Wednesday, January 25, 2012

What's up?

 Jesca (Work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2012 
Wednesday is another long day for me.  On my break
I went to a nearby mall and walked for an hour. Then
I downed a Starbucks coffee, wondering why it tastes
so good when a barista makes it, and not quite as punchy
when I make it at home.  But I was revved enough, that I
taught my class, drove home and worked on this
portrait of a little girl named Jesca.  She's an African girl
and an orphan who needs help to be able
to go to high school.  The orphanage where she now
lives is a school that can only help the children
until they reach high school age.  So for high school Jesca
needs sponsors to raise the $8,000 her high school
education will cost.

I'd meant to finish this painting for the show I had
in the fall with Gill Cameron, who is trying to raise
funds for Jesca, and another little girl, Mary,
but it was an insanely busy fall and I didn't have
time.  So now I'm going to get it done.

I wanted to wait until it was getting there before
I showed it to you.  For me a portrait is starting
to come together when I start to talk to the
person in the painting.  That may sound crazy,
but I'm willing to bet that other portrait painters
say the same thing.  Unless she feels present, she
has no chance of being lively.  So she's beginning
to feel present to me.  There are many things I'm
working on in the portrait, and I'll let you see my
changes as I go along. At this point I'm painting the
painting for me, so I have no idea whether it will
help contribute to the charity or not.

Meanwhile thank you to everyone who made this
day a great one.

Have a-getting-along-and-enjoying-your-life day.
at

14 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2012 at 3:30 AM

    Hi Barbara,
    It's a lively and beautiful portrait.

    Cheers,
    Josephine

    ReplyDelete
  2. cohen labelleJanuary 26, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    cBarbara- this portrait is filled with life and expression – I can’t imagine how you can improve upon the vitality it already exudes!!!
    love, Marcia

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sheila VaughanJanuary 26, 2012 at 7:43 AM

    Dear Jesca - let's hope she gets there. I'm off to Ethiopia again in about ten days. Great painting full of life and colour.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fay TerryJanuary 26, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    This portrait has so much charm and I look forward to seeing it finished( but it looks finished now). I am enjoying my subscription to your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  5. MelindaJanuary 26, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    This portrait is really starting to pop! Yes, I see that you are connecting with your subject and your good work shows.

    Wishing her all the funds and support she needs to complete her education. Hoping she has very good people to stand by her too.

    I'm so glad you're doing this work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Marilyn FlaneganJanuary 26, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    How wonderful that you and your friend are doing this. This young lady looks as though she's bubbling over with determination and promise.

    I talk to my portraits too - and why I finish the eyes first.

    : )

    ReplyDelete
  7. Barbara MuirJanuary 27, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Josephine,

    Thanks so much. She looks like a lively girl.

    Love,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbara MuirJanuary 27, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Marcia,

    I guess I just want to refine it some, or add in more background.

    Love,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  9. Barbara MuirJanuary 27, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    Hi Sheila,

    I just finished reading Cutting for Stone, set in Ethiopia. Wonderful book. I hope she gets there too. This girl is in Tanzania

    Have a great trip.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  10. Barbara MuirJanuary 27, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    Hi Melinda,

    Thanks so much. I'm glad you like it. At the moment I'm just doing it for me. But it may get shown to help Gill's campaign to help Jesca. I don't know. We'll see when it's finished. It's making me happy just doing it for now. Process and all.

    Hope all is well with you.

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

    ReplyDelete
  11. Barbara MuirJanuary 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM

    Hi Marilyn,

    Thanks so much. And the eyes in your paintings are so wonderful. I don't always finish the eyes first, and if I do I often have to relocate them.

    I wish only good things for this beautiful little girl. Maybe that's what my painting is now -- a wish.I don't know how the painting will be used, or even if it will, but I'm working on it.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  12. Barbara MuirJanuary 27, 2012 at 6:03 PM

    Hi Fay,

    I thought I'd responded to you, but instead I'd gone on your blog. Lovely work.

    Thanks very much. I'm so glad you like it.

    XO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  13. NickiJanuary 27, 2012 at 9:42 PM

    It's beautiful Barbara. I hope Jesca gets to go to school. If I was rich she'd be going in a heartbeat.

    XO Nicki

    ReplyDelete
  14. Barbara MuirJanuary 28, 2012 at 3:51 PM

    Hi Nicki,

    I hope so too. Me too. There is another little girl. I have some ideas, but I think I'll finish their portraits first.

    Love your work.

    Love,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts and positive comments make my day. Thank you for stopping by.