Thursday, April 15, 2010

Resting, thinking, planning, drawing


In the kitchen researching for the doctorate
Black marker on bond paper
12 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

Yesterday was a long, long day of work at school --
seeing a student every ten minutes to close out the
semester in our course. As the course is about
succeeding in school, we feel obliged to find out if
there's anything else we can do to help, and
that's what the interviews are for.

Wonderful as the experience was, today I felt quite
tired, and a friend advised me not to paint while my
energy was low. So instead I started work on a new
commission, taking the photos, and talking to the client.
I took the sitter with me to get the flowers. She's
a lovely young woman, a friend's
daughter, who worked for me quite a few years ago.
She is working on her doctorate now, so in the
painting she will be thinking about the book on
English literature that she brought to our session,
and was reading in every free second.

Here is the line drawing I did to allow myself to
figure out the design of the painting. Of course
the painting will be looser, but I really enjoyed
drawing this. I could have kept going for days,
but instead decided to write to you, and call it
a night.

Have a-there's-time-to-slow-down-and-look-at-the-flowers day.

15 comments:

David Lobenberg said...

Yep. Very nice drawing, indeed. Nail the painting next!

LeSan said...

Love it! It is so vibrant and full of optimistic energy. I know this will be a wonderful painting.
It sounds like you needed a little me time and buying flowers seems like a very Barbara thing to do. What a lovely image to have in my mind.

Melinda said...

There is such a sense of refreshing youth and ease in this drawing. How do you do it?!

Lovely work here and I'm so impressed with your paintings too!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

I always love to see your line drawings. They are really fine, Barbara.

Flora Doehler said...

Wonderful, as always!
Flora

Gwen Bell said...

Your drawing skills have always been strong but lately I've seen even more confidence in the lines. This one is a beauty!

Karen Bruson said...

Always love your line drawings.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi David,

Thanks so much. I'll nail the painting after I finish the series I'm painting for New York in May.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi LeSan,

The young woman is one of the nicest people I've ever met. She is still the same in many ways as she was as a young girl, kind and shy and absolutely brilliant, so my time with her was such a pleasure.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

I just sat down in front of her photo blown up, and drew, it was almost Zen. I didn't want to stop -- and I think the thought I was having before I began was think about the love you feel for drawing, and this wonderful young woman. That seemed to work.

I am more than impressed with your paintings. I want one. Someday soon the money is coming to me.

xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you so much. I love your work.
I was interested in what happened to the little bird in the sunflower.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Flora,

Thank you. Of course you must know that I stand in awe of your work. Complete awe.

Take care,

xoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Gwen,

A lot depends on the subject and the pen, and the paper. I lucked out on this one with all three. I'm so glad you like it.

xoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Karen,

I love every painting you do. I sit here completely dazzled.

Take care,

Barbara

Liza Hirst said...

OMG! Every line put down so confidently, the composition perfect, the expression beautiful -One of your very best drawings, Barbara!
And you know how much I always admire them...

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!