

Black marker on bond paper

8 1/2 x 11 inches

Barbara Muir © 

17 years ago after a day of painting I drew this drawing of my friend
Flora on Skype, which would now be Zoom. 

Here's what I wrote about Flora on a former blog:

"Flora Doehler is the person who urged me to do a blog. My son Christopher
 actually started the blog for me. So Flora and Christopher transformed my
 life, and Flora continues to inspire me with her beautiful art.

Flora's push for change in my life (especially starting the blog) resulted
in me travelling all over the world, to New York, to Florence, to Paris
and the Louvre, and to Oprah Winfrey's show drawing her live via Skype.
(And many more media experiences because of the Oprah show.)

Meanwhile Flora moved to a small maritime town, and almost lives

in retreat compared to life in the big city.  And she continues to
make and sell beautiful art, and to teach me things about technology

and painting."

One of the biggest treats of our annual trip to the Maritimes and Nova
Scotia is visiting Flora and Larry Knox, her husband, and seeing Flora's
studio.  Her work is amazing.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Birthday to Christopher

Megan and Christopher in Korea
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Yesterday, July 2, was my wonderful son Christopher's birthday.
We called Christopher, and sang Happy Birthday (our dog Sally
always joins in), but our schedules didn't work with getting
together. And we missed Christopher.  But soon we will be
together and celebrate.

Steven and I thought about Christopher all day. His birthday was
such an exciting, life changing day for us! We became a family
and are so grateful to Christopher for all of the love and joy he's
brought into our lives. I wish Christopher and Megan,
his beautiful wife -- one of the kindest people I know -- a fabulous
year.

The painting today is of Christopher and Megan. I
painted it using a Skype image I took on my computer when
Christopher and Megan were teaching in Korea.  The connection
was fragile, so frequently the images broke up, and I enjoyed
painting the effect.

Have a loving your life day. 

Back at it

One of my favourite places in the world --
The Louvre, Paris

Photo

Barbara Muir ©

There's really no day off for an artist.  But that just means that our eyes
never stop looking.  If we translate our visual delight into a drawing
or painting that's wonderful.  I have been drawing during our short
holiday, but today it's back to the studio and working on painting.

I hope you are having a wonderful day.  I am thinking every day
about David Hockney, and watching wonderful videos of his
art discussions on YouTube.  Such a treat.  I'm so sorry he's gone.
But his message is clear.  Look and create.

Okay.  I'm back at it.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Canada Day

Produce Canadian Flag

I saw this hilarious produce flag in Loblaws,
our local store a number of years ago.
People didn't even notice
the shape (tired at the end of a working week),
and had taken some of the produce.  But still
the theme was there.  This is our national flag
in tomatoes, garlic and red pepper.
Art is everywhere.

I hope you are having a very happy Canada Day. I am
just chilling with our cats and our dog.  It is too hot to
do much. So this will be super short.  Thank you to my
country, and to all of my Canadian family and friends.

Have a loving your life day!