Last day of March -- One overwhelming month!

Feeling thoughtful

Self portrait sketch

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

What with health issues in the family, what's going on
in the world, and daily worrying news this month has
required a team of cheerleaders, both outside in the
world and inside in my heart.  I do think I'm lucky
because I have those cheerleaders in my friends.  And
I thank you. Everyone I know is going through hard
times in some ways, but working so hard at being optimistic.

And then I listened to a show on CBC tonight about
a girl trying to escape from war torn Syria to Sweden
with her fiancé, but he drowned when the
smugglers running the boats, got angry with the
refugees and rammed their boat drowning 500 people.
This young woman was handed two stranger's babies,
and somehow survived and was rescued holding
the babies, wearing only a child's flotation device
herself.

She is now studying in Sweden where she wanted
 to be with her fiancé, and she is being treated well.
 But she hates the label "refugee." She says no one would
voluntarily leave a peaceful homeland. No one would take
such desperate chances unless they absolutely had no other
choice.

Have an enjoying-your-own-life day.

Drawing and thoughts on seeing

Cold day outside at the mall

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Here's another little drawing of the man outside the bookstore

a couple of weekends ago.  What I like about this one is

that the man is in his world, and the woman walking by is

in hers, and they are oblivious to the other person's
existence.  

Super late, super tired.  Big shopping malls are a fascinating

subject for an artist, because everyone has an agenda, and
the rest of the world is backdrop.  Most of us don't see each
other, like the man and woman passing each other on a sidewalk
by the parking lot. (The square thing in front is a mailbox).

I painted today too, and think I've resolved something

that was bothering me.  But this is it for tonight.

Have an enjoying what you notice day.

Slow dancing with spring

Happy Morning in Port Philip

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Thank goodness for my friends out there, and here
in Toronto, who keep me on track on positive
thinking.  It is the secret to life. Stay happy,
and whenever possible move on. If the negative
insists on being in your path, cross the street.

I am also indebted to Stephen Colbert and Jimmy
Fallon, whose humour frames the strange changes
the world is going through in an easier to take light.  

I did this iPad drawing the other day, and it was waiting
for me tonight when I came home from teaching my
evening class.  No time for painting today. I love the
pure, glorious colour that bounces out of my old iPad,
and begs me to upgrade to the latest iPad with the fancy
pencil, so I can have even more fun with this
drawing habit.  I do keep thinking of the amazing
show of Hockney's iPad drawings I saw in a gallery
in New York a couple of years ago.  Mind blowing.
Hockney is one of my art gods.  At the time there
was a Degas show on at the MoMA and it was
fascinating how both artists pieced together paper
to make larger images.

Have an all ready for spring day.

More from the hospital -- on a beautiful day

Thinking about the crossword puzzle

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Strange to be spending time in a hospital with
relatives on a joyous, sunny spring day -- with
tulip leaves poking up in the garden.  But a blessing
in a way because in this vibrant city you get a
picture of how many people are sitting waiting in
hospitals for tests or surgeries worrying about
their lives.  Many, many people.  And in Canada
we are so lucky that all of these tests, treatments,
 and operations are free.

Worried Dad, Sick little girl

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Waiting for Mom

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

I did a few drawings sitting in several waiting
rooms, and am grateful to my family who
are there for each other, to my friends for the
sweet card left in the door, and even to my
country for making this care available to
everyone.

In this together

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Trying to read and text

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Early morning -- the good nurse

Black marker on Fringe drawing paper

9 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Thank you to all of you who support the work I do. 

Steffie Wallace told me to -- and short blog break

Happy fields by the sea

iPad drawing

8 x 10

Barbara Muir © 2017

My dear friend Steffie Wallace is a fantastic artist from
Australia, and she's also written a novel called The
August Months.  I met Steffie at the Florence Biennale,
and I just love her work -- very moody, misty, brilliant
landscapes -- all about light.

So when I posted an iPad drawing last night, and Steffie
suggested I do a series, I thought maybe I'll do at least
one more, and pop it up here for you tonight.

I am going to take a few days off the blog.  I've got
a bad cold I think I picked up from one of the
sweetest very young people I know.  And I need
to concentrate on painting and thinking for a short
break.  I may miss you too much to stop, but I do
need to prepare for a show in May!  More news about
that coming up.  Meanwhile be good to yourself.

Have a dreaming-of-glorious-adventures day.

Always on -- (really?) Or have I ever been tireder!

Clouds at play

iPad drawing

8 x 10

Barbara Muir © 2017

Tonight after teaching I have to admit I am super
tired.  Knock down, drag out, tired.  But as artists
who blog -- not okay.  Right?  We should be on.
And of course talking to you makes me feel
a million times better about the sapped energy,
the new cold threatening to become full fledged.

I get all happy and motivated and feel my energy
coming back and it's almost like I can feel you
out there sending me inspiration, and so much
kindness, and wonderful opportunities.

So.  To hell with tiredness.  Here's a little
something different -- a landscape from my
iPad, drawn with my finger.  My iPad is old,
and unreliable, and shuts down in a minute for no
reason, fully charged.  But wow, try drawing on
it -- in the ultra low tech way of dragging your
finger over the surface -- and the thing is fun.
Thanks for reviving me.

Have a having fun making your art day.
P.S.  I know it should be "more tired",
not "tireder".  Yes I do.

Winter nostalgia -- (just a little).

Winter at the beach

(work in progress)

Acrylic on cradled birch panel

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Today's painting is of the beach in winter,
 at Port Stanley on Lake Erie.  Sometimes there
is a miraculous day, when there is no snow, and
we just need to see that beach so badly, that we
leave Toronto, even though it's late in the day, and
it's quite a ride.  This view might be our reward.

If it is warm enough to walk on the beach all
bundled up, and the need for that view is intense
we might make the trip, have maybe half an hour
before darkness ends the view, and still feel entirely
rewarded, renewed, refreshed.

Have a getting to the beach day.