Enjoying the beauty of nature

 

Holding our heads high 

Watercolour on Arches 

watercolour paper

6 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 

Flowers make me happy.  They seem to have it right with their
exuberant beauty. I am on vacation (yes I've said that every day
since it began. This is day 5 -- wow.) The news from the world
is deeply disturbing as always, but training these eyes to see 
the wonders around me seems more vital than ever. 

I have been drawing, and taking a crazy number of reference
photos. We have been having a chill, happy time, 
reading our books, and for me sketching. We took a super
walk tonight and could see stars. Fantastic.

Have a loving your life day!

The pleasure of working with a model

 

Fatouma (sketch)

Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2020

Looking back at an old post, I remember a time during COVID, when live
models in the house were not a great idea. We thought at the time that if we
wore a mask, that we’d be fine, and we didn’t know which ones were safe.

We found out that even with N95 masks we needed to keep our distance.
At the time, I thought it was safe to paint from a live model if I was wearing
a mask, and so I did this portrait of Fatouma, a beautiful model, very quickly
on my back porch. I’d love to get you back one day Fatouma to finish the
painting, or begin another one.

Right now I have a minimum of three portraits on the go waiting for me
to get back to work after my holiday.

They will happen. But even artists need time not to do art. I have been
sketching, -- and what a treat!

Have a loving in your life day!

Sally (an art group sketch)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 

 As I told you I'm on holiday, and taking time off from my
regular routines.  We met new friends today, and had so
much fun singing in the car exploring beautiful farm
views.

Scrolling through my blog I found this fast painting
sketch from my art group on Tuesday nights with the
Don Valley Art Club, and loved it. 

I like the loose brush strokes in this one. Formal
portrait commissions take me weeks. I wrote that
I had 25 minutes at the most to finish this, and it looks like
the model had something to say. I'm looking forward to 

getting back to the group when

Steven's vacation is over. 

As I said before,  "I just get in that group and feel my
art energy working. It is almost magic. Okay it is magic. And
I am very grateful."

I hope you have a great week. 

Have a loving your life day!

A very happy day

 

Summer clouds Wallace Bridge

Acrylic on canvas

40 x 40 inches

 Barbara Muir ©
SOLD ♥ 

Steven is on holiday, so I'm taking a break and enjoying 
every minute. Steven and I have been going on
magnificent long drives, and everywhere we go
there is so much glorious inspiration. I can't wait 
to enjoy making new, beautiful creations.

Today I enjoyed drawing people in the wonderful
restaurant where we ate a hastily delivered take out
dinner. The restaurant had closed except for drinks,
so we ordered pizza in. The painting is set in Nova
Scotia. One of our top of the list favourite places.

We saw some super friends and family today, and
had such a great time with them. Wishing you a great
Sunday. And to everyone we met today, thank you for
your exceptional kindness. 

Have a loving your life day!

Missing my father

 

My Dad (from his own self portrait)

Charcoal on Canson Mixed Media paper

13 x 14 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(My father loved black and white photography --

he had books by all of the greats in

that field.  He took beautiful colour

photos too, but that was not his passion.  
The photo I based my drawing on told

me so much about my father.  His love

of playing with light and his knowledge

about light is so evident.  Plus this

is my father in casual dress!  Yes!

He wouldn’t leave the house, even

to go to the store for many years if

he wasn't dressed like he was going
to the office. Plus his sense

of humour came through in the merest 

suggestion of a smile.)

9/11  is a sad day in America because of the horrific events

of that day in 2001. For me and my siblings it's a sad day because
 that was the day my father died -- not in 2001. Today I'll 
 quote what I said before about my father."
"I love everything my father taught me. I know I walk in his
footsteps.  He was a very strict father for small children -- but as
we grew up, he enjoyed us more and more. 

And here's what I know.  Not only is my father visible in my face,
my love of humour, and the fact that I have been both a journalist,
and an artist, like him. But the main connection I have with my
Dad is in my heart.

The powerful message he would like me to convey
is that love lasts.  It never goes away.  And
my Dad's love for me, and mine for him is a
wonderful thing, and always will be for me.
I find that very comforting to know."
Have a loving your life day!

I'm so lucky to have wonderful friends

Summer shadow blues

Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Steven and I took a beautiful drive today and saw an amazing
sunset. Tonight I  found a former post that seems right for
tonight.  Some of our friends are going through hard times
with work, and health and this post struck me as right on.

"Who are your cheerleaders? Is this an idle question? I don't think
so. I hope the first person on your team of supporters is you, because

without belief in what you do, you can't keep going.
But how about your friends? In the art world
there are people who are supportive, detractors,
and those who just don't care. But this job requires
a lot of nerve. After all many people won't understand
either what you're creating, or why you're creating it.
Some fierce little person inside has to keep going
through snide remarks, lack of appreciation, and
outright put downs. But that person (you/me) also
has to learn to move away from the detractors, and
seek out a great cheering team. I don't mean that
you force people into a corner and say "hey -- tell me
I'm good!" I mean you spend time with people who like what
you do, and who like you, and those friends, and acquaintances,
and as the circle grows, total strangers,  are your positive back up.

Now Alyson Stanfield, who writes the artbizblog,
I can imagine might say there's another group. Those are
converts. The reason you can't rule out people who
outright dislike your work altogether is twofold.
Tastes change -- the tastes of your audience -- and you
change -- your work evolves and goes in different
directions. One day you'll be at a show
of your work, and see a former critic approaching
you beaming. Are you going to turn away because
that person didn't used to "get" your work. No.
You're going to beam back, and possibly have a
convert, even a collector now on your team.

A final idea. Don't let detractors stop you. Not if
you believe in yourself. I heard the other day about
a wonderful writer who didn't write for 20 years
because of a cruel remark. What a shame. Twenty
lost years. See what I mean? Understand that people 
who make cruel remarks aren't okay themselves.
Talk to your closest supporters, and they'll help you
let it go and move on, and come back to your 
positive self.

Have a cheering-on-the-people-you-believe-in day.

P.S. Thank you to my team of supporters. I rarely
hear any cruel remarks anymore. And if I do, I
either weigh the remark's validity, or I discount it,
or I head right to my friends for a talk about it, and drop
it after an intelligent and often funny discussion."

Have a loving your life day. 

Relaxing with my sweet husband

Happy Anniversary Tea 

watercolour and marker on
watercolour paper

 6 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 

I like this painting.  Those of you who follow me will know
it's not my anniversary or Monthaversary, but it has been a
great day -- with the help of a good friend tidying up enough
to take some time off to enjoy ourselves. In some ways that's
just as celebratory as an anniversary. It's been a very busy summer.
 

A lot of people wouldn't think my plans were exciting enough
to call a vacation.  No planes, or trains.  Just driving around with
my man and taking a week or two off to relax. So I will keep writing
my blog, but I may or may not post new work.  This painting makes me
happy, and that's my plan -- to have some fun, read good books,
draw and be happy.

Have a loving your life day!