Sweet face
marker on bond paper
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
life is to quit waiting. What do I mean?
Instead of standing in line going crazy I'd like
to have a plan. Seeing students in the first
weeks of school standing in long lines waiting
I see many long faces. This is the generation with
more possible ways to entertain themselves than
ever before, yet they spend hours not listening to
music, not studying, getting increasingly bored and
frustrated.
So yes, I'm that person in front of you in line
in the grocery store who thinks of something kind
to say when you're child is whining because he's tired,
and you're trying to pick up some things for supper and
juggling too many tasks already. I'm the person
who brings a book to the airport, who has wonderful
music in the car (Aretha Franklin right now) Call me.
In other words most of the time I'm aware that this
is my life right now, and I better enjoy it to the best
of my ability. My point? One of the things artists can
almost always do is draw. And if it's a customs line up
and that's not possible, an artist can draw internally
-- right?
Steven and I were parted for about 10 minutes at
the grocery store today, and when we got back
together he said, "What?" "What do you mean?"
I asked. "You've got a look on your face like
something happened." "Oh lots happened," I
answered. Yep. While I was in the clothing store
Joe, a lady and I almost ran into one another and
did that jumping out of the way thing you do, and
she jokingly said, "Dance?" I said, "No, but maybe
later -- my girlfriend and I really want to take dance
lessons." She said , "well my thing is yoga,"
and told me where I could study yoga locally. So
that was the first five minutes. In the washroom
upstairs a woman was changing a three week old
very hungry baby boy who was screaming, his face
bright red until his mother leaned down to his ear
about every 30 seconds and said, "you're all right
sweetie, you're going to be fine," so tenderly that
it not only stopped little baby's crying for a minute
it stopped about four grown up women in their tracks
in awe at the power of love, and they couldn't leave
the washroom without watching the blessing of a
baby and his mother for a couple of minutes more.
So that was ten minutes. The drawing tonight is one
I drew as a study for a painting I'm working on while
waiting to get invitations made up at my wonderful
printers Chris and Ellen at St. Clair Printing. They
are exceptionally kind and good and I thank the
universe for them every day.
Have a getting-to-have-a-wonderful-Sunday day.
6 comments:
Good stories, Barbara. And good point about paying attention as we move through our days. As a friend of my mother's always used to say, "This is not a dress rehearsal..."
I enjoy the repeated lines in the shadow of the hair.
Yes, good stories, Barbara!
I actually quite like waiting (as long as I'm not in a terrible hurry), because it makes me stop and calm down for a while. I also often have a book with me or I just watch the people or whatever is going on around me. And as you suggest, I often draw and paint in my head while waiting!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks so much. True. I've heard it as "this ain't no dress rehearsal." It's a good thing to remember. This is it. Right now, writing to you, and
thinking about your great circus story.
Which means it's a pretty great life.
XoBarbara
Hi Karen,
I liked that part too, also the daring lines around the nose. Thanks for noticing. I am so loving your work. It just astounds me.
XoBarbara
Hi Liza,
Patience is certainly not one of my virtues, but enjoyment is my mantra. I am trying to enjoy everything that I can. To an artist the great thing is that life is rich. I've read that our brains are different from people
who don't paint. How lucky we are.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara
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