Friday, December 17, 2010

Just be yourself

Ready for joy
Charcoal on bond paper
12 x 14 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010
There's a lot of pressure on all of us to live up to
some ideal.  I think about this quite a bit. The reality
of my own life is that I am mother and wife,
a friend, an artist, and a teacher. Every role is
demanding, and every one matters.  I am far from
alone in this.  Most people I know in this city juggle
multiple roles, both at home and in their working lives.

It's the end of the semester, and looking back it
feels like a success.  Now I can devote myself
exclusively to my art and my family for awhile.
Compared to the job of balancing art and school,
balancing art and Christmas is a snap.  Tomorrow
after my client leaves, we'll go and get the Christmas
tree, set it up in the studio, and dedicate part of the
studio to the holiday.  We'll decorate the mantle,
and drape pine and cedar boughs around the doorways
and windows.  The place will begin to smell divine.

I am tired, partially because it's very late as I write this,
and because I've been working very long days lately.
But I am also energized by the thought of a bunch of
new art projects on the horizon.  Tonight I'm
showing you a sketch, that may become part of one of
my paintings for the new year.  The model is doing the
whoop exercise from Mike Dooley, expecting all good.
And that's what I wish for you.  Put your arms in the
air and imagine it happening.  Then get ready -- all good
is coming your way.

Have a getting-ready-for-pure-joy day.
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8 comments:

  1. lauraDecember 17, 2010 at 11:07 AM

    What a fabulous drawing, full of life and joyful spirit--one can only throw one's arms up and smile back!

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  2. MelindaDecember 17, 2010 at 12:42 PM

    I like this "whoop" pose! Well done. I hope you are feeling the whoop inside, even if you are tired on the outside sometimes.

    We multi-taskers need to shake off the 'multi' and focus on the best task we have: Art making!

    I think I can smell the lovely pine scents from here.

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  3. cohen labelleDecember 17, 2010 at 11:09 PM

    Something about joie de vivre – nobody can say it or express it better than you Barbara! This drawing is fantastic in that it has a totally natural, unforced, relaxed feeling of spontaneity to it, in and of the moment!!!

    Also adore the sensitive, loving portrait of your relative!

    Love, Marcia

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  4. Linny D. VineDecember 18, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    This is a wonderful happy drawing, Barbara. You express your subject's emotion so very well!

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  5. Barbara MuirDecember 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM

    Hi Laura,

    Thanks so much. I hope you're staying up tonight to watch the lunar eclipse.

    XOBarbara

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara MuirDecember 20, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    Hi Melinda,

    I'm glad you like it. I'm thinking of using it for a painting I need to do in the next week or so. But wait -- isn't something happening during that time. Aha. Christmas. I was at the mall today -- so dazed from marking that all I could think was expensive.

    I think I'll watch the lunar eclipse now. Hope you're catching it in Tucson.

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

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  7. Barbara MuirDecember 20, 2010 at 10:09 PM

    Hi Marcia,

    It's taken me a long time to be let out of my room where I was marking papers for the past few days.

    Going to watch the eclipse now.

    Thanks so much for your kindness. You make me feel happy to be an artist.

    Love Barbara

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  8. Barbara MuirDecember 20, 2010 at 10:11 PM

    Hi Linny,

    Thanks so much. I love the joy in every one of your paintings. And you do the whoop exercise too, with a bit of a difference. Such a great exercise.

    In Linnyland life is great. Merry Christmas to Linny and Linnyland.

    XOBarbara

    ReplyDelete

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