Yes you can!

Neighbours
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009
(I photographed this last night
inside and it didn't work.
I woke up in the middle
of the night telling myself
to go outside this morning
and do it again. This is much,
much better. Hope you like it.)

Part of the brilliance of Obama's slogan "Yes We
Can" is that it played on the hearts and minds of
the millions of people in America, and around the
world who are part of the positive thinking
movement. You might have guessed, or read that
I have been part of that ideology for a long time.
And it's stood me in good stead, as we Scots like
to say. I've been "open and receptive to the
bounty of the universe" since Louise Hay used
that as part of her meditations, and I have
received that bounty big time.

What's hard about all this is that if your friends
believe in the same positive outlook you don't
get to whine. That's all good, but sometimes
you might want to. I was complaining today
to a friend about all I had to do, and she
demanded that I change my tune. It made me
realize, artists are lucky. The truth is that unless
they can't earn enough to eat and have shelter, they
are a privileged lot, because they have the nerve
to do, what the rest of the world would like to do.
Scratch any art buyer and just beneath the surface
is someone who would like to paint or draw "but
I can't draw a straight line." Explaining that art
isn't (for the most part) about drawing straight
lines, helps. But even better, you create something
beautiful that they feel they need, and splash your wonder
on their walls with the work you are so lucky to
create.

Alyson Stanfield emphasizes the importance
of not whining. Most buyers want to buy
beautiful and joyous art from happy people.
So staying happy is about as important as
painting. Okay I'm working on it. It has
been a great day. Here's a little plein air
painting of my neighbours' front doors
across the street. I had fun painting it, and
like the results.

Have a feeling-just-terrific day.