Monday, February 14, 2011

The great day arriveth

 Primulas in a Victorian dish (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011

Ach aye (Scots for yes!)  It is Valentine's Day.  We seem to
have been celebrating forever.  But what a day.  I stuck
Valentine's all over the office I share when I'm at my
part time teaching job, handed out more candy.  And
discussions all day seemed to circle around love, and
the lack of it.  I say there's something great about a
cause for celebration that allows us all to focus on
being more loving.  But the single people I met today
see the whole day quite differently.

I have candles and flowers and a good meal whether
I'm alone or with my sweetheart and family, so
in some ways it was a normal day.  But I gave Steven
a book of poetry and he gave me sweet cards.  We got
Thai food in and watched Jon Stewart.  Just that much
relaxing made it a special day -- both of us refrained
from running off and doing an evening of work after
an already long day.  So I admit I know we are lucky
to have one another.  Very.  And I had calls from both of
my sweet sons, and talked to my mother...so Happy
Day for loving.  It has been.

My painting tonight is unfinished.  It's the primulas
I bought for Steven for Valentine's Day and plunked
in a Victorian white china serving dish.  I haven't got it
exactly, but I like the mood and I'll finish it up tomorrow.
Primulas are a cheery harbinger of spring for sure.  Good news.
Despite the almost gale force winds today, and the
ice sheets that will cover the roads tomorrow.  Spring is
coming.  It was still light at 6 o'clock this evening.  But let's
not rush our lives.  Let's take the lesson of Valentine's Day on
a Monday, and enjoy the day.

Have a savouring-the-joys-of-the-day day.

18 comments:

laura said...

Beautiful painting--Barbara, you are my inspiration is painting and in so much more!
Happy Valentine's.

Liza Hirst said...

Hi Barbara,
Although I missed it yesterday and it is a bit late, I send you lots of love on the day after Valentine's day!
I am happy for you that you had such a nice day and I like your flower painting very much! Take care, Liza
xxxoooxxx

Kim Rempel said...

Beautiful. I just love the way you paint : )

Terri Buchholz said...

I love this! So fresh and happy!

cohen labelle said...

Barbara, I love your work and your festive spirit! This is a gorgeous painting!
The word I just received from Primula Primulaceae is that they are thrilled and tickled pink beyond pink to have been painted by you!!! I don't blame them - thought I'd pass that on!

love, Marcia

Anonymous said...

love the primulas. you've captured the joy you feel while looking at them.

Sheila Vaughan said...

The primulas painting looks fantastic Barbara!

Marilyn Flanegan said...

You say your painting is unfinished but it looks wonderfully complete to me. Good to hear of your joy-filled day.

Linny D. Vine said...

Your fleurs are alway so gorgeous, Barbara. Happy day(s) of love!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

Thank you so much. Happy Valentine's month to you! I find your work 100% inspiring. Sorry for taking so long to respond. It's been a busy week.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,
I send you lots of love for Valentine's Day, Valentine's month and the whole rest of the year! It looks like you're having a wonderful time by the ocean. Gorgeous paintings!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

I am going to get to meet you so soon. And I love the way you paint too. This year just doesn't seem to settle down -- it leaps from wonderful to wonderful. I am loving it so much!

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Terri,

Thanks so much. I've got to admit I love February. It's a weird ride as far as weather goes, but it's a crazy quick month filled with fun.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marcia,

And I am thrilled and tickled pink that you noticed. Those were my Valentine flowers for Steven, because the roses we usually buy were five times the normal price!!! The poor flower sellers have to buy them at highly inflated prices and ours said he would lose money on Valentine's Day.

I hope you had a good one.

Love Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Happy Valentine's Day. I hope the dentist wasn't so bad that you couldn't enjoy the day. It looks like you have a lot of loving people in your life.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sheila,

Thanks so much. I'm delighted that you like them. Happy Valentine's month.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Marilyn,

Sometimes when you leave them for a few days they "set" or some mysterious process happens to make them seem finished. But sometimes you know -- this needs more. I'll see. I love your chocolate kisses, they make me crave chocolate.

Happy Valentine's month,

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linny,

All of your paintings are so filled with a love of life. Love them so much. Happy Valentine's month.

XOBarbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!