Thursday, May 19, 2011

What it's all about

The painting in the corner of this cheery kitchen 
scene is mine.  Sadly I've lost the original
photo image of the work, so I'll have to go
back and ask my hosts for permission to 
photograph it again. But see a small image
I retrieved below to get the sense of it.

Morning at the artist's table
36 x 12 inches
Acrylic on canvas
Barbara Muir © 2008
We have had rain for more than a week, and
I have been working hard painting.  Today
a friend invited me out for a walk with the dogs,
and I was so inspired by the landscape on our
walk.  In fact it was a cityscape of houses,
green grass, flower gardens and happy people
basking in the first warm sunny day in a week.

Sam and I were invited to dinner (dogs included)
and we visited with friends who are also collectors
of my work.  What a pleasure to see my paintings
in place -- doing what they should do, being part
of a room, a house, a family -- cheering up
a corner, or adding to the good feeling already
present.  And at the root of this peculiar profession
we are in, that is certainly what it's all about.

Have a going-back-to-the-pleasure-of-painting day
at

14 comments:

  1. belindadelpesco.comMay 20, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Beautiful painting, and it lives in such a perfect room - what a sweet match. And yay for sun on sprouting green & flowers & clean houses after lots of rain, and walks with dogs and dinner with friends who also love art. What a lovely way to enter the weekend. Happy painting! xoxox

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  2. eldonMay 20, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Wow! Unusual format, beautiful painting.
    We are still doing the rain thing. I have grown webs between my toes. If this storm tracks like they normally do you will be experiencing a little more rain in a couple of days. Sorry, just thought I should warn ya. :)

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  3. Barbara MuirMay 20, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Hi Belinda,

    Isn't it a pretty room. Yes yay for sun. I'm lucky to like rain too.
    But yes my son and I were incredibly cheered by the evening, the beautiful day, great company and delicious food.

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

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  4. Barbara MuirMay 20, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Hi Eldon,

    Have you noticed that prepared canvas shapes change from year to year. A couple of years ago long, thin canvasses were great. I liked doing a long thin one, that attached to a normal rectangle. Now the prevalent "style" is square, and I'm painting on those and enjoying them a lot.

    Thanks for your kind encouragement as always. Love your recent paintings.

    Take care,

    Barbara

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  5. Kim RempelMay 20, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    Gorgeous! Yes, I love how paintings and glow, warm, originality and spirit to a room. They always feel so much better. And the sun was great today!!

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  6. Barbara MuirMay 20, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    Hi Kim,

    It is great to see your work when you go out to a collector's house isn't it. It makes me feel so happy that
    they're happy with the work.

    XOBarbara

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  7. Linny D. VineMay 20, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    ohhh - I love this one Barbara!!

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  8. NickiMay 20, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    How fun to see one of your paintings in it's home. I love this one and I love the size of it. Perfect for a small strip of wall. A cheery kitchen made cheerier by your beautiful work.

    Have a great weekend!

    Nicki

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  9. AnonymousMay 21, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    I love the vertical composition of this one Barbara, and it looks great hanging in that cheery kitchen!

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  10. Barbara MuirMay 21, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    Hi Linny,

    Thanks. So do I. I did three of them, and now I'm thinking about doing more because it's the time of year when the kitchen table gets crowded with flowers.

    XO Barbara

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  11. Barbara MuirMay 21, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Hi Nicki,

    It's true. Then we ate in the dining room and there's a portrait of the owners' son done years ago when he was 12 that also makes me happy, because that's almost 10 years ago and I still like the portrait although my style has changed a lot.

    It's odd though studying your own older work. But then the conversation, food, and wine were so good that I forgot all about it.
    That's also great.

    XO Barbara

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  12. Barbara MuirMay 21, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Hi Sally,

    Yes the tall thins are really ideal for small houses -- like mine. I have a similar one hanging in my hallway right now. Aren't we lucky to be able to buy different styles of pre-gessoed canvas!

    XOBarbara

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  13. Liza HirstMay 24, 2011 at 12:09 AM

    A beautiful painting! And the format is perfect for it. I also like using that format sometimes - and ... I always enjoy seeing paintings of mine in other people's homes. If it's been longer, it's great to see it anew and nearly like work by someone else, too.

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  14. Róisín O'FarrellJune 4, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    love this one barb

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