Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Back to my art group again, and Happy Halloween!


Lillian 
Art Group Sketch
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 16 inches
Barbara Muir © 2018

Hi everyone,

Tonight I went to paint with my art group again.  We had a wonderful
model, Lillian, who in her regular business life (outside of modeling)
travels all over the world, and has lived in the middle east, the U.S.
and for now makes Toronto her home.  She loves travel, and I am with her there.

I find that to be together for model night at my art group, I need prep
the canvas beforehand.  So I gessoed this canvas, and wiped on an
underpainting of blue.  Painting with my group I considered either moving
out of the blue, and painting a more realistic painting,
or staying with mostly blue and mauve.  That seemed to work better
in the short time I had.  I am happy with the mood, and it was fun to do.
Thanks again art group.

Steven in the door ready to hand out candy,
and the Pumpkin Princess hanging over
one of the shutters.  A friend persuaded
me to display her this way.
.
Here's what I was working on for Halloween.  I didn't completely finish what
I'd planned, but she worked out just fine, and may be improved for next Halloween.
She's a pumpkin princess, with wings, and is the antidote to the grim side of
Halloween, that I've never liked, and it seems to get worse each year.
Pumpkin Princess is trying to lighten the mood a bit.  She thinks we need
more fun, and less scary.  Or her creator does.  She's made out of canvas, and
although I didn't finish painting the back, she was sewn together and her wings
were stuffed. Our approach definitely appealed to mothers and fathers with small
children out trick or treating. So much fun!

Have a loving your creative life day.

4 comments:

belindadelpesco.com said...

Lovely portrait, and wonderful colors, and I *love* your pumpkin princess. I hope she flutters good and cheerful vibes where you suspend her cuteness.

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you so much Belinda,

I did an underpainting in blue, and then realized my time was limited so stayed with it.
The Pumpkin Princess was supposed to be stuffed and painted front and back, but
we hung her up over one of our shutters and people quite liked her. It was a super
Halloween.

XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

laura said...

Beautiful portrait, Barbara. I love how you simplify, and capture the essence.
It's so wonderful to have a group to paint with!

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you so much Laura,

I love your paintings. It is great to have a group to paint with. Somehow my decisions
are easy to make with other people painting around me. Plus they are super people --
funny and talented.

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

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!