Yellow farmhouse
Road trip from Ottawa to Kingston
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(I'm pretty close to finished with this one -- a great
delight to do. Of course the farm house was
not yellow, but beige, but despite the colour
changes this scene reminds me of that
route and I know I've seen this house
many, many times. So I'm grateful
for Steven's fast little camera
that let me catch it as we sped by).
the rug in my bedroom. Down on the floor I looked
under the bed and decided it was high time that
space, packed with storage boxes (like every space
in a tiny house) and thick with dust from the lives
of the three animals who grace our house, got a cleaning.
It's hard enough for me to let go of old things (I even
feel sentimental about receipts from the years
I no longer have to hold onto for tax purposes) so
I made an art connection. As an artist I think one
of the true bonuses of the blog world is learning
about different approaches that push my work
in new directions, and teach me new techniques.
I know artists who have stuck to one method, style,
colour range for 15 or 20 years, produce beautiful
work, but are decidedly unhappy with what they
do. Maybe the reason is that it's time to clean
out the mess under the bed. Maybe it's time to
let some things go, and realize that there are no
monsters waiting to pounce on you, when you put
your feet down and walk with confidence. You get
my point. We are here. We are the net under your
trapeze. We are the nightlight when you feel you
can't see properly. If it's time to change, you
have the whole world on your side.
Now I'm going to go and clean out the space under
the dresser.
Have an I-will-be-released-into-joyous-creation day.
10 comments:
Love the happy colors, Barbara. Nice painting.
A landscape! I love this--paths and roads and houses...and the colors are so inviting. I know what you mean about under the beds in tiny houses!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks so much. They are happy colours. I guess it's because that was one of our only weekends "off" all summer, and it was a happy drive.
Take care,
Barbara
Hi Julie,
Thanks, I'm so glad you like it, that means a lot to me. I took a series of photos with a tiny camera my husband bought to use when he's biking, and it is incredibly fast. It was a lovely drive, and now I'm making some paintings from the shots and the whole exercise makes me happy.
xoxoxoxBarbara
Absolutely love this landscape and the one in the post below. Your style is so strong and confident no matter what your subject is.
Nice post too. You always have wise words and great encouragement for those of us still clinging to some of the messes under our beds. Your bold outlook makes me want to jump out of the box like a Jumping Jack!
Hi Gwen,
I don't think that was meant for you. You have a strong style already. In fact I really don't know any bloggers personally who are stuck in an old under the bed style.
But I do know artists who have trouble moving on, and want to.
Thanks a million for the award. You are incredibly sweet.
xoxoxoxoxBarbara
Nice post Barbara and I like this little landscape. Well done. As for under the bed, everyone of us will hear your message a little differently and know they could apply the thought in some way to some part of their lives. Thanks for being the thoughtful one.
Eldon
I especially like the trees and the colourful shadows they throw in this painting. AND - my favourite green on the grass!
Hi Eldon,
Thanks so much. I'm glad you like this entry. I find that if I write earlier in the day my thoughts are sometimes in order. But I wouldn't in any way consider myself the thoughtful one. You are quite the thinker yourself.
Take care,
Barbara
Hi Liza,
Thanks so much. Now I'm wondering which of the greens is your favorite one.
xoxoxoxoxBarbara
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