The sunflower compulsion

Sunflowers
Inktober drawing
Black marker on Canson
Mixed Media Paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2020

No matter what your artistic practice is -- it's hard to say no
to sunflowers.  The contrast between the cold of winter, and 
these vibrant summer time beauties is compelling.  I sat down
tonight and started a drawing.  Unlike what I'm showing you,
I decided it must have colour.  So I have begun -- but that takes 
time, and the first colour has to dry.  So it's blog time, and 
here's a sweet drawing of sunflowers from a few years ago.

I greatly admire van Gogh, and It amazes me that he painted
so many paintings of these complicated beauties.

Have a loving your life day.

Seeing my art in place

 Katie and Sam 
Watercolour on Arches paper
22 1/2 x 30 1/4 inches
Barbara Muir ©
SOLD ♥

I visited a friend today for a wonderful afternoon.  We had decaf coffee
in very pretty mugs, and enjoyed a delightful conversation.  These
meetings with friends have been so rare since the start of the 
pandemic, and they are quite a treat.

While we talked and laughed in the living room, this sweet
portrait of my friend's children sat above the fireplace.  The children
are grown up now, but it was such a pleasure to see that I had 
captured their young selves, and that their family is enjoying them.

Have a loving your life day.

Home again

Flowers for you
acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(I love the story of this painting.
The flowers were delivered in the winter
to our neighbours who weren't home.
I was asked if I would keep them
until the neighbours came home from work
by the delivery person. So I did, and
painted this painting during the wait.)

One of the nice things about going away, is coming home again.
It was so great to see our dog, Sally, and our cats, Fiona, and Monet.  
For tonight I’m going to share more celebratory flowers. 
I got some flowers today, but I was working on another
painting, and didn't get time to paint them.

We had a wonderful trip and it is great to be home. 

Have a loving your life day.

Back home and followed by the smoke

Me and Steven -- smitten
Looking at this photo from our first
week together, I see how crazy
in love I was. I feel even more in
love with my sweet husband today.
Yes. I wasn't always blonde.

Steven and I had an absolutely wonderful anniversary weekend.
Which is amazing, because we went to Ottawa to stay at our
favourite hotel there, and the pollution index on Sunday was 14,
on a 1-10 scale where 10 is the worst.  Yes off the charts air 
pollution from the forest fires in Quebec.

What did we do?  We ordered large delicious breakfasts through
room service, delivered by one of the nicest people you could 
ever meet, drank pots of coffee, and read our books.

In the afternoons we went to visit my brother and his wife, who were
so much fun. I should note that for coffee addicts like us, my brother
makes the best coffee in the country -- no make that the world. Beyond
delicious. Caf or decaf.

On the way home we saw blue sky, rain, views.  But approaching
Toronto, the same grey smoke smog was beginning to envelope
the city. Argh.

Have a loving your life day.

More Love

Steven with me inside the Love sculpture by 

Robert Indiana on 

6th Avenue in New York City 

Photo
Unknown photographer 2012

Steven and I are still celebrating our anniversary with a long
weekend, so I am not in the studio, although I have been drawing
every day in my journal -- which is lined and therefore not
perfect for art. 

Going through my posts I found this picture, of Steven and I
posing in the Love Sculpture in New York City.  The two of
us love New York. And as with everything in downtown New
York, there's a lot going on in the photo.

It's been a really wonderful weekend, despite weather issues.
We feel very lucky to have one another.

Have a loving your life day.

Flowers for celebration

Jubilant spring flowers

Watercolour on watercolour paper

24  x 36 inches

© Barbara Muir (date unknown)

(The photo is not the best quality,

but this is a work from the time
when I painted with an

infant playing nearby.)

I like this painting, because it captures the feeling I've
had about celebrations throughout my married life.  
This is our anniversary weekend.  And in a time of
formidable air quality issues in our country, we need
some cheer.

So here it is. I am busy this weekend enjoying life
with my sweet husband.  And I hope you are 
spending time with the people you love.

Have a loving your life day.

This is the day!

Me and Steven on our

wedding day

(I had dark hair--yes.)

This is the wonderful day when Steven and I got married.
We're not big number people, so we won't be saying how
long ago.  But we will say that it has been a fabulous
time.  Today we are doing our favourite things -- hanging
out, taking walks, going and getting a take out dinner
made by chefs who know us and are sweet when we
visit even though it's only occasionally.

What do we remember about the day? We remember how
excited and happy we were. And we had so much fun --
even though the band was an organ player and a drummer.
When I threw my bouquet it fell apart, which I hope 
gave more of my friends happy luck in love.  

I wanted to make a smooth, silky, long sleeved, elegant
white dress, but my mother wanted me to wear her wedding
dress. I did, and I'm so glad I did that to make her happy.

Have a loving your life day.