Order

 Look at this! (Work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

(Sorry about the angle.  The bottom lines

are straight and horizontal, but it's late

and I need to photograph it again.

What's changed?  Once again just small changes in colour

and detail.  More to come.)

I am a fan of order, but not that good at it.  In fact
when I look at what I spend my money on aside
from shelter, food, paint and printing, and show
fees -- order ranks pretty high.  I like looking at
Bob Burridge's site, because he has help
creating order, Kate, his wife,  is a business brain, but
his clothes and his brushes are covered in paint -- the sign of
someone way too busy actually creating work
to think about mess.  Actually mess is a huge part
of creating art.

 

Flower sketch 

Black marker on notebook paper

6 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

This year, I am working very hard on bringing more
order into my life.  I'm writing lists, looking at my
planner, sending myself notes -- and even so I see
my spirit as a runaway horse, not wanting to settle
down and think in an orderly fashion.  Maybe part of the reason
is that I grew up with a father steeped in military order.
We were supposed to keep our rooms tidy and we were
hopeless at it.  So we would be grounded for unmade
beds, and clothes left out.  Tip to the parents out there.
These methods tend to lead to the opposite result -- an
affection for a bit of clutter.

Woops.  There I go again.  Now where was that specific
brush I need for my painting?  I better get back to work.
And that's an order!

Have a figuring-out-how-to-be-orderly day.