Monday, January 11, 2010

First day


January roses
coloured pencil on bond
6 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(Steven buys me roses almost
every weekend -- my ongoing
Valentine's Day gift for nearly
two years now. In these
cold temperatures just getting them
home safely is an issue. Keeping them
happy with the furnace heat and
chilly drafts is also a challenge.
This is a quick sketch of some of
the current beauties.)

I always feel so high voltage on the first day of class.
It's far from true today. The grim cold we caught
in Florence resurfaced last weekend and mowed
us down physically, if not psychologically. But
standing in front of a new class I feel ridiculously
happy and strong. Soon the feeling will pass. Each
class will become a group, and I will take a back
seat to their stories -- but at first it is all me -- all
that talk, all those ideas, and all that advice.

Then when I get home -- serious exhaustion. My
classes today were delightful. Now it's time to
prepare for tomorrow -- one of my two morning
classes and shut down for the night.

I'll continue my list of influences on my art
in the past year tomorrow. Tonight I do not have
time. Have patience. I know you're out there,
you know I care.

Have a staying-happy-and-strong day.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, I am so glad your first day went well. You most assuredly are one of the best teachers and a delight to everyone there!

    I hope that this batch of young people appreciate you and give back to you all the joy that you send to them.

    Another fabulous drawing! I love how the colors work so well on the bond paper.

    Sweet dreams!!

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  2. Love the painting of roses on your blog. It looks awesome. you are a blessed artist. Keep up the good work.

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  3. This is a lovely painting. I never seem to have the patience for pencil. I admire your comfort with it and am in awe of your skill.
    I'm sorry to hear about that blasted cold coming back. It must have been exhausting to expend all that new class energy and talk so much. Shoot, I was feeling it just talking to my husband the other day. I can still feel the Piglet Fever in my lungs I guess.
    Do take care of yourself inbetween lightening up the world for the rest of us. I'll just use a flashlight until you're back.

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  4. Hi Melinda,
    I'm not sure how great I am, but the kids are great in their different ways. They always give back way more joy than I can give them. That's the equation. I give some and they give lots.

    Thanks for your kind comments.
    You are the best.

    xoxoxoxoxBarbara

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  5. Hi Flowers,

    Thanks so much for your sweet comment.
    This is a high compliment coming from you. I am so glad you like this drawing.

    Take care,

    Barbara

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  6. Hi LeSan,

    Thanks so much. The cold is receding. Yes it's exhausting, but it's also a performance high. I know what I'm trying to achieve and feel so
    wonderful when I see that it's working. Plus my students are great -- just fantastic.

    I hope you are feeling better. I did not have the piglet flu, just a hanging on cold. Cold FX is indeed a miracle drug, even if you have to take it three times in a row -- it lifts the damn thing off you.

    XOBarbara

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