Water series portrait 2
Stage 4
acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(I am not finished the background.
The sand will be the white, or
caramel coloured sand of the
Caribbean, and I may put in
surf if I can figure out how to
paint it in an abstract fashion.)
altogether to pick up my third model, a wonderful young
woman. Back at the house I took her picture in the pose
for the third painting in the water series, and she posed
for some other small paintings I may do when this series
is over.
We had a lot of fun, and she got to meet Sam, who is home
for the weekend from university and Zoey the dog, Timbah
the cat, and Fiona the cat.
Both Steven and I have grim colds. They remind me of the
cold we came down with in Florence, but the difference
is that we know which medicine to get here, and are
madly drinking special tea for colds, taking Cold FX and
today I got a combo that will stop the sniffling, which
really stops creativity in its tracks. Hurray.
So once that took effect I began working on the background
for the second painting. I want the lines of the water and
perhaps the tide pools to be at the same level in the paintings.
So I figured that part out and painted in the ocean and the sky.
This model wanted a Caribbean feeling ocean, sky and sand, so
the colour changes in this painting. I may leave the large bit of
blue over one eye when I work on the face a bit more, because
it is the colour of the sea too, and she is a water being in my
painting. Aha!
It's now very late, and I'm going to take the night time cold
medicine and go to bed. Lots of marking to do this weekend
too, so instead of my novel I'm reading final essays.
We are having our Easter dinner tomorrow night, because
Sam goes back to school on Sunday. So tomorrow will be
a very busy day. I'm not crazy about Easter, but my sons
like the bunny and the chocolate eggs, so we will cook a
turkey (I hope it's not as hot as it was today) and there
will be a hunt.
Have a celebrating-celebration day.
This is so strong Barbara! I love that fleck of blue. Your energy level is astounding and your work is inspiring! xo Flora
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this Water Series! The portraits are beautifully expressive and I like the strong horizontals. Wonderful work!
ReplyDeleteHope you and Steven are both feeling better soon!
Hi Barbara: I just stummbled upon your blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous work you do! I am nuts about your style and colour palette.
Maybe i'll grab the 4:40 from Montreal and beg you for a portrait of me. Heh heh
Sherrill Pearson
Love your colours-as in your prom dress series just wondering why your models are all young thin women.Is there some symbolism behind that?
ReplyDeleteHi Flora,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. I am really pleased that you like what I'm doing. I miss you and really miss showing with you, and the us guys team. The us guys were always so helpful at show time.
xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara
Hi Gwen,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. I'm glad you like the portraits. I love what you are doing, and I'm really proud for you about the recognition you're getting.
xoxoxoxoxBarbara
Hi Sherril,
ReplyDeleteI can definitely do your portrait. If you contact me through my email, we can figure out a time that would suit you. Meanwhile I'm delighted that you like my work.
Take care,
Barbara
Hi Samantha,
ReplyDeleteThe prom dance series was not all young thin women. I painted women of many ages in the Before The Dance, and After the Dance series. Most of the women in the Before the Dance series were people I know. The young girls I knew just happened to be thin, or at a healthy weight for them. There are young men in that series too.
The people I was asked to paint, and who were willing to model for me were thin. No symbolism there. Just coincidence
Check out the Skype series and see that I've painted people of all ages, all races, and both sexes.
Symbolism? Well the Dance series was about people getting ready to go to a big event, and the people who attend the most big events, and are the most nervous about those events are frequently young.
I'm delighted that you're taking an interest in my work. Clients have posed for me in formal dress wanting to be part of the Dance series, and their ages vary widely from 10 at the youngest to 75 at the oldest to date.
Check out my slideshow and you'll see that variety.
It's great to look at art and ask questions.
Take care,
Barbara
I'm enjoying seeing how your portrait evolves on this red background...fascinating!!!
ReplyDeleteHi R.,
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am so glad to see you're back on the blog. I love the portrait you posted. Take care,
Barbara
My computer doesn't show the Skpe link pictures-it is blank.Sorry the only people in prom dresses were young thin that I could see-I guess I just get tired of all of todays magazines and tv glorifying that stereotype. I think the older larger even with imperfections should be displayed for their beauty.(even if the evening dresses are a fuller size). Or even the young misfits who don't fit that young beautiful stereotype. Your work is very cheery I guess that wouldn't be your style.Well art is supposed to trigger stuff. That's what was triggered.
ReplyDeleteHi Samantha,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you can't see the Skype slideshow, and maybe the other slideshow isn't working either. But the first painting in that show is of an older woman with almost no hair who is dying of cancer. Yes I painted her looking as healthy as possible, and as happy as possible, because that's what she wanted. I do try to convey joy.
I agree with you that all people are beautiful.
Have a Happy Easter.
Take care,
Barbara
She's coming along beautifully...hope you are all feeling better already!
ReplyDelete