Happy, tired Sunday

Janine
iPad sketch
Drawn with my finger
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

It has been a day for running around, doing chores, getting
a bit organized.  And now I am, if it's okay to admit it -- tired.
In another post I said I didn't think that April is the cruelest 
month. Although cruel things happened. We lost a friend.
Nature did everything possible to cheer us on -- the emerging
of the amazing bright, first green leaves, and the spring
flowers. Flowering trees just make us feel ecstatic after the
winter.

So April, despite very sad losses,  you have been good. The taxes
are in. But tonight I am tired.  I found this sweet iPad portrait in
my iPad files, and thought that she looks happy about the summer
coming soon.

Have a loving your life day. 

International Dance Day and the Dance series

Before the Dance

Acrylic on canvas

4'x6' 

Barbara Muir © 

It's International Dance day and to celebrate Steven and I
danced in the kitchen. 

When my own children were in their teens, and and I was
teaching students on the edge of adulthood, I started a series
called Before the Dance. The young women who posed for
me have grown up into phenomenal adults, living 
exciting lives.

As for the painting.  It was at Seneca College, but as the
entire place has changed since I left 8 years ago, I don't
know where it is. (Yes -- that's a question for next week.)
What I love about the painting is it seems to capture the
anticipation young people have for being "in the dance,"
(grown up life), and their nervousness at getting out on the
dance floor.  I also love seeing my cat Simone (gone now)
who posed for the painting, and the cardinal -- one of my
favourite birds, and a bird that's at the feeder in our backyard
on a daily basis.

I hope you spent some time dancing today. I definitely
did.

Have a loving your life day.

This one would be a great Mother's Day gift

  

The Invitation

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © revised 2023 

My painting The Invitation is currently on view virtually through the 
Don Valley Art Club Spring Show website.  It is a beautiful 
painting, and a dear friend posed for the work. I've painted
her a number of times, and she is an excellent model.

This painting is about the excitement of opening an invitation
to some wonderful event -- maybe your party for your mother
on Mother's Day, May 14.  The Don Valley Spring Show is on
until May 7, and the work will be available with a commission to the
club, after that date.

Think about it. If your Mother, or wife has a room that needs
a cheerful painting -- this is it.  (Or you can purchase either
of my two other works in the exhibition, or any work you
find attractive on my website. Whatever work you decided to
buy will make me happy! And your Mom, or the mother of your
children.)

Have a loving the art in your life day.

Planning and playing

Spring profile sketch

marker on notebook paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2023 

People who aren't artists (I think everyone is an artist--but I mean
people who don't make art), think that the process is straightforward --
you're an artist, so you make art.  Yes. In part that's true, but like
all other types of work, in art there is background work, planning,
thinking -- and the actual making of art.

Today I've been researching where I want to go next when this
current complex painting is finished.  If I work on it every day,
I hope I can show it to you next week.

Meanwhile, I'd hoped to make it part of a series, so I've been looking
through my research photos today, to think about what comes next.
Actually, it's been about what comes after my next painting, because
I know what I'm painting next.

For your entertainment I did a joyous portrait sketch. 

Have a loving your life day.

Serious and playful

 Quick painting sketch

Salmon Packaging Madonna

Acrylic on gilded cardboard

6.5 x 9.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2023

It’s been a busy day today – catching up on listening to podcasts,
talking to my accountant, working on my very complicated painting,
and trying to get my 10,000 steps. Sometimes it feels like a good idea
to take a little break from all the serious parts of your life.

The other night I wondered what it would be like to paint on the gold
metallic covered cardboard that comes inside my smoked salmon packages.
I eat smoked salmon at lunch many days of the week trying to avoid eating
bread, not because of the gluten, but because with bread I always want more. 

So I wash and save these beautiful gilded pieces of cardboard to potentially
make art with them some day. Tonight I thought why not just do a little madonna
and see if the gold takes paint. No I'm not religious, but I am a major fan
of both Botticelli and the halo, and was happy to find out that the halo
goes back to way before modern religions. Here is a very quick five minute attempt.
And who knows what could happen with the 20 or so other pieces I've
saved. 

Have a loving your life day.

Patti-Anne's visitation and my art group

Art group sketch

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

We drove to Kitchener today to see Frank Daley and his family
at the visitation for Patti-Anne Fitzpatrick, Frank's wife.
I wish Patti-Anne could seen that so many people
came out to pay their respects, and everyone was talking about
how much they loved her.

It was good to see Frank, and Regan, and Rob, and their son,
Liam.  And we met friends of Frank and his family. 

Afterwards we drove home through the most amazing skies
I think I've ever seen -- dark rain clouds, with rain coming
down, and bright blue skies with white clouds right next to
the rain.  At one point there was a rainbow arching across the
sky from both types of sky, and flashing rainbow colours in
the spray behind cars driving through puddles.

I got home and went to spend my regular Tuesday night hour
with my art group.  And this is the result.  A wonderful model,
and everyone in the group doing wonderful work.

Have an enjoying your life day.

Happy Monthaversary to Steven

Fruit trees near Beamsville,

Ontario

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2023

Steven and I are hopeless romantics -- what some might call
silly.  But as many things have happened in this year that
are very sad, it seems more important than ever to celebrate
the joyous parts of life.  And this is one of them -- being 
happy that we met, and have enjoyed a pretty amazing
life together. It is our wedding Monthaversary. 

Yesterday we headed out to Beamsville to see the orchards,
which are phenomenal at this time of year.  Such incredible
beauty as far as the eye can see.

That seemed a fitting celebration.

Have a loving your life day.