Thursday, December 11, 2008

An interest in sketching

Hi everyone,

Lately the sketches I do when I'm on Skype with my kids and friends
have garnered some attention in the wider world of the Internet.
You know I am a painter -- and I love painting, but I have always
been interested in sketching. Sketchbooks crowd my bookshelves.
At art college we weren't even allowed to use colour for some of
our classes, until we worked in grey scale for a year. I've
probably talked about that before -- because it drove me right
up the (white) walls.

Drawing was considered almost more "important" than painting.
Oh I know structure -- the gift of line -- I know why. The point
is that all of that went in, and I am someone who draws her life.
I said that on the video interview with Howard Wolinsky
that you can watch on You Tube by Googling Barbara Muir Skype.



Sketchbook self portrait
the girl fascinated by musicians

Tonight I was looking for a photograph of a friend that I stuck
in one of my old sketchbooks, and came across some drawings
that document my brief life as a musician's girlfriend. I really
wasn't cut out for the insecurity of life on the road, or the rock
musicians' obsession with equipment. The life was too harsh
and lived close to what seemed like a precipice to me.



A base player

But for the few months that I let myself get swept up in that
world, I'm really glad I documented it.



The drummer gets the spotlight

The funny thing is that both of my sons are very musical.


Have a moving forward day.

6 comments:

Theresa Rankin said...

Wow...I love the sketch of the base player!!! I love them all!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi! I love seeing your sketches. This group is some of the best I've seen. Post sketches any time you like. :)
EW

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

Thanks. I'm glad you like this sketch. When you date a musician you
hear the same songs 100 times. Drawing was my release. It still is.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Eldon,

Thanks so much. I will definitely dip into the sketchbooks from time to
time. Plus I'm working on a series of sketches from Skype.

Take care,

Barbara

Liza Hirst said...

Like Theresa, I also immediately thought "Wow...
I LOVE those sketches!"
Your work is GREAT, Barbara!!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

I'm glad you like the sketches. No your work is great!

xoxoxo Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!