Morning Light
(Work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir
I've been thinking a lot about how blessed I am,how rapidly life changes, and how I wish some
things could stay the same. Maybe that last
nostalgic note is in response to the frost's
final demolition of most of my garden. Then too,
it's almost a year now since I was in Florence, and
as I write this on my husband's computer at the other end of
the house so he can sleep without listening to
my typing, amazing photos of Florence
and Sienna are flashing under the blog
composition screen.
Today was a great day at school -- one of the kind
that make it clear why I teach, and why it matters.
My students were funny, engaging and dramatic,
a complete treat. On the home front after supper, I sat
down again to do a bit more on this painting. When I
stand back from it, I see that it's coming together. Good.
Up close it's a complicated puzzle. I have no trouble
painting on a large canvas with a four inch wide
brush; when I'm painting small I have to overcome
a feeling of constraint. It's partly psychological, and
partly that I miss the swing of the big brush, the
expansiveness of a large canvas.
My dresser top, like my mind, is clotted with memory.
Does it even make sense to have so many photos
of my sons as babies there, plus my alarm clock, which
will harang me all too soon, and the antique porcelain jug
from France, the most elegant piece in my china collection?
No. Someday I promise to change the arrangement. But
not yet please -- I'm painting it.
Have an enjoying-your-jumbled-life day.
10 comments:
it's developing beautifully!
Swing that brush!! More crazy fun, please!!
I just love it when you paint like this.
Nice to hear that you had a wonderful day with the kids.
Hi Muir
I think your early morning light has yielded a little masterpiece. Those are all treasures on your bedroom bureau, that’s why they’re there, to feed your visual appetite!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Marcia
I think this is turning into a stunning painting Barbara. I was meaning to ask you - what brand of acrylics do you use? I have always used Winsor & Newton because of the intentsity of the colours but recently bought some Daler Rowney "Cryla" in order to try it out (and because their cerulean was cheaper). Turns out the Cryla are much firmer with more plasticity and body than the W&N and they seem more like oils to work with. I think I might switch.
Hi Sally,
Thanks so much.
XOBarbara
Hi Melinda,
Think I might get some brush swinging in today, and some of the smaller more needlepoint type of work like this one too. Your comment made me feel so up, I could paint for hours, and might just do that when all the chores are seen to. Super good luck on your show. You have it all the time actually because your work is fabulous.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara
Hi Marcia,
Thank you so much. You've made me very happy. But have you noticed that digital cameras mean the snapshots stopped and my children are arrested forever at about eight, maybe ten at the most. Gotta print some of the millions of photos stored on computers. Gotta let the poor kids grow up.
Love Barbara
Hi Sheila,
Thank you so much. I've been using Liquitex since I started painting in acrylics, with the odd tube of Golden.
Now Liquitex has what they call open acrylics and they perform much more like oils. I haven't tried Windsor Newton or Daler Rowney, but have heard that the most wonderful brand is Italian (which makes sense to me) but they are quite expensive, and I can't remember the name.
Love your work so much. It just makes me swoon.
XOBarbara
Thanks Barbara, I wonder if it is Sennelier you are thinking of (is that French or Italian?). I will do some Googling..
(thanks for the swooning but I am not sure it is at all merited, LOL (over here, LOL means "Laugh out loud" - don't know if you have the same?).
I'm looking foward to seeing it finished - it's looking super, good crazy and funfilled!
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