Last day of the Month of Love -- Love lasts

My Dad (from his own self portrait)

Charcoal on Canson Mixed Media paper

13 x 14 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

(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 would not leave his house, even

to go to the store for many years if

he wasn't dressed properly. Plus his sense

of humour came through in the merest 

suggestion of a smile.)

Not to end on a sad note, but this day in February
always has a special meaning for me because it was
my father's birthday.  My father died years ago, but
I think of him every year on his birthday, and
probably every other day of the year too.

So it is appropriate on this last day of the Month
of Love to think about the meaning of love on
a deep level.  And here's what I know.  Not only
is my father visible in my face, and in my way
of talking, 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.

So the powerful message he would like me to convey
if he were alive on this the final day of the Month
of Love, 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.

Isn't that comforting to know.  I think so.

Have a loving-the-people-who-love you day.

On this 27th day of the Month of Love -- Stephen Colbert

A man IV

black marker on watercolour paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Truth is I could have become quite depressed this
winter.  It seemed like the world had gone completely
nuts. Combine that with illness in my family and
as you witnessed many trips to the hospital, plus
a concussion -- keeping my spirits up -- something
I believe in working on, was not easy.

Drawing of a man

black marker on watercolour paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Then I remembered Stephen Colbert.  I love
Trevor Noah, Jon Stewart (who was on The Late Show
tonight), and Jimmy Fallon -- but lately it has been
Colbert who keeps me laughing, and believing for
no clear reason that things will somehow get
better.

Drawing of a man II

Charcoal on watercolour paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Tonight I salute all of the comedy shows
that boost my spirits and celebrate them on this
second to last day of the Month of Love.

Drawing of a man 

black marker on watercolour paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

It turns out that in 2009 I drew many drawings of
Stephen Colbert, which I labeled as the man.  I'd
freeze frame episodes of his show and try to capture
him mid-thought, or mid sentence.

I was a big fan then, and am one now. I noticed watching him
tonight, that he now wears dark framed glasses.   The
ties are a bit thinner I think.  But essentially he has the
same handsome, compelling, intelligent and humorous face.

Have an enjoying-the-brilliant-comedians day

On the 26th Day of the Month of Love -- The Artist Project

Joyce Fournier with a few of her large collection

of bold abstract work. 

Today was a gorgeous sunny day, a big deal in this
grey city, and I celebrate the wonderful exhibition
The Artist Project on this superb day.  My dear
friend, and former gallery director, Joyce Fournier
got me tickets, and we hurried through the exhibition
to see her glorious abstract paintings -- huge and
vibrant and a major departure for Joyce. A band of
our unknown friend here -- sunlight -- snuck across
her painting as I was taking her picture, and the
painting seemed to welcome the attention.

Me with Kim Rempel and her wonderful abstract 

work at The Artist Project

Next we dropped in on my good friend, and amazing
artist, Kim Rempel, who also offered me tickets.
Her abstract work is absolutely breathtaking, and
I love seeing it in person, because I always check
out her work on her blog.  Huge and vibrant and
wonderfully designed I love, love, love Kim's work.
We met in 2011 when we were both in a show celebrating
100 years of International Women's Day, and have been
 friends and supporters of each other's art ever since.

Me with artist Gill Cameron at The Artist Project

Gill Cameron and I go way back as friends and
artist companions who have been in many shows
together with just the two of us.  I love those
exhibitions because they attract our local community
of collectors who cheer us on, support our creativity,
and also love our work.  Gill's beautiful work features
mostly the Canadian landscape, and particularly
the beauty of Georgian Bay.  Her watercolours
are vibrant, rich, unique in style and widely
beloved and collected.

Artist Ramona Nordal with some of her gorgeous work at The Artist Project

I met Ramona Nordal in 2015 and 2016 showing at the Super
Wonder Gallery in shows curated by Daniel Anaka.
Her stylized, vibrant portraits are completely unique
and captivating.  The faces in her work are
mesmerizing, and without a doubt she paints the
most beautiful eyes of any artist I know.  Ramona
was having a great time at the Artist Project and
selling very happily.  I was delighted to see her
work in person, because I follow her works in
progress on Facebook, and the work in person
is even more powerful and compelling.

Catherine Jeffrey with her amazing cityscapes at The Artist Project

Catherine Jeffrey and I followed one another's blogs
before we met in person at the Outdoor Art Show
in Toronto.  I love her cityscapes of this city,
which absolutely capture the feeling of the
different moods brought on by light and weather in
the downtown world.  Frequently when I'm driving
home from teaching at night, I think, 'this looks
exactly like a Catherine Jeffrey painting.'
I love how she captures the colour created by
changes in atmosphere, with fog, snow, or
rain.  She is amazing.

Thanks to all the artists whose work inspired me no end today
as I walked through the exhibition at the Better Living Building
at the CNE.

Have a loving-seeing-your-friends'-art day

All about Alice

Flowers for Alice

Red and black calligraphy ink, black, 

yellow,  and green markers

on Fabriano watercolour paper

4 x 5 1/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Today the 25th day of the Month of Love was all
about a dear little girl named Alice, and her birthday
party -- a joyous event indeed.  This was a first for
Alice -- a first birthday party -- with chocolate
cupcakes, presents, family, friends, singing and
dancing.  Wonderful.

Alice
Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017

Thinking about Alice and her Happy Birthday I
drew these tulips in bright colours which I know
she loves.

Have a wishing-someone-a-day-full-of-flowers day.

Monthiversaries, Sketchbox and Meditation

That Peaceful Meditation Feeling

(sketch)

Acrylic ink, gold paint,

white and black acrylic markers

on Fabriano watercolour paper

4 x 5 1/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

On this the 24th day of the Month of Love, the monthiversary
of when Steven and I married, I am sitting in my kitchen
listening to a thunder storm, happy to know my man has
landed safely in Toronto and is heading home in a taxi.
Yay.

When I woke up today I originally wanted to celebrate
meditation, and its power to make a day a good one.
I got into the practice at the suggestion of the wonderful
artist Janet Vanderhoof.  And when I've gone a few days,
and sometimes even a week without meditating I can
feel the lag in my energy and my spirits.

When I looked out the window this morning it was another
(NO!) grey day, and there have been way too many.  I felt
a bit down, and uninspired.  Then I remembered to do a
short meditation -- picking a random choice from a
guided meditation on the internet about a good day, and the
day transformed.  It was still grey, but I saw how thick and
lacy the dark, leafless trees were getting, and I suddenly
knew that spring was coming, and we needed the rain,
and the day took off.

I did this small, odd sketch to symbolize the peace that
comes through meditating.  My Sketchbox this time
included a muted pink acrylic ink, and a fine point white
marker that can write on acrylic.  An older box held
gold paint, and a fine black marker.  Janet Vanderhoof
my meditation inspiration is bravely experimental and
thinking of her made me want to just fool around,
and play with these materials.

Have a loving-meditation-and-having-fun day.

Loving colour -- the world is captivating

Ocean tulips (work in progress)

Acrylic on cradled birch panel

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Here's the work on my easel. Today on the 23rd day
of the month of love, I want to celebrate colour -- the
gorgeous colour of the blue, blue sky today -- a sunny
day, a gift after almost two months of grey sky, of the
tulips I'm painting, people -- the exciting varieties of
people in this city -- Toronto, of the world -- every
single part of what I see cries out to be captured, put
down, locked in and treasured. That is what it feels
like to be an artist.  The complete opposite of boring.

How incredibly lucky I feel to have any ability to
convey this in paint.  And even more lucky to see
with eyes (helped considerably by glasses) that
feel a deep sense of wonder.

Have a loving-the-rich-colours-of-the-world day

A love of reading -- on the 22nd day of the Month of Love

The best story

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

(I was inspired by a post by Danny Gregory

today.  I loved how he began his drawing

with an outline of an entire tea cup

and saucer, and then just kept going.)

Tonight I was looking for a photo of my mother
reading to me and my brother at bedtime, but
couldn't find it.  I did find a photo (probably
styled by my photographer father) of my brother
and me reading a book together.  You can't see
the book, but our intensely focused faces say it all.

That nightly practice in my family has left me
with a love of reading, that is almost all
consuming.  I have to stop myself from reading
full time, but I do still read before bed every
night, and I thank my parents, especially my
mother for that practice, now in the month of love.

My drawing tonight is half the picture -- just me
looking down at the book my brother and I were
reading.  If I have time tomorrow, I'll add
my brother in.

Have a reading-when-the-mood-strikes-you day.