Monday, December 26, 2011

Marathoning for art

 Stop a farmhouse!
(work in progress)

watercolour on watercolour paper
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2011
Does it seem to you that I'm going overboard with
the multiples.  Not to me.  Actually the delights
of family, plus a really busy holiday schedule
are getting in the way of my real plans.  Perhaps
those were ambitious.  On second thought they
were.  But I wanted to draw small sketches all
day, and have an art marathon with myself right
up to New Year's Eve.  I should probably never
sleep, because that's when my truly crazy ideas
surface, and I wake up certain that whatever
I imagined is a really, really good plan.

Today I got back on the track of delights of
the year.  Our recent trip to Ottawa was both
great and difficult.  But I took so many
reference photos going through the countryside
on the way there, that I could go on forever
just painting scenes.  One of my favorite
things in Canada is the white farmhouse.  I'd
actually like to build one right in the middle
of Toronto if I had the space and funds.  That
is my ideal house.  Mine would have gingerbread
trim circa 1880, and a wide veranda.  Plus it
would be in my neighbourhood, so I could
still see all of my friends here.

This house as it turns out is an extension on
a much larger stone house.  I still loved it as
I snapped it from the window of our moving car.

Have a following-those-arty-dreams day.
P.S.  I have a couple of details to finish
on this one.  The title is based on what I
say to Steven when we drive by one of
these white clapboard beauties.

6 comments:

Sheila Vaughan said...

Great to see your lovely sketches here Barbara. The black marker pen means you have to make the mark confidentally. I think my favourite is the vase of roses. It reminds me of Matisse.

Melinda said...

Beautiful watercolour, Barbara! I've enjoyed the sketches too. You are an inspiration to keep busy with art no matter how busy life gets around you.

Best of everything to you and yours! Wishing you a fabulous new year as well.

Virtual hugs!

Flora Doehler said...

Barbara, this is gorgeous!!! I love it and it inspires me to want to pull out the watercolours again. Thank you! xoxo

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sheila,

I've been thinking of your comment all day. So right. At a dinner party tonight I told my niece what you said, and as she watched me draw she reminded me to keep a confident line. I love your work. Matisse eh?

Thank you so much.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Thank you. I seem to be having a crazy contest with myself, but then that's okay. I was hanging up clothes tidying my room tonight and wondering, is line as important or as valuable as colour? I love to paint, but when all I can do is draw I do, and I believe all of it is expressive.

Best of everything to you too, and to your wonderful family.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Flora,


You are sweet. Those watercolours will be happy to see you again. You are soooo good with them.

Well there's so much to paint, and so little time. The easel is on the back porch in the snow right now (first snow of the season), and it's waiting for the tree to depart, but that may take a while.

Remember having shows in January. I would have models sitting in front of the tree while I painted. It is possible. But not yet.

xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

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!