Reading Carol Marine and Happy Birthday to my Father

Clementine Bliss

Acrylic on canvas board

6 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Last day of the Month of Love, and it has been wonderful.
So much to love, including the view of very deep, brilliantly
white snow out my window. Thank you for celebrating with
me all month.  Although my father died years ago, I think of
him all the time, and especially on this day -- his birthday.

This morning I was lucky to be Reading Carol Marine's book
Daily Painting. I got it out of the library, and am going to buy it. So
much great information.  Carol is the reason I took a break from
my larger piece to do this joyful little still life. I absolutely love
the look of these Clementines.  I first saw them complete with
leaves in a market in Florence, Italy. And to me, everything about
Florence is romantic.

Portrait of my father 
black marker on bond paper
7 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

On this day I always say Happy Birthday to my father, who is
no longer with us.  He developed a passion for painting, and was
incredibly prolific. Daddy admired the fact that I was going
to OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design) in Toronto.
And although he never took a single class, he produced
some rather wonderful art.  I miss him.

Have a loving the art in life day.

To the love of learning and wonderful models

Poem by the Don
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches (diptych)
Barbara Muir © 2008

It's the second last day of the Month of Love,

and my commitment to myself to honour this month, by

posting every day.  I woke up wondering what to write

about. I have a few large pieces in transition -- still working

on them.  I went through my draft blog posts, then looked

at photos of my work online and randomly came upon

a wonderful blog by Bas van Houwelingen,  called Reading 
and Art, that honoured me four years ago by featuring my
paintings of people reading.

The blog didn't include this painting of one of my favourite models,
who was wonderful to work with.  She came to an exhibition
in the fall with her husband, and looked so grown up!  I painted this
work eleven years ago.  So it was amazing and wonderful to see her.

Last night we entertained one of the youngest members of our 

family, three year old Alice, who already has our family's passion

for reading.  For most of the 3 1/2 hours of her visit, we read to her. 

And she loved it, asking for another book the minute one story

was finished.

The affects of coming from a reading family are clearly

evident to me when I'm teaching.  Vocabulary, curiosity,

even self confidence are deeply improved by reading.

I'm glad that reading's featured so often in my portraits.

Subliminally I was both attracted to the look of people

reading, but also secretly trying to urge people to read

more often, to enjoy learning.  Once again we have perfect

reading weather in Toronto today -- lots of snow coming down.

Have a reading a superb book day.

For the love of technology in the Month of Love

The wonder of tulips

iPad drawing

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

(If anyone out there knows

how to get my iPad to transport

drawings from Sketchbook let

me know.  I had to photograph

the drawing with my camera to share

it.  Technology eh?  It was easy on

my old model iPad. Not so now.)

I know,  I know -- technology is a curse, ruining our old life, killing
 the planet.  The evils of technology become clearer every day, but
 some technological benefits in my life are impressive.  Computer
technology fuels the blog world, the Facebook world,  Instagram, and
 Skype -- the app that let me talk to my children when they were far away.  
These systems changed my life in ways that I could never have imagined.
So on this the 26th day of the Month of Love, I give thanks for all of the
miracles transforming my life because of technology.

Today I'm posting an iPad drawing of tulips.  It captures the
delicious, beautiful hope for the world flowers. Drawn
with my finger on my iPad -- the image says tulips -- hinting at their
beauty,  and the happiness they bring to a room.

Have a recognizing what is good in your life day.

For the love of snow in the Month of Love

Snowy day in Toronto
iPad drawing
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019

If you don't like snow, Canada is not the right place for you.
In my city, Toronto we got off easy in December and January
right up until January 28.  No snow to speak of.  But people who can
acknowledge climate change (and there are frightening numbers
of people who don't, or won't), know that that's not right.  We need
snow for the spring crops.  Yes we need it.

Luckily the snow goddesses and gods prevailed and we got some.
In fact we got a couple of very strong hits.  Schools and businesses
closed. We didn't get as much as our friends in Ottawa, but quite a bit.

This morning as I drank my coffee, I looked out the window and at first
random flakes of snow fell one at a time.  They looked so light and magical.
Then the real thing began -- flurries the weather people call them, if they
don't go all the way to snow storm.

I grew up in Ottawa, where snow was the norm in winter.  And
although I don't love driving in it, I do love the look of it.
My drawing today, is an iPad drawing of the backyard with snow.
I draw these with my finger, which makes it look a bit simplistic,
but it gets the feeling.

Have a loving snow day.

Whirlwind of wonderful art weekend!

Me with my great friend the wonderful artist -- Georgia Fullerton.

I'm holding the painting "Happiness" -- which I bought at the Full Fine
Art Collection and @homerbrowncollection pop up show
at 876 Dundas Street West yesterday.What could be more
appropriate? I love this painting, and Georgia always makes me
feel happy! So much fun at her show yesterday!
Photos courtesy Georgia Fullerton. Thank you Georgia.


Happiness
Watercolour and mixed media
8 x 10 inches
Georgia Fullerton © 2018

We were so lucky to get to the Artist Project on Friday night.  See

my last blog to see some of the artists' work and click their links.

Our Saturdays are packed without anything out of the ordinary,

but yesterday we went straight from visiting our favourite farmer

at the Brickworks Farmer's market, to the pop up show at 876 Dundas

Street West.  The show was only on for one day, and I wish

it had gone on for longer so I could send you there. The work

was gorgeous. 

My dear friend, and wonderful artist Georgia Fullerton 

exhibited some lovely pieces with her friend Homer Brown.  Homer's
work was also magnifient.  Homer does both paintings and ceramics.
Georgia was displaying one painting that I'd wanted for awhile, so I bought it.

When you go to art shows and see your friends' work, it is such a positive

charge.  For visual people, seeing what artists do is so inspiring.  It makes
 us understand why we paint, and also want to do more.  We are part of an
incredible community of creative people. 

Have a getting out to the art shows day!

For the love of art -- The Artist Project

Last night we went to the Artist Project, a huge and fantastic
art exhibition at the Better Living Center at the CNE in Toronto.
Whatever type of art takes your fancy, it was there.  So much
beautiful art, and so many wonderful artists.

Joyce Fournier's powerful and exciting abstract work,

and sculptures were my first stop.  Joyce kindly

got me tickets to the event, and I am so grateful to

her for that.  The show is dazzling, beginning with Joyce's pieces.

Joyce and Paul Fournier.

(speaking of the Month of Love --

these two are a sweet couple. )

Romona Nordal with her work in

the background gets a visit from

Artist/Artistic Director Daniel Anaka.


I love the work of Eleanor Lowden.  I'm
sorry my photo is blurry.  She was so
delightful to talk to that I got distracted.
Eleanor's work at The Artist Project is wonderful.

When I work on landscape painting Andrew Sookrah is 

one of the people I think of.  I love his work -- his design,

colour intensity -- his work is fantastic.

  

We visited as many booths as we could, and I'm happy to
feature some of them tonight.  The show is on tomorrow (Sunday)
too, and I recommend that you check it out.  Here are just a few of
the people I visited.  Wishing all of the artists involved great sales,
and a superb time surrounded by such beauty!

Have fun going to the show.  Sunday February 24 is the last day.

Monthaversary of our first date -- always special

Winter Lovers' Sunset

Acrylic on cradled birch panel

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Steven and I have two "monthaversaries" per month in addition

to two anniversaries a year.  Each month we celebrate both our

first date, and our wedding day, sometimes just by saying, "Happy

Monthaversary!", and sometimes with something more -- champagne, 

and a date.  Tonight we went to The Artist Project to see the work of 

several friends.  It was amazing.

We will never forget our first date -- today's Monthaversary.
We went dancing that night, and at the end of the evening Steven
walked me home.  Something certainly clicked, because we've
been together ever since. 

One of the places we love to visit for any excuse is a fantastic park

on the west end of the city.  We are entranced with it, and always

love every minute there.  Here's a painting I did of a sunset

at the park. 

Have a loving each other day!