Thank you May!

Our garden in bloom (detail in progress)
 Acrylic on canvas
 30 x 30 inches
 Barbara Muir © 2024
SOLD 💖

Thank you to me for bringing a beautiful, cool spring our way.
It was a tough month. Steven and I were sick for three weeks
of it. But even so we couldn’t help but notice the beauty
developing all around us, and how incredibly gorgeous
Toronto is at this time of year.

Tonight I’m showing you a close-up of the painting I did last year

to celebrate this time and season. I love gardens in nature, even
though gardens are very complicated to paint. What a delight it was
to work on recording that beauty.

Tonight is movie night so that’s it for this month. Thank you so
much to everyone who helped us, and to the Heliconian Club,
and the Don Valley Art VClub for their help and support with
my work.

Have a loving your life day!

Looking back on my first year of blogging

These two photos are stages in the development of a portrait
I was painting on this day in 2008, the first year of my blog.

That was 17 years ago, and so many wonderful things
have happened because of my blog.

Here's what I said then:

"Here are two photos of the portrait of Madeline. One is taken a few days
before the other one, and in that time I completed the painting. The silver
is real silver leaf -- lovely stuff to work with, but be sure to glaze it, or it
 goes black.

Madeline, was the center of a triptych featuring Sean, her brother,
Madeline and Elizabeth. She was 10 when I began the work, and an
astonishingly sunny child. Her happy nature and the easy confidence
of a well loved little girl, made the painting almost effortless.

I love the portraits I did then."

Have a loving your life day.

Remembering three years ago

 

At this time three years ago I was in the Food For Thought virtual show
put on by the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center.

Here is some of my post from that time.That was a superb experience.

Upper left corner: Stand Back for the Pie 

Acrylic on canvas 24 x 24 inches Barbara Muir © 2013
(First place in the show)

Upper right corner: The King's Breakfast 
Acrylic on canvas 
24 x 24 inches Barbara Muir © 2015

Lower left corner: Good news Clementines
with Lemon friends
Acrylic on cradled birch panel
 8 x 8 inches Barbara Muir © 2019

I won First Place with my painting Stand Back For The Pie.
That was a big thrill. A very happy memory.

Have a loving your life day!

Spring pleasures goes home

 

Spring pleasures 
Acrylic ink and marker
on watercolour paper
7 x 9.5 inches
Barbara Muir  ©️ 2021

I was delighted today to deliver Spring pleasures to its new owners. It is
always wonderful to sell my art, and especially nice when the clients are

terrific people, and when they have bought before. I love painting pansies,
but this spring has been so busy that I haven't even bought any yet.

If the rain lets up it will have to be a gardening weekend.

I hope you had a great day.  It is raining again, which is good for the
very lush trees in our neighbourhood.

Have a loving your life day!

Back to my art group again!

Art Group Sketch -- Kwesi

Acrylic and acrylic ink

on canvas

18x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

It was wonderful tonight to get back to my art group for a quick

one hour.  I've been sick for a month and so missed seeing everyone.

The model Kwesi, was wonderful.  I painted over a painting of the
tulip fields in the Netherlands, which didn't work as a painting, but
m ade aninteresting background.

As I've explained before my husband drops me off at  my art group
at 7:30, and picks me up at 8:30.  That of course means that I don't
have a lot of timeto work as setting up takes about 10 minutes, cleaning
up and packing up another 10, and there were two 10 minute

breaks for the model.  So I think I got this painting sketch done
in 25 - 30 minutes. I love being with the people there.  They are

funny, and wonderful artists.

Kwesi was super, we had a good talk in one of the breaks.  He

is from Ghana, and hasn't been home in 7 years. His name in Ghanaian
means "born on Sunday," and I told him so was I. We were lucky
to have him model for us.  Thank you.

Have a loving your life day. 

Busy Monday, dreaming of Paris

The gorgeous restaurant

in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris 

Photo:

Barbara Muir ©

Sometimes the life of an artist is about cleaning up the studio, sorting things out,
making sure the house looks okay if people come over to buy, or pick up work.
To that end our wonderful friend Andrew came today to paint the front porch
furniture -- which now looks spectacular.

It's been a great day, lovely weather, and of course we're dreaming of Paris, and
this amazing restaurant in the middle of one of the most spectacular museums
in the world, the Musée D'Orsay.

Hope you had a wonderful day.

Have a loving your life day!

Tired and happy Sunday night

Untitled Warm up Sketch

for Doors Open Toronto
Charcoal on bond paper
16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 2025

We had a great art day with the young family members. Super tired
 tonight. Here’s a sketch I used to warm up for the drawing and painting
live for Doors Open Toronto at the Heliconian Hall. 

That’s it for tonight. Have a great day tomorrow!

Have a loving your life day!