Spring in a Victorian Jug
Watercolour on Arches paper
12 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
(the date is unknown)
friends and family's favorites. It hangs in my mother's
house in Ottawa, and she frequently says that she
loves it. I am in the middle of a bunch
of projects so I thought I'd feature some old work that's
in my Mom's house for a couple of days, and then...
(wait for it) even show you some of my Dad's paintings.
Compared to my older work -- not this watercolour in
particular, when I can sense I was beginning to take off,
my Dad's stuff has more vigour and zest. I forgive myself
because I was a kid (artistically) in some of the earlier
work I'll show you, and my Dad was a grown, if
completely untrained, artist. For the most part I was
unimpressed with my Dad's work when I was an
upstart kid, despite the fact that he started to paint
partly because he read a little book on painting by
Winston Churchill (one of his heroes), and partly because
he admired what he saw as my talent. At the time there
was really no indication that I had any talent. But in his work
I now see such definite strength, wonderful colour sense plus,
a clear desire to go places with his art that I really understand.
Too bad we can't look at his work together, and
I can't tell him so to his face and give him a big hug.
My Dad always wore viyella shirts and cashmere sweaters,
and it was a pleasure to give him a hug, though he was
not the huggy sort.
Have a remembering-where-you-came-from day.
Nice to remember your dad Barbara. Look forward to seeing some of his work.
ReplyDeleteHi Prabha,
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right. I don't remember the name of the book and haven't seen it in years.
Take care,
Barbara
Hi Sheila,
ReplyDeleteHis work is quite abstract, thick impasto oil. When I was younger I thought impasto was a mistake (must have been the art school I trained at). Now I wish I could make myself do it. I have done a bit, but lose confidence too quickly in that mode.
XOBarbara
aww Barbara that is one gorgeous watercolour painting. my favourite part is the lacy bits (interesting shapes) on the left. I cant wait to see some of your dad's work. it's interesting to see how artists develope from family genes. my mum was an artist and my greatgrandad too. you gave me an idea...maybe i will feature them sometime on my blog:)
ReplyDelete