The dark

Studio lights
acrylic on canvas
6 x 6 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(The colour doesn't seem quite
right. I may photograph it again
tomorrow if I have time.)

At this time of year Toronto is bathed in a bleak grey
during the day for many days, and those days
are short. In a way the night is almost prettier
than the day, because streetlights, store lights and
house lights cast a warm glow. I am planning to
paint a painting of houses at night again, because
I love the look of glowing golden windows against
the black house silhouettes.

But today inspired by Liza Hirst's recent paintings of her
things I thought I'd try to paint my painting lamps.
The taller one was given to me by my son, and the
shorter one was my father's. I am hopelessly
sentimental about my father's light, even though it's
stuck together with masking tape, and should not still
be here. My father loved to paint too, and I feel it's
more than a light, more like a connecting thread
between us. I don't believe in ghosts, but I do believe
that love lasts in the living at least. That love shines
bright in my heart for my father, and his light shines
in my studio.

I've been happy to see in recent decorating articles
that this studio type lamp is now all the rage for
regular living rooms, which I think is funny. Here
I am again, so out of it, that I'm all the rage, with
my studio in my living and dining room, and my studio
lamps all ready for the next onslaught of big art.

We took down the Christmas tree today, so I will
soon start some bigger projects. I can't wait, and these
two lovely lights will guide me. I need another one, and
perhaps this year I'll get one.

Thanks for being the bright lights in my artistic life.

Have a shining-a-light-on-your-world day