Sunday, December 17, 2017

Super fun -- and still time to get work to you for your Holiday!


Amy McNeill, Miriam Kaufman and me (Barbara Muir)
 in front of the wall with my paintings. 
Dear friends,

What a year in art! I'm glad it finished off with a lovely and intimate show in a
working artists and artisans' studio.  A great vibe for an exhibition and
excellent company.  Thank you to Miriam (Meej) for organizing the show,
for her gorgeous jewellry, (yes of course I bought a piece!),
and for leading guests on a tour of the space. Thank you to Amy McNeill
for her great ceramics, and cool abstract figurative pieces.  And for her joyous spirit.
We had fun conversations and someone will be the lucky recipient of one of her
holiday stained glass pieces.

Thanks to Gill Cameron, who couldn't be with us this weekend, but whose
gorgeous watercolour work made a beautiful contribution to the show.
Also thanks to Gill for her card display and space for my cards too.  We both
did very well with our packs of note cards.

 I want to thank Daniel Anaka for manning the door and helping people find us.
The Akin Artisans Studios are in a former factory, and Miriam Kaufman's studio
is down an outside walk, and then a bit of a hallway to her door.  More than worth
the short walk.

Thanks to my sweet husband Steven van Schaik, who hung the show for
me with great care and patience, and who was on hand if we needed
him.

And thanks to all our guests, who came out, bought our work, enjoyed
spending some time with us, and made the show a success!

Happy Holidays.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Art Show with Friends -- Great fun!


Me, Miriam Kaufman and Amy McNeill in front of Miriam's wall
of handcrafted jewelry.

Some of the work I have in the show
© Barbara Muir 2017

In Amy McNeill's cool studio with her abstract 
figure paintings.

I was invited by Miriam Kaufman to take part in a dynamic
pop-up show in the studio where she works.  Miriam and
another studio artist, Amy McNeill, Gill Cameron, and I all
set up for a pop-up show on Friday night.

It was great fun, and we decided to leave the work up, and
have another pop-up show and party today between 2 and 5 p.m.

Have a coming to an art show day.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Moving into new colours -- Pink!

Untitled (Work in Progress)
Acrylic on cradled birch wood
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017
What inspired this?  Maybe the Pink Show in California
curated by William Wray, maybe the endless pink
light shows we get by the sea both morning and evening
in Nova Scotia.  Maybe all the stories about women
coming forward and asking for justice.  Maybe I just
wanted to try it.

So I started small, and this is a work in progress.

Have a super pink day!

Monday, December 4, 2017

Dog Love -- I've got it!


Kinney
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017
SOLD ♥ 

I am so grateful to my friends and family who buy my art.
But I have to say this -- painting commissions for family
who pay the going rate is terrifying.  How could I possibly
care more about the outcome?

So I am happy to say that this little doggy, commissioned by my
son for his wonderful girlfriend, went home to a joyous reception.
Whew!  I was sad to see him go, because I'd fallen quite in love with
the dog.  And  since I began work on him, have had great conversations
about dogs, especially dachshunds and David Hockney's paintings of
Dachsunds in Dog Days.  But today the ultimate reward.  My son's lovely
girlfriend was happy with the portrait.  And that's why this painter paints --
to create work that people love.

Have a thanking-your-collectors day.
P.S. Ever since I got the commission -- I've had this song on my
brain.  Who Let the Dogs Out?

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!