Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Gone painting. Wahoo! Miss you.

Untitled (work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas 
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2012
I sometimes feel like my schedule is packed
as tight as a can of sardines.  Sure there are
people who do much more, but you know what
I don't envy them. So when I'm feeling frantic I
try to remember to breathe, and laugh.  (Have you
noticed that you do breathe deeply when you
laugh?)

A couple of years ago when I consulted Alyson Stanfield,
 the Artbizblog writer, she told me to make a list every
 day and carry it with me.  Super advice.  I followed her
advice and it helped. How odd though.  I teach the very same
thing to my students, but was so stressed I'd forgotten
this vital rule.

These days I live by lists and lists of lists, and
lists that evolve from larger lists, and they help
tremendously. 

My marks for the part-time courses I teach are in.
One thing to cross off the list, and a huge sigh of
relief.  I may not blog much in the next few days.
Gone painting.  Oh I'm here if you need me, but that's
what I'm doing, painting, and when I'm not painting,
painting something else, and when I'm not painting that,
painting.  I feel as happy as a seagull riding an airwave
over Lake Erie.

The image tonight is of an early stage of a painting.  I think
I'll be showing you lots of painting stages in the next
few posts.  This model is a favorite of mine -- a really
super young woman.  The painting changes a lot as it goes
along.

Have an enjoying-your-painting day.

6 comments:

Watermarycolors said...

Very beatiful portrait, congrat on your artwork, :)

Melinda said...

What a beautiful start. I hope you are having a grand time painting and living life to the fullest.

Wishing you all the best from here.

Virtual hugs!

Laurel Daniel said...

I love watching your process so I am excited that you are going to show us this one in progress. Great start! It's going to be a beauty! XOXO

Barbara Muir said...

Mari Jose thank you. I'm so glad you like it.

Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Living life to the fullest is an excellent description for painting 24/7. I worked so hard that my hand started to hurt. It was a great feeling. Then we drove to Windsor to pick up Sam at school, and drove back.
Today I slept long and deep.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laurel,

Thanks so much. I'm afraid that time was at such a premium that I didn't take process shots of this one.

I'll remember to do that with my next big one.

Love your work.

XOXOXOXOXOBarbara

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!