Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Big fun with Skype

On November 22nd, talking to my friend Flora on Skype
I decided to draw her. I had a sketchbook and pens on
my desk, and whipped off a little marker drawing while
we talked, which I posted.

A Chicago journalist, Howard Wolinsky, saw that drawing
and contacted me. On December 5th he did a video
interview with me over Skype and you can find that
on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KPuzn3FcIE
The Public Relations company for Skype,
Kaplow in New York, saw that interview, and decided
to hire me for an event they were doing at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So on January 9, from 11 p.m. Toronto time, to 1:30
a.m. on January 10, I drew five portraits of people
attending a Skype party. This whole project would
have been impossible without the wonders of Skype,
and wouldn't have happened at all if it weren't for
the blog, and Howard.

Everyone I worked with was a complete delight,
helpful and understanding of my requirements
for more light than you standardly find at a
cocktail party, patience on the part of the people
I was drawing, and all of the other small details.


Sara
black marker on watercolour paper
12 x 9 inches
This week I'm going to start showing you these
drawings on my blog. As I have six, I can show you
one a day for six days. Enjoy.

I know I enjoyed making them -- a complete departure from
my painting work.

Have a ready-for-great-good-to-come-your-way day.

10 comments:

Susan Carlin said...

Wonderful! I love that your work is being shown far and wide with this adventure.
Thanks for your great comment, too.
Yes, I did get to push the color on that one. On commissions I have to "behave", but paintings I do for me... not so much.
Hugs.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Susan,

Thanks so much. I love it too.

Your commissions are great, and so are the paintings for you.

Hugs to you,

Barbara

Liza Hirst said...

That's great, Barbara! Congratulations - you certainly deserve that attention! Your drawing is wonderful and I am looking forward to the next five.
All the best, Liza

Edgar said...

That does sound like big fun! I just got Skype a couple weeks ago, mostly because my son is staging a one-man revolution against Microsoft.

Looking forward to seeing the drawing "gallery."

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thanks so much. It was a truly great
experience.

You are sweet.

xoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Edgar,

Skype has allowed us to keep in touch with our son in Korea all year. It has made a huge difference in our lives. Using Skype for art has been
a wonderful new adventure.

Take care,
Barbara

David Lobenberg said...

That's funny about one of your sons seeing your head go up and down...guess you are one of them skype bobble heads now.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi David,

It's the drawing thing. I'm sure you
know it well. You are so good at drawing and painting.

Take care,

Barbara

Theresa Rankin said...

These are just stunning!! I am so tickled you got to do this! Couldn't happen to a nicer person!....and this is just the beginning!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

I am completely ready for the bounty
of the universe as we say. Yes I was
just delighted to do this.

You are so sweet to be so supportive.

xoxoxoBarbara

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!