Friday, March 19, 2010

A model day



Spring in the yard
acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

Apparently we had the warmest March 19 on record
in Toronto -- 19 degrees Celsius which is close to
70 Fahrenheit. One of my favorite models, Claudia,
came over in the morning to pose for a new series I'm
planning. I asked her to have wet hair, and she
started out outside, because the series is about
water, and I wanted natural light on her face.

When I printed this image, I thought I've got to
paint that right away. I loved the light, the colour
and the shapes. Besides painting it was a great
way to meditate on the series I want to do.

Tomorrow -- Saturday we may have snow flurries,
which will be a terrible shock to all of us in balmy
Toronto. Just as spring is officially here, winter
may come back again.

Have a enjoying-the-day-whatever-the-weather day.

4 comments:

Jala Pfaff said...

This is a very cool piece.

cohen labelle said...

Barbara you’ve done it again!
You know this young woman, Claudia, so well, she just seems to flow off your brush. I love her hair – and the light, it’s just perfect.
I can’t resist thinking that, that’s the way I used to wear my hair. I can still hear my mother’s voice. “Marcia” (pause) – “comb your hair –- you’re not going out like that are you?” and I’d say “yes mom, I am, I’m going over to Barbara’s – she’s going to do my portrait.”

xoxoxoxo Marcia

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Jala,

Thanks so much. I'm glad you like it.
I was happy with how it turned out.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

You are right. I used to go to school with wet hair, just like Claudia did yesterday. She also endured me squirting water in her face to try and get a wet look. Next time I'll use warm water. (Duh!) But when Claudia went to school with wet hair she brushed that beautiful hair back off her perfect forehead and let it hang down her back, so that it would dry
quite perfectly I'm sure.

Funny you should say that about the portrait. I have been wondering whether or not you'd pose for this series. Get your green dress and boots first. Maybe you could substitute black if green ones aren't available. By the way full how to rock the Diva lessons are always available in Allure magazine.

Or at Allure.com. Handy for we women who are modest and don't want
to overshadow other people.

Take care,

xoxoxoxoxBarbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!