Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Looking back helps me learn


Megan at The Stork Restaurant
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

I am marking thoughtful essays today. I've been at it
all day, and will not be stopping until bedtime. So
I thought I might put in an older painting here, to
give my hungry blog something to look at. It makes
me think about how I used to paint, and how I
paint now. This was done in 2003. It is a portrait
of my son's fiancée Megan, and I may have shown
it to you before.

I like the portrait very much because it reminds
me of the night we spent celebrating Christopher's birthday
in a wonderful restaurant that no longer exists.
Megan and Christopher were so young! They still
are and it's hard to imagine that they've been
dating for such a long time.

Looking at how badly the original photo was
cropped I realized that I've learned so much from
blogging. Just the daily need for images has
taught me how to crop, and photograph (not
always expertly) and how to get the photo
to look as much as possible like the original
painting. Blogging makes me think in a graphic
and design format every day. That's a tremendous
help to me.

So this is just a fast thank you. I have to get back
to marking, but this end-of-term marathon will
end in a day. And then it's painting full time
except for school time, until exam week. I am
looking forward to that time with a skip in my
step. I'll have soul with a capital "S". (I think
that's a Tower of Power song.)

Have a-thanking-the-universe-for-spring-on-this-planet day.

4 comments:

belindadelpesco.com said...

Yayy for looking back, and wow, what a lovely painting. So relaxed and she and the pose are both beautiful. You do have soul, dear, and it shows with every brush stroke. Good luck with then end of term marathon.

Melinda said...

I can see all of the good elements today in this past work. Your work today has an added element of ease and confidence that is very nice to see.

Wonderful painting. Wonderful blogging!

Aren't you so glad to be online?! It's been great getting to know you and your lovely paintings.

Here's to many more!!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Belinda,

Thank you. I'm glad the soul shows. I've been waking up in the morning with the song Soul with a capital "S" on my mind. It makes me dance. Of course my son loaded it into my Itunes, from his album, and I put it on a CD I listen to when I paint and in the car, and so...I am so happy you think I've got it.

The end of term marathon is now evolving into the painting marathon. I better get on my splattered sneakers.

xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

I was surprised to find this image and to think it was all right, because when I painted it, it felt so awky awk (awkward). But perhaps it was because it didn't completely capture Megan. But looking at it now, I feel like it does look like she did then, and reminds me of that fun birthday and the great restaurant -- small, reasonably priced, with wonderful food.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. They always make me feel so buoyant.I am more than glad to be online -- it has changed my life being on line, and meeting you.

Lovely paintings? Many more? Okay
back to the studio I go.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

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!