Friday, December 11, 2015

Never the same twice -- the artist's life

Snow scene Cherrywood
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2015
This week I've been working on a commission for
a client who really liked a painting that was on my
blog, but was gone.  My job?  Try to recreate that
painting based on photographs.

The house is across the street from me, and I've
painted it many times in different seasons, just
because it's directly in my view.  Artists tend
to paint what they see.  But trying to redo what
we've already done is a completely different scenario.

I know there are whole schools that teach the
fine art of copying,  and people deeply immersed
in every brushstroke of Vermeer, and Bouguereau,
but my job was to try and copy me.  And nothing
ever looks the same way twice.  An artist's quandary.

Still I did have fun trying, and I like this version
better than the original, and that is an artist's
reward.

I hope you enjoy it.

Have a trying-to-walk-in-your-footsteps day.
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8 comments:

  1. Wendy BarrettDecember 12, 2015 at 5:07 PM

    I love the composition and the colours Barbara. I bet the client is very happy with the outcome!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barbara MuirDecember 12, 2015 at 10:20 PM

    Wendy I've started reading your book, and I'm so impressed with you.
    Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments
    in this past year -- they've made me feel wonderful!
    Happy Holiday!

    XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karen BrusonDecember 13, 2015 at 8:52 AM

    I am constantly repeating paintings. Not easy. Yours looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownDecember 13, 2015 at 6:41 PM

    I like this one too! I hope you know that the original is at my porch gallery along with a small selection of your other paintings. Would you like me to send them back to you?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Barbara MuirDecember 13, 2015 at 9:09 PM

    Hi Karen,

    Then you know how it feels. Peculiar, but also fascinating,
    because your view of the world has changed. Boy has mine.

    XOXOXOXO Barbara Love your work.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barbara MuirDecember 13, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    Hi Sally,

    Wow, I wish I could get there, no don't worry about it. I will probably head up to
    Ottawa in January if I am not teaching. I'm glad I did it again.
    I feel better about this one. But if you can sell the other one,
    please do. (How funny!)

    Love your work,

    XOXOXOXO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  7. Verna VogelDecember 25, 2015 at 12:10 PM

    Hi Barbara!

    Those older Toronto houses are so beautiful! I've only made one copy of my own work and boy, that was difficult. You've done a very fine job! Not that I've seen the original *laughs* but this is a lovely sweet painting. The shadows of the tree branches on the roof, that's my favourite bit.

    Merry Christmas!

    :)
    V

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbara MuirDecember 29, 2015 at 9:55 AM

    Thank you so much Verna,

    It was a challenge, but also fun. Lately I've been looking at some of
    my small, older work and instantly seeing what I could
    do to make it work better for me, so this was that kind
    of opportunity. Mostly I find that because I work so much from
    reality, getting a step backwards from that resource lets me
    be more direct with the painting. What a treat.

    Love your work, and have loved your comments throughout the year.

    Happy, Happy New Year to you.

    XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

    ReplyDelete

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