No Contest -- Nature Wins
Acrylic on Canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2016
(This is a corner in Amherst, Nova Scotia,
and the edge of a parking lot. I was
asked to do something urban with
my clouds. And this is it. It could
be a corner in a suburb anywhere in
Canada really. )
You know how you think your life is going to be?Do you? You fall in love, learn how to do something
to make some money, do your job and have your kids,
and that's it. All that is beyond wonderful, when it
works, and I have been really over the moon lucky,
because like the Facebook one liners say -- love IS
what matters. I am well aware that life can be hard
as hell, and I've been there too, but I think it's important
to welcome the happy dance when it comes your way.
What they don't say is that life can just get more and
more amazing, and richer, and funnier, and more
delicious and delightful, and you can get more friends,
and if you leave the job that was there forever, but
started to wear thin, new stupendous opportunities
can fly in to dazzle you. No I haven't been drinking --
just milk (seriously -- oh and tea at the Art Gallery
of Ontario -- but what an amazing week.)
I got my painting finished for the Scape show (landscapes)
at the Super Wonder Gallery -- with a love blast,
overwhelmingly, marvellous interruption in the process
in the final hours of our lovely granddaughter being
born -- perfect and gorgeous.
Alice with her Dad
How I ever went back to the easel is beyond me,but I did. Whew.
Me with In the City,
at the Scape show this weekend
on until February 4th between 2 and 8 p.m.
(This is the painting inspired by a
Howard Wolinsky photo.)
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2016
Two openings later, and yesterday an afternoon withAlice Isabel Vincett Muir and her mom and dad, and
we are exhausted today, but filled with a giddy joy.
(Were you picking up on that?) As there were other
visitors to the baby today we visited the Art Gallery
of Ontario, and saw the Turner show again. We also saw a
super Stella, a Claes Oldenburg hamburger, Paul
Peel's beautiful work, a Monet, and a Gaugin.
Tonight I'm planning my work for next month's show,
so that's all for now. Whew. I'll keep you posted.
Here's the show invite, in case you missed it. It's a great show,
check it out if you're in town.
Have an enjoying-the-happiness-life-gives-you day.
16 comments:
Barbara I just love your blog!
Congratulations on a new grandbaby, she does indeed look gorgeous and perfect!
And your work, too, is lovely. Those crazy massive clouds/sky above the suburbs... mostly suburbs are viewed as quite mundane but you have brought out the beauty - again!! Congrats also on your work in the show, if were in town I'd definitely check it out :)
p.s. Turner is one of my favourite artists of all time! We just watched the movie "Mr. Turner" and found it excellent.
love,
:)
V
I love your paintings, but perhaps even more I love the news of your precious grand-daughter. What a miraculous time for you all. I'm giddy for you!
XOXO Nicki
Omigoddess, Barbara!!! I turn my back on you for.. what? a year? two?.. and look at what you're up to! Fantastic!!!! Oh please say that we're going to work out being in the same place at the same time someday so I can wrap my enthusiastic arms around you and hop in place while hollerin' YaHOOOOO! Please that that!
WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO! Oh, the wonderment and joy!!! Congratulations on your new, sweet, perfect, gorgeous, little one! All my love to all of you!!! XOXOXO
Hi Verna,
Thank you so much. Alice is totally perfect. And as for the painting of course the clouds do show up the suburbs. In this case drive about 2 kilometers and you're in farm country, and another 10 or so and you're at the ocean. So I have a fondness even for the classic Canadian intersection with all the identical architecture when it's so close to everything else I love. Love your work!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Hi Nicki,
Thank you so much. Yes we are pretty giddy here. Super big news, kind of like the clouds overshadowing the burbscape. This is the real deal -- Huge.
Love your work so so much, and of course you've inspired me.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Hi Susan,
Well there sure would be some hollerin' going on eh? That would be
lovely. We traveled a lot last year, and I'm not sure if that's in
the cards this year. But if you get within shouting distance of this
town, let me know! Sure enough YAHOOOOO!
Love everything you do.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Hi Laurel,
I can't imagine what it would be like to have two of these
little ones on different sides of the continent. I am so glad
this little girl is close by. Thank you soooo much.
WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO Indeed!
Love your work to the max.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Wow, Barbara what a dazzling post! Your blog is positively dripping with joy. Congratulations on your new granddaughter - what a thrill - no wonder you are giddy with excitement! Gorgeous photo of her with her daddy!
Your last two paintings are absolutely divine - you are the queen of the cloudscape! I am a real cloud aficionado and I think your paintings celebrate them in the manner they deserve.
XOXOXOWendy
P.S. Meant to say...what a stunning photo of you alongside your amazing painting!
Hi Wendy,
You always make me feel like a million dollars (American not Canadian ;-)!
Thank you I am happy to be Queen of the cloudscape, whereas you are Queen
of all subjects. You must be absolutely delighted with yourself.
Wow! I have not yet taken my photo with the book. I'll try to remember
tomorrow. It has been a bit wild around here simply painting full time.
I have a show in March, in April and probably in May.
It's like I was set on fire by your book!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
P.S. Thank you again Wendy. I have a friend who wants to see the scale
of my work. You are beyond sweet.
Hi Barbara,
What a great post --best ever. I love the photo of Christopher with Alice Isobel Vincett Muir! My gosh, he looks like a baby himself, what a cutie! your baby!
The cloudscapes are totally inspiring. You must be up in the clouds yourself. It really does seem that way. I feel as though I'm imbibing some of your elation all the way from Hamilton, it spilleth over!
Much much love to you and your wonderful family,
Marcia
Hi Marcia,
Well of course he is my baby and he is a cutie. Isn't she darling, and of course
now she's a whole week older and studying Latin and Tap.
I do love clouds. And it is a treat to paint them -- all the human effect below
is major work, but worth it to set the clouds off as the overwhelmingly awesome visual treat that they are for me.
I am very happy, and will be stuck to my studio for some time I think. Super way to not even know that -- OMG it's February.
XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
Beautiful painting! And a beautiful joyful love filled post.
So incredibly delighted for you Barbara, having a granddaughter is a very special privilege.
great painting Barbara! Big ones are awesome! Congrats again on your darling little grandaughter, what a joy she will be to you. xo
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