The Bounty of the Universe

The flowers' party

Watercolour

9 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

On Saturday Hay House, the company Louise Hay started
is beginning a free, 10 day  World Summit over the Internet.
Louise Hay is the first person who I heard say, "the bounty
of the universe," and her point of view set me on a course
to enjoying my life.

As artists that bounty is always available, but it is even
more remarkable in the spring and summer.  This year
our long, cold spring has produced such an extended, lush
period of flowering trees.  One after another they come into
bloom, and then it's the next lot.  Lately it's been lilacs
-- the most profuse we've seen in a decade.

My kitchen table always feels like a display for abundance.
And right now it's home to pansies, and the last of the
 forget-me-nots that fill the garden with an ocean
of blue flowers.

I did this little painting to capture the mood -- joyous
and light -- a time for dancing with the cats and each
other.  Everyone so filled with spring fever -- bubbling
up for months now, that there's got to be a party.  And
I think the month of June will be one long party!
Woo Hoo.  (Lots of work too, don't worry!)

Have a life's-a-party day.

Super talks with friends and artists all day -- plus back to my art group!

Nude with tulips in the art gallery

Acrylic on canvas

20 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

What a fun day.  It has been a misty, rainy, and a full out heavy
showers day.  My favorite.  I must have been born on a boat,
because I am always happy around water, and usually glad
when it rains.

I met with some friends for coffee to start the day, came
home and worked on a watercolour for most of the afternoon.
I spoke to a good friend in Ireland, and listened to
the exciting news about her life and art.  Afterwards the
watercolour seemed to sing off the brush.

Then tonight I headed out in a downpour for my art group,
and had a marvellous time.  The model was everything I
love, quiet and serious about posing.  I decided to put her
in an art gallery.  And enjoyed painting her and the work
behind her as quickly as possible.  The paintings are imagined
works by friends.

This is what a good model does -- inspires the artists to think
their own thoughts and go off into their imaginations.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable, and art packed day.

Have a day filled-with-art-and joy.

Happy start of the week -- thinking about the Maritimes

 

 Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

Here's what I've been working on today.  I'm getting together
some work for the summer.  Last year we went on a road trip
to Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) from our school house in
Nova Scotia.  Although the trip crossed through three
of Canada's 10 provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
 and Prince Edward Island,) it doesn't take long to get there,
but we dawdled, taking photos all along the route and enjoying
 every minute.

 In Victoria P.E.I. I took lots of pictures for future paintings,
having that "Oh look!, Wow!, Oh isn't that beautiful!"
response around every corner.

This scene is only partially finished, but it's already got the colours
that took my breath away when I was there.  P.E.I.'s colours
are dazzling.  It's supposed to be a bit like Ireland.  I'll
warn my friends in Ireland now, that if that's true, when I
visit Ireland I may not come back home.

Have a summer-is-around-the-corner day.

Pansies, a favorite professor and love stories

 Please --More pansies!

Acrylic on canvas

6 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

When I was studying at OCAD I had a favorite
teacher who seemed like a comic.  I drew my
first nude male at 17 in his class.  The model
was a very overweight, pasty, white man in his
50s, and my teacher helped a group of shocked,
innocent kids concentrate on drawing, and get
over their embarrassment and learn to describe
form.

That teacher was incredibly exacting in his own
work.  He refined and refined and was really never
satisfied with what he'd done.  Some of his watercolours
sold for $15,000 dollars.  But he'd go into museums and
take them out of the frame and keep working. His one
relief from sad subject matter -- decrepit, rotting, old
houses, sagging, depressed, older bodies  -- was pansies.
Every spring he painted dozens of pansy paintings and
sold them all.  They were bright, cheerful, joyous
watercolours.  Completely out of step with his usual work.

I have always loved this flower -- so brave and cheerful
in the cold of Canadian early spring, and resurfacing in
garden stores in the fall.  So here's another little pansy painting
tonight.

The story?  Check out the movie Love is All You Need
with Trine Dyrholm,  and Pierce Brosnan -- a beautiful,
sensitive and joyous love story.  Set mostly on the Amalfi coast,
in Italy it was a total visual treat as well.  Delightful.

Have a going-to-see-a-love-story day.

Favorite towns -- Victoria P.E.I.

The Happy Yellow House
(Work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

6 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

Victoria, Prince Edward Island is one of my
favorite towns in the world for many reasons.
Years ago when Sam was a baby, we spent
more than a month in a cottage on the south
shore of Prince Edward Island.

As is our practice when we travel, we explored
the island and loved it for its gorgeous sea views,
rolling farm land, red sand, delicious food,
warm people and many lovely, old Victorian
homes.

My painting today is of one of the many superb
homes in Victoria -- which was just down the road
from the glorious cottage on the beach where we
spent one very happy July.  Today Victoria
has a theater, several great restaurants, an amazing
antique store, and is a treat for the senses.

I'm almost finished this little house.  I may put on
a few final touches tomorrow.

Have a visiting-a-favorite-town day.

Roses in a crystal jug

 Roses in a crystal jug

Watercolour

9 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

I wrote a cheerful blog on Monday, which was the Victoria Day
holiday here. But sad news hit that day with the Tornado in
Oklahoma. My heart goes out to the people in Moore after
this horrendous storm. To donate to the Red Cross Disaster
Relief fund click here.

I decided to change my blog, and leave it at this.  Take
care everyone and stay safe.

XO Barbara

First pansies and chilly nights

 First pansies

Acrylic on canvas

6 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

The weather is beautiful out today, but tonight
 the temperature in Toronto is expected to fall
to zero degrees Celsius or 32 Fahrenheit and it
could go lower, because we have frost warnings!

I have some pansies in pots, (not planted yet), and
 I have to bring them inside.  Cold springs happen,
but this is really cold.  Imagine searching for
your winter gloves in May. And yesterday as Steven
and I were coming home from shopping it was
snowing!  Snowing!  On May 12th in Toronto.

I finished my little painting of pansies today, and
I hope we don't get frost tonight because I've been
dreaming of those peach trees we saw Saturday
and the peaches in August.  Such a treat.

Have a keeping-warm-and-creative day.