Sunday, March 2, 2014

Starting a big one -- the kindness of strangers

 
 Untitled (Work in Progress) Stages 1 and 2
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014
I am excited about beginning a large work -- one of
three that I'll be showing together later this spring.
The model for this painting was a woman I met at
the Art Gallery of Ontario on Tuesday.  I spent
a wonderful couple of hours there looking at the
Canadian art I love and going througn The Great
Upheaval exhibit.

The day felt like a gift, and one of the reasons was
this lovely woman holding a beautiful new baby.
I have a soft spot for the look of a new mother
and baby, and this woman radiated that sweet
new love mothers have for their babies.

I had to ask her if I could take her picture.  All
I had was my phone, and when she agreed I
snapped off a few shots and gave her my card.
The baby's name is Daphne -- a lovely name.
And so this painting begins.  The woman who
is delicate and petite in real life is much larger
here on this 3 x 4 foot canvas.

This is a very early stage, so a lot could change.
But thank you Daphne and Daphne's mother.
I love the blanket with the stars, which I'm
sure will tie in with one of the other paintings
in the triptych.


Have an enjoying-the-kindness-of-strangers day.
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6 comments:

  1. cohen labelleMarch 3, 2014 at 10:10 AM

    Hi Barbara,
    This already has a wonderful quality to it, I love the design, the stars in the fabric, the way the mother hugs her baby to her - I know this will be another magnificent portrait.

    love, Marcia

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  2. Barbara MuirMarch 3, 2014 at 11:22 AM

    Thanks so much Marcia,

    I am excited about it. I plan to hold onto that feeling, and your kind comment will help me do just that.

    When people offer to let you photograph them at random it is such a gift. She has my card, so I hope she looks me up and watches as this painting progresses.

    Love,

    Barbara

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  3. UnknownMarch 4, 2014 at 5:26 AM

    exciting be starting a biggy. i look forward to seeing it develop

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  4. Barbara MuirMarch 4, 2014 at 8:23 PM

    Thanks so much Sally.

    It is really exciting.

    XOXOXO Barbara

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  5. lauraMarch 5, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    I have to second what Marcia said: great design ... Love the big blocks of color. Looks very intriguing as it is now, but I look forward to seeing you develop it!

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  6. Barbara MuirMarch 5, 2014 at 7:02 PM

    Hi Laura,

    I am slowly planning a triptych. Huge. So I am inching away along deeply influenced by recent reading I know. This could change and change again. But that's fun too.

    Love your work.

    XOXOXO Barbara

    ReplyDelete

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