Today's sketch, and another day immersed in art

We'll take the river road

coloured pencil, watercolour pencil
and brush marker

on Canson paper

8.5 x 5.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

The lucky thing about being an artist, is that you get to meet
an artistic community wherever you go.  Thursday evening
we were treated to dinner with the wonderful artist Norene
Smiley and her husband Greg. Here we are sitting in a school
house essentially on an acre just above the bog on the Wallace
River -- you might think not the height of the art world,
but you would be wrong.  Only a short distance away
are amazing artists.

Norene advised us to check out Louise Cloutier's show in
Oxford, and we did after having dinner with the folk
artist, Marilyn Fancey.  Louise has a spectacular solo
show on now, and her partner Richard wrote powerful
poetry to accompany each incredible work of art.

Today I'm showing you a drawing I'm working on -- probably
 finished because I don't have brushes here -- and it's not watercolour
paper, so I'm painting with the watercolour pencil crayons with
a rolled up piece of paper towel, and my finger.  This
can rough the paper up enough that it finally says stop.
We may be at that stage.  I enjoyed thinking about the
feeling of clouds along the river in New Brunswick,
and I may do more tomorrow.

Have a loving what you do day.

The urge to art -- answer -- get drawing!

Along the road

8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches

Pencil crayon and watercolour pencil

on Canson paper

Barbara Muir © 2018

Here's a  drawing I did in the sketchbook I brought with

me on our road trip.  Every bit of the route between Toronto
and the ocean in Nova Scotia was captivating, in every
kind of weather.

This was not a high, blue sky, day -- but it was lovely. The fields
are so spectacular now.  Working in coloured pencils, and Derwent
watercolour pencils -- I drew a soft version of what I saw.

I hope you're having a miraculous end of August.  We are.

Have an enjoying what you see day.

Welcomed home -- our lovely friends in Nova Scotia

Flowers from the heart

Black brush ink on Canson paper

8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

My dear friend down the road opens our school house
for us and cleans it up.  It always has some exciting
animal visitors, and this past winter was no exception.
What is wonderful, aside from arriving late at night
after a 1,165 (1875 kilometers) mile road trip to find the place
clean, is the sweet touches my friend leaves -- little bouquets
of flowers from her garden, and on the back deck,
a beautiful planter.  So sweet.

I had to sit right down last night and draw this
little bouquet.

Have an appreciating your super friends day. 

The feeling of coming home

The fields between

Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2018

Painting is a driving force in my life I realize.  Without
painting I do feel a bit lost.  I'm so happy to finish this scene today
of the fields just inside the New Brunswick border when you
drive out of Amherst, Nova Scotia.  Plus it's a landscape I've looked at
with delight every time we pass it when we're visiting the
Maritimes.  Perhaps that's because clouds love this wide open
space and perform gorgeous miracles for the fields below.

On the way to our school house these fields are a sign that we
are almost there.  A joyous sight after the long, long trip from
Toronto, and our skyscraper views.

Have a loving the work you do day.

Jumping back in -- for the love of portraits

Untitled

Charcoal on watercolour paper

9 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

Tonight I'm showing you a quick sketch I did today for a
finished portrait I'm hoping to do in the next few weeks.
For me a drawing is a great way to figure out what I'm
trying to do.  This sketch could be polished, but instead
I'll probably do another drawing.  I was using charcoal on
watercolour paper, and I may try another drawing on
smooth paper, or a line drawing.

It is very hot in Toronto -- it was 42 Celsius today with
the Humidex, which is 107 Fahrenheit, and way too hot for
we Canadian folks.  So we stayed inside for most of the day
enjoying the air conditioning, and then sat on the front porch
with the animals where it's cooler in the late afternoon.

Have a cooling things down with art day