Thursday, April 9, 2009

Getting the crazies

If you've ever watched young animals of any sort when spring
hits, and the weather turns warm, you have witnessed the
phenomenon we're facing at school right now. Spring
fever is a real thing and it's hit with a flourish only mother
nature could produce. In class you need a heaping helping
of humour, the kindness and understanding of the gentlest
of beings, and a determination to keep on course. Even so...

Tonight we had a second St. Patrick's Day for my youngest
because he missed it and loved it. Now we can take down
all the green garlands and redo the place with whatever
we've got for Easter. We're not religious, but my guys love
the bunny idea and the chocolate.



Portrait in process
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches

After school today I worked with my model. She is amazing,
but I was too tired to really even see. Still many people
have told me that keeping on keeping on is what makes an
artist. So I did. Maybe I have a bit of the crazies too.
Luckily I was certainly inspired by my model, and
that was a help. Still I did more rubbing off than leaving on
with the paint. That's painting too right? It's a game of
addition and subtraction, on and on until the thing
adds up to what feels complete. Not there yet, but I
also didn't expect to be.

Have a celebrating-your-holiday day.
at

8 comments:

  1. Liza HirstApril 10, 2009 at 1:13 AM

    Hi Barbara,
    Haven't had the time lately to visit your blog regularly but sort of caught up now, and again enjoyed reading and seeing your posts very much! I like the colours in this one a lot. The blues enhance the skin tones perfectly and as usual you have managed to paint a real person, alive and there!
    Take care, Liza

    ReplyDelete
  2. FitFoodieMeghaApril 10, 2009 at 1:42 AM

    Hey Barbara..The color composition is very nice..A very lively painting..:) Happy Easter..BTW I have started a new blog dedicated to my sketch work — Art on Sketchbook

    ReplyDelete
  3. r garriottApril 10, 2009 at 11:19 AM

    Lovely portrait, Barbara! I like the play of cool and warm colors. You get so much done!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Barbara MuirApril 10, 2009 at 4:07 PM

    Hi Liza,

    I'm just working my way through this
    one. It's for an upcoming show and needs to be finished by the end of the month. What with taxes and teaching that's a challenge.

    Glad you like it so far.

    xoxoxoBarbara

    ReplyDelete
  5. Barbara MuirApril 10, 2009 at 4:08 PM

    Hi Megha,

    Happy Easter to you. Congratulations on your new blog.

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara MuirApril 10, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    Hi R.,

    Some days I get a lot done, and on others I feel like I move at a snail's pace. What about you? You have three blogs and paint such lovely paintings.

    Take care,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  7. eldon warrenApril 12, 2009 at 6:35 PM

    Yep! It's about keepin on keepin on! I am liking very much how this one is coming. Keep on!!
    EW

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbara MuirApril 15, 2009 at 9:26 PM

    Hi Eldon,

    It's a funny kind of work isn't it!
    Yep. You just keep going until it "feels" done. Even so, a couple of years down the road you might get the urge to change it.

    Take care,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete

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