The 22nd thing I learn on the 22nd of every month, and did again in 2024

 

ha

Me and Steven in our
winter gear about
about 12 years ago.
Photo
Dawn Yaeger 

It's the Monthaversary of our first date, which we take note of every month,
and always toast one another at dinner, even if we're just drinking milk.

I learn over and over -- every day really -- that love is great, and that we
are so lucky to be in love.  

Crazy busy time.  I am still working -- painting (as my son says -- "I know

Mom. You've only said that at least 70 times." True.) So I can't say much
tonight, except thank you to everyone who lifted my spirits and made

my day in 2024.  This man is most definitely one of those people.

Happy Holidays!

The 21st thing I learned again this year -- light is sooo important, and the light returning is a joyous celebration

 

Frescoes in a chapel in the 

Siena Cathedral,
in Siena, Italy 
Photo

Barbara Muir ©

I scrolled through my blog today, and found this image and post about the return of

the light -- what all of the festivals and celebrations at this time of year are about.

Light.  Today a dear friend of mine in Europe is moving into her new house --

a major deal, and she was so happy that the move was happening on the solstice.

Here is what I wrote last year.  I am working on a commission, and super busy.
Thank you for bringing the light into my life.

"Today is the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year! What
does that mean -- tomorrow there will be more light.  For me and
Steven this is huge, we are so happy that the light is coming back.
And light comes into your life metaphorically in so many ways.

I'm showing an image from my time in Florence.  Being part of
the Florence Biennale changed my life in so many ways.  It
was so exciting to meet international artists.  And it's wonderful
that many of us are still friends, some through social media, and
some of us have met again in person -- delighted to see each other.

I think exhibiting in Florence let the light of glorious friendships,
and spectacular memories into my life.

"I met new friends, saw amazing art, fell in love with a
country I had only dreamed of, and heard of from both of my
parents, and many of my friends who had either been born in Italy,
or had parents who were Italian.

My ancestry connection is that my great, great, great grandmother
was Florentine.  So being in Florence made me very happy.
Part of the thrill of being in Italy, was taking a bus tour around
the area where we were staying, to Siena, and Pisa.  The image
tonight is of a fresco in the Cathedral in Siena.  Our tour guide
used her influence to get us into a spectacular chapel in the
cathedral, and changed my view of art from the period.
It turns out the art that was not damaged (in this chapel very
few visitors are allowed to enter, because breath damages
the colour) is absolutely brilliant in colour.  Every colour was so
bright. All of the Florentine art of the period that was subdued
in colour was -- according to this guide -- damaged.

Woo Hoo.  May bright colour reign supreme.  It was one
of the most beautiful rooms I've ever been in in my life.

Wishing you a very Merry Holiday Season.  Looking forward
would I love to return to Europe? The answer is yes."

Have a loving your holiday time day!

The 20th thing I learned in 2024, which was actually revolutionary -- go ahead and do it!

Colours of Joy
Acrylic on Canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

This painting done for the All That Jazz abstract show at the Heliconian Club in
2024 is one of my favourites.  It's a big burst of joyous colour -- with the ocean --
incredibly red sand (not real), and a design I'm proud of (still available if you're looking
for a special gift).

Watching the best plein air painters like Pete Sinjin and Pete the Street, 

and transformative artists like Mitchell Johnson, and seeing exciting work by Janet
Vanderhoof, Flora Doehler, Norene Smiley and Heiderose Claussing, impacted
me in ways I wouldn't have expected.

In October and November I worked on preparing 37 paintings for a show on now
at the Heliconian Club called Off The Wall. (Only 16 are on the wall now. When 
something sells, new ones go up.) I've sold 4 paintings I think.  But what
the preparation taught me is that -- yes I can, if I go ahead.  I worked on things that
had a brushstroke, or a background and no subject, or on subjects I'd never tried before,

and knew exactly what to do without hesitation.  That has never happened to me before.  

The list of artists whose inspiring work made that happen is far too long to include,
but please know I am so grateful.  My brain is exploding with ideas and I am perhaps

more excited about making art than I have ever been.

Good thing.  I have a solo show in April at the Heliconian. Wow!

Have a loving your life day.

The 19th thing I learned all over again in 2024 -- Nature has the answers -- Go outside

 

Our Fall Blooming Anemones in full bloom
in October 2024

This one aspect of our beautiful garden
makes me so happy.  They were very late

 blooming this year because of the high

heat this summer.

Photo
Barbara Muir © 2024

In Toronto at this darkest time in the year, it's a good idea to get out into whatever
little sunshine there is, and to bring the outside in with flowers, trees, pine wreaths

on the doors.  Right now our Amaryllis flowers from our best flower store are in 
bloom -- each vibrant red flower about eight inches across.  So magnificent!

Still working on my commission, so can't make this a long one.  Wishing you

a magnificent holiday season, and hoping if you do have snow you can get

outside to ski, skate, or -- wow walk.

Have a loving your life day.

The 18th thing I learned in 2024 -- I love celebrations.

 

Sketchbook drawing of our

fireplace mantle and stockings,

and the roses on the

coffee table.

Red marker on bond paper

Barbara Muir ©

People are aching for celebrations after the long social distancing of COVID.
And COVID isn't over, no matter what the Orange Maggot says.  Friends
have had it recently.  I haven't been with them, but they've said that it was
devastating.

Tonight we went to a small, neighbourhood party.  Everyone was well.  And
it was so lovely.  Steven and I are still wearing masks in grocery stores, and every
public place, but wow it was so sweet to talk to friends of our friends around
the corner, and friends I haven't seen in years because we have to be so
careful.

So yes.  I am a celebratory person.  And I am glad I am.  Don't worry.  We will
continue to be ultra careful.  But what a delight to sit and talk with people 
we love being with.

Have a loving your life day.

The 17th thing I've kept learning every day in 2024 -- I have so much to learn

 

After the dance reading the paper

Acrylic on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(my son Christopher was

the model for this painting in
my Dance series)

A client asked about this painting the other day because she loved the
mood and the colours. And it was fascinating to me that she'd gone 
through my blog (nearly 4,000 posts long) to see paintings that appealed
to her.

This has been a year of constant learning, like most years are, and when
it comes to languages, art, reading and conversations with people from
all over the world, I love that learning.

I wrote a good blog post about this last year, and I'm working on a
commission due before Christmas, so I'm going to share my
thoughts from last year.

"One thing I know for sure, is that I have so much to learn.
Something I've been trying for the last couple of years is 
learning how to say thank you in -- get this 7,139 official
world languages. In Canada there are 2 official languages --
English and French.  I have taught English writing and 
Business writing, and Presentation.  But despite taking
French in school from kindergarten on, I can
understand it, but not speak it at all well.

So that's one thing -- language.  Then there is learning about
the many different cultures of people I meet who have lived
around the world.  If you do travel, you know that if you 
haven't visited a place, you don't know it. You can see
1,000 pictures of the Eiffel tower, and not know how it
looks in real life when you visit it, or drive by it in a taxi,
or see it as you sail down the Seine on a tour boat. So
different.  But we can read, and study and see films and 
speak with people to learn about the places we may never
visit.

Learning is essential if we are going to fix humanity's
disruptive behaviour, and save the planet."

Have a loving what you're learning day.

The 16th thing Iearned again in 2024 -- the world is filled with wonder

Happy Anniversary Tea 

watercolour and marker on
watercolour paper

 6 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Whether it's walking into the art supply store near the hotel we like
in Paris, and having Jean Philippe invite us for apertifs and to meet
his wife, or meeting a wonderful woman who works in crisis 
management and her beautiful daughter at the ice cream store today, where
I parked because there was no parking and I had to pick up printing
nearby, or talking to a beautiful and amazing client over cookies 
today -- my world is filled with wonder.

And as I said many times before this doesn't mean that I don't acknowledge
that there is so much pain and suffering in the world, or that there are
worried in my life.  It means that being an artist means I am lucky to 
marvel at the world.  

Have a loving your life day.