Happy Birthday to Christopher

Megan and Christopher in Korea
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Yesterday, July 2, was my wonderful son Christopher's birthday.
We called Christopher, and sang Happy Birthday (our dog Sally
always joins in), but our schedules didn't work with getting
together. And we missed Christopher.  But soon we will be
together and celebrate.

Steven and I thought about Christopher all day. His birthday was
such an exciting, life changing day for us! We became a family
and are so grateful to Christopher for all of the love and joy he's
brought into our lives. I wish Christopher and Megan,
his beautiful wife -- one of the kindest people I know -- a fabulous
year.

The painting today is of Christopher and Megan. I
painted it using a Skype image I took on my computer when
Christopher and Megan were teaching in Korea.  The connection
was fragile, so frequently the images broke up, and I enjoyed
painting the effect.

Have a loving your life day. 

Back at it

One of my favourite places in the world --
The Louvre, Paris

Photo

Barbara Muir ©

There's really no day off for an artist.  But that just means that our eyes
never stop looking.  If we translate our visual delight into a drawing
or painting that's wonderful.  I have been drawing during our short
holiday, but today it's back to the studio and working on painting.

I hope you are having a wonderful day.  I am thinking every day
about David Hockney, and watching wonderful videos of his
art discussions on YouTube.  Such a treat.  I'm so sorry he's gone.
But his message is clear.  Look and create.

Okay.  I'm back at it.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Canada Day

Produce Canadian Flag

I saw this hilarious produce flag in Loblaws,
our local store a number of years ago.
People didn't even notice
the shape (tired at the end of a working week),
and had taken some of the produce.  But still
the theme was there.  This is our national flag
in tomatoes, garlic and red pepper.
Art is everywhere.

I hope you are having a very happy Canada Day. I am
just chilling with our cats and our dog.  It is too hot to
do much. So this will be super short.  Thank you to my
country, and to all of my Canadian family and friends.

Have a loving your life day! 

Getting ready for Canada Day

 

A few of my landscapes
celebrating my love of
Canada. The two on the
ends are Maritime landscapes,
and the one in the middle is the
school yard up the street.

Acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir ©

I'm not a fan of patriotism, but I really do love my country, and I hope
we do whatever we can to save the environment as the heavy summer
heat wave has begun.

Here's what I wrote that I like in a former post about Canada Day.
I still feel the same way:

What I like about Canada:

"1.  The people -- Canadians come from all over the world.
My own ancestors, great, and great great grandparents
came from Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and France.  My
husband is descended from Dutch and Indonesian
parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.

2. My city.  Each time I come back to Toronto, after
visiting other countries, I notice how people are here.
At the bus stops all of us hang out together.  It feels
different from other cities in the world.

3. Our humour.  Canadians are self-critical -- and
that is the core of our humour.  And we're funny.
Our humour gets exported big time, especially to the
United States where so many of the top comedians, and
comic actors are Canadian.

4. We're boring.  We're allowed to be boring and
safe. We want good and happy lives, and it doesn't
matter if that means we live by routines.

5. No guns. (Or almost no guns).  We don't think
it's cool to use/have guns.  We don't have guns in
our houses, our cars.  Guns are not cool here.
Criminals and hunters use guns. The police have
guns, but the general public detests gun violence,
and thinks guns are scary, and worse -- stupid and
senseless.

6. We say we're sorry.  You know you're in
Canada when you bump into someone's cart
in the supermarket and the sorry fest goes on
for 10 minutes -- first you. "I'm sorry," then
the other person, "No I'm sorry" and that
continues.

7. Free health care.  When relatives of mine
have gone through treatments for cancer, or
had surgery, or babies, or any kind of reason
to need healthcare -- it's free.  Some doctors
charge a yearly fee -- maybe $300, but otherwise
healthcare is free.

8. We're a vast country.  I've traveled from one
side of the country to the other, and there
is still so much to see, so many places I haven't been.
And all along the way there is endless beauty.

9. Our art -- it's exciting being an artist in Canada.
Although we're a young country, our art has a
distinctive quality.  Canadian artists love this country,
and that comes out in so many forms -- in art, music and, 

literature.

 

10.  Our kindness.  It is in to be kind here. People from
other countries might find that boring, but we don't. 

Of course things go wrong. The country and its history
are far from perfect. We are dealing with righting the
terrible mistreatment of indigenous people at residential
schools, addressing systemic racism, and we also have
politicians who care more about their own economic good
fortune, than their citizens' well being. But in Toronto,
where I live, violence is not the norm. Many neighbours
from every culture will be out at a local park watching
fireworks together tomorrow night, and wishing each other
Happy Canada Day."

Have a loving your life day!

Coming home

 

Maybe an image for a future 
painting 
This is not Ottawa, it's
the Maritimes
Photo
Barbara Muir ©

We’ve been away visiting Ottawa this week because Steven had a
few days of vacation. We had an amazingly wonderful time. We
visited family in Chelsea across the river in Quebec, and walked around
the city. Ottawa is very pretty.

And we hung out in our room watching TV, deleting emails, drawing
eating amazing breakfasts delivered by the staff who we are very fond
of, and having a wonderful time.

It's so good to be home and to see our animals again.

Have a loving your life day!

Have fun -- it's the best advice

 

Water Image #2
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir ©

It's been a great day.  Steven is on holiday, this weekend, so I

am not painting, but thinking of David Hockney's amazing
creativity and productivity, I am taking a sketchbook with me 
everywhere, and drawing every chance I get.  Still I mostly
spent time with Steven. 

We went out to dinner with family and had fun.  This portrait is
of Shaniece. I sold it to a wonderful boss, John Struthers at Seneca
College, who sadly has died.  If you know where the painting is, 
please let me know.

Some advice from a neighbour a years or so ago was excellent
with so many wars, and cruel actions taking place in the world. 
"If you're breathing, you're achieving." But I would add to that
if you're having fun, please enjoy yourself, and appreciate how
lucky you are.

Have a loving your life day!

Super short one -- Movie night and family time

 

Shadow pattern

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2024

We had a super time with family today -- sitting outside in

a beautiful setting in the shade, laughing and just 

enjoying being together and feeling so happy.

Now it's. movie night, and quite late, so please have a great
weekend.  And this artist (who has been sketching), is going to
have a night off..

Have a loving your life day!