Mary (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011
This is a big day here in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, because
my friend, Norene Smiley is having a opening tonight
and along with other artists from the area will be showing
her fabulous new large portraits done on sheets of plastic.
I can’t wait to see them hanging in the Tatamagouche
Community Center, as she let me into her studio the other
day to see the works in progress. They are so exciting and inspiring.
My artist friend Gill Cameron and I are having a show together
in Toronto at Studio Vogue this November, and in
September Gill is hosting an evening (location to be announced)
to raise funds for two little girls in Africa who are orphans. Gill
met the girls when she volunteered for three months last winter at
the orphanage/school in Tanzania where the girls live now – Peace
Matunda. But when they graduate from the school if there is no
money for high school they will lose both their current home
at the orphanage (which is just for public school age children),
and will not be able to continue their schooling.
I am painting two large portraits for the fund raising event,
and one third of the price of the portraits will go to helping pay for
and one third of the price of the portraits will go to helping pay for
the girls’ high school education. Today I started a small version
of the larger painting I’ll do back in Toronto. So this is the
under painting for a little portrait of Mary.
I’ll show you more as I progress.
Have a loving-your-artist-friends day.
I think it's time for me to branch out and try acrylics. You have such a good handle on the medium, I was wondering if you had any tips you could give me? I can't afford to take lessons right now, but I'd like to try them to see if I like using acrylics. Anything I should know before I start?
ReplyDeleteOutstanding color--love the blue light. And of course the sweetness and happiness you bring out in all your subjects!
ReplyDeleteThe beginning looks good (as always) and I am looking forward to seeing it develope.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a wonderful vacation! Love, Liza
Hi Janie,
ReplyDeleteThe main thing is that the paint usually dries very quickly -- so you need to put your brushes back in water the second you stop painting. I would get a few colours and fool around on paper first. Other than that because they dry quickly -- correcting anything in acrylics is a snap. Have fun.
XO Barbara
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteThanks. Of course the blue will (has)
disappear, because it's the underpainting, but maybe I'll bring it back in the final.
The girl is so sweet looking, I feel as if I know her.
XO Barbara
Hi Liza,
ReplyDeleteI am having a fantastic vacation. I wish you could visit sometime and we could walk along the empty beach together. You would do amazing paintings I know.
xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara