In Toronto -- fabulous Halloween

Our porch on a rainy, windy Halloween night.

The canvas pumpkin princess reigns supreme.

She is pinned at the bottom, and

stuffed with newspapers.  We 

recycle the paper.  She goes flat and

rolls up to be put away for next year
when the fun is over. 

Once again I stuffed up our very practical Halloween pumpkin
princess, that I created last year to counter all the extremely
expensive ghost and demon machines in the neighbourhood.
I am championing Halloween's sweet side, which for the kids
in our neighbourhood is the whole thing. (As in candy and then
some.)

So my art for the night is the princess.  It was raining pretty
much the whole night, not very warm, and finally very windy.
But parents braved on with their children and little babies --
the parents dressed up too as Penguins, and Panda bears.

I loved the incredibly wide range of costumes children wore
when they came to the door.  And of course the sound of
Trick or Treat.  Steven carved the pumpkins and I drew the
faces. Our neighbourhood squirrels had eaten most of one of
the pumpkins. That was a delicate carving job for Steven,
to let the pumpkin be part of the celebration, but he managed it.

Have an enjoying the celebrations of the season day.

Happy Halloween -- here's another one I'm working on

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Have to go to bed.  A very early morning tomorrow.  So enjoy this scene.

More about this and about everything on Halloween.  

Have a great day! 

What I'm working on -- a fascinating day

Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017

This painting is about the wonder I feel walking around my own neighbourhood.
Clouds certainly do captivate me, and I get to see them perform their
incredibly awe inspiring and beautiful dance when I go and walk my dog
in the local park.

Much as I love traveling, my own neighbourhood means the world
to me, and makes me want to record what I see.  And surprisingly
some of my scenes of this community's spaces have sold to people
in New York City.

It has been a happy, crazily frustrating, and ultimately very satisfactory
day.

Have a loving your neighbourhood day.

Another ink drawing from the past -- Inktober rules

Phil
black marker on watercolour paper
12 x 9 inches

Another drawing in celebration of Inktober.  I'm prepping for a show

this week -- and it's landscape painting, so the ink portraits I'm

showing you here are from a decade ago, and were portraits of

people attending the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas.  I remember

that this fellow was a great guy, and very cooperative.  I had to draw him

live via Skype at the show, and then produce a more formal drawing

from reference I took in good light via Skype. This was the

final drawing.  He had a great sense of humour, which comes through

here, and I hope all is well in his life.

Have a loving what you do day.

Ode to Inktober

Nicole (the more polished drawing)
black marker on watercolour paper
12 x 9 inches
Barbara Muir © 

Sometimes when we switch modes, it's hard to switch
back.  I am in full painting mode now, and have had
to let my Inktober work fall to the wayside, even
though I may pick it up in another month.  Like
NovemInkber, or DecemInkber.

Here's an image from 10 years ago.  It was for one of
the biggest jobs I ever had -- drawing people live at
the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Luckily I was allowed to do two versions of the drawings.
One was an informal one I did live via Skype while
they sat for me, and the other more polished one, was
the final one from reference I took of the person in
better lighting.

Have an enjoying what you're doing day.

In the studio -- the best place to be

On the easel: Untitled -- Work in progress (early days)

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Some days you get it right.  Today was one of them.
We were off to the market early because Steven was
buying apples for applesauce.  I only like MacIntosh
apples, but I do like Steven's applesauce made from
various varieties.

After some time in the studio, we went out to our favourite
park.  There is a heavy wind and rain warning for tonight,
so we wanted to see the leaves before they were blown/rained off.
The lake (Ontario) was rough with gorgeous high waves,
smashing in 20 foot bursts against the rocks at the shore.  It was
mighty cold, but we went to the pond, which was a bit sheltered
from the wind, and fed the ducks.

Then back home and more time in the studio.  I am quitting
for the night with the sound knowledge that I love
painting and will paint again tomorrow.

Have a doing what you love day.

Wild nostalgia, the blog has the answer

After Breakfast

Black marker on bond paper

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

I spent a good part of the day drawing.  First from a photo

by my father that was very touching of a little girl in
profile, with very dramatic light.  I was almost finished
when I looked at it and realized it absolutely wasn't
working.

Then I worked on a drawing of an artist friend of mine
who lives in Chicago, and after about an hour thought --
you know what this isn't going to do it either.

What gives?  No idea. Huge end of week fatigue for sure.
Lots of obligations, I don't know.  Flipping through my blog
for an image for you I found the one above.  And I found
the message that joy is the easiest choice.  Thank you my
blog, and my normally upbeat self.  Joy is the best choice
if you can choose it, and so much of this day was wonderful,
that that made sense.

So the drawing tonight fits Inktober, though it's about six
years old.  And it's of one of my favourite meals ever --
breakfast in the hotel.  This image is of the table after the
meal -- but that delighted, happy vibe is there.

Have a choosing to have a joyous day.

Throw back Thursday -- a painting of local bounty

The pick of Picton

acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009

Available $200 plus shipping

I was standing in my studio today.  (I've been painting edges, and running errands

and thinking.)  And suddenly I saw this painting on a ledge above the window.

I think my eye is so used to those paintings (there are four small ones there), that

I don't notice them.

But I did today.  And I thought -- how lovely.  Plus it's throw back Thursday!  What

could be more perfect.  The painting is of market tomatoes from Picton, Ontario,

Canada, sitting in a bowl on our kitchen table -- with the strong late day light we 

get at this time of year hitting them. 

They look like an offering to the Gods of Fall -- who it seems are many.  We are

having such a spectacular fall in Toronto this year.  Just over the top gorgeous.

Have a loving your city (or town) day.

Baby Catherine and the too amazing coat

Catherine in the coat and hat

Inktober drawing 

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

When I was a little girl I adopted a family.
Really they adopted me -- because I was told
to go outside all the time, and would be hanging
around the nearby streets with my dog. The long
and the short of it is that a nice family let me
come in and see the baby.  I fell in love with
the baby, and the couple proceeded to have
three more from the time I was seven when
I met them, until I was thirteen when I moved away.

I loved, loved, loved these babies, and before long
I was helping change their diapers, playing with them,
and I was allowed to take them for walks around the
corner to my house and my mother.

My mother was sad about changes in baby clothes,
and snowsuits, and things that tried to make babies
look older than they were.  She was an amazing sewer
and sewed this beautiful coat and hat for one of the children,
Catherine, in a deep rose corduroy (so it would be
washable). The coat had pleats and so much material,
but it was sweet, and Catherine's mother was sure to
let me dress Catherine in the coat and hat if I was bringing
her to see my Mother.

Have a loving your memories day.

More Inktober -- the teenage muse

Moody

Black marker on paper

5.5  x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

The Inktober drawing today is about the sudden change

in the world when a child steps onto the edge of teenage
life.  This can happen as early as 11, but by 13 it's
in full force.

As parents you are no longer right about much.  And
even when you try hard to please your preteen,
you can botch it up.  I was calling this bad hair day.
Because the model is angry about a haircut, but
I think I'll just call it.  Really?  or  Moody.

Have a loving your teenagers day.

A good night for memories -- showing in the Louvre

Left to right Marnix, Rolf Leemeijer, Miranda Brouwers, Hugo and me.

in front of my painting Dream Selfie -- Wonder Water Image #7 

in the 2016 Carousel du Louvre exhibition

Tonight is a big one here in Canada.  We've just had a federal
election, and all of the TV stations are talking about nothing
else.  Plus I taught tonight, which was wonderful, but when
I came home after 10:30 I just wanted to relax.  Yes I voted,
and the candidate I voted for won, so that is good news.

I am loving doing the Inktober drawings for you, but
practically speaking today it just wasn't going to happen.
So one of the things artists need to do in addition to moving
forward, trying new things, learning and loving life, is to
look back on the amazing things that have already happened.

Showing in the Louvre with the EA Editore team the first time
was amazing.  The second time in 2016 was so fun it would be hard
to match the great time we had.  My friend Miranda Brouwers,
who I met when we both exhibited at the Florence Biennale,
was in Paris too, and in the same show.  Plus she brought her
family with her, and Steven and I got to hang out with her
husband Rolf, and sons Marnix and Hugo. It was the best.

That trip makes me yearn for Paris and Europe and my friends
there. So here is a fantastically wonderful art memory.  Thank
you to everyone who made it happen, and thank you to my
collectors who bought the work I exhibited there as soon as
I returned.

Have a loving your memorable times day.

A perfect day in October -- make that Inktober

Loving the new kitten

Inktober drawing

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Here's another Inktober drawing.  I was hoping to show the
kitten the girl is holding, but the page wouldn't let me include
it.  Still I think the look of absolute love you feel holding a
baby animal is there.

It has been the most beautiful day here in Toronto.  After a
week or so of cold, it was so warm that when we went
for a short walk I had to take my jacket off.  I hope you
had a magnificent day.  The trees here are brilliant and
range from the green we're used to, to vivid red, orange and
yellow.  Plus they are luminous in sunshine, and they make
you want to do nothing but stare.

I hope you had a superb day.

Wishing you all that you want in the coming week.

Carolanne -- another Inktober portrait

Carolanne McFarlane

Black marker on paper 

Inktober drawing

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

I don't know what happened to Carolanne.  I can only hope

her life has been great.  I did this portrait from a very
moody photo my father took of her.  I don't know how
he even got the shot because Carolanne was very sunny.

But when we moved away to Toronto I lost touch with
my former neighbours, who were so much fun.

I realized working on this drawing how much my father
loved light.  He loved to make his photos as dramatic as
possible -- and yet they were about everyday subjects --
our neighbours, the scenes we lived with every day, my
mother in the house or the garden.

What I love about the photos that he printed in his
basement darkroom is that the people are very
much alive, even though he only printed in black
and white.

Have a loving what you do day.

More from Inktober -- Friday portraits

Let's talk

black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Mur © 2019

It's been a great day for art.  I worked most of the day
on a painting that is coming along nicely.  And
tonight I drew this Inktober portrait.  So much fun.

I loved something Elizabeth Gilbert said about being
a "celebrant" today on Instagram, and understand that.
I'm working on pieces that celebrate the landscape,
and they're for a climate crisis show  My focus on
seeing how amazing the world is, is my way of
saying, "let's take care of this place."

Have a celebrating each day, day.

Happy afternoon with a major collector

Adriana's celebration

Acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2012

To take a break from Inktober today I’m posting a

painting of one of my top collectors who I
visited today. I've had the honour of being
like a family portrait painter for her. And
there is a new personality joining that group.

Over tea and delicious cookies we discussed the current
planned piece, which should be fun. And she
said I could take a photo of a portrait I love that I did of
her.

All in all a wonderful time, and a mood of
delightful anticipation.

Have a planning for joy day.

The 16th of Inktober -- Portrait time

Bibby's new dress

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

What I love about Inktober is the challenge of trying to
draw something -- if not every day, as often as possible.
Today it's a portrait, and I enjoyed thinking about texture
in terms of line, very different from painting, although
many of my favourite painters' portraits begin with
a detailed line drawing on the canvas.

The portrait tonight is of a little girl who just got a new
dress.  I could keep going with the portrait and fill in all
of the pattern and texture of the dress, but I felt like
her expression mattered the most, and it's all there.
What a treat to draw.

Have a loving your work day.

The sunny side of life -- Inktober

Manu in sunlight

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

It was another beautiful day today, and this
portrait based on one of my father's super
photographs goes along with that.

I'm hoping that our garden flowers will make it
through another chilly night.  The anemones are
absolutely magnificent and it will be a definitie
loss of beauty when they're gone.

I am a fan of Inktober whether I'm doing it
properly or not, because I continue to work
on a bigger piece and it's still not finished.
To be able to show you something new makes
me feel wonderful.

It is a very fast paced world now, and the
time and care that goes into more painstaking
work doesn't fit the model of immediacy.
But drawing does, and I am delighted that
it does.

Have an enjoying all that you do day.

A day of joy -- Happy Thanksgiving

A line on roses

Black marker on Moleskine paper

8 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2015

Today was the actual Canadian Thanksgiving Day.  We had
our celebration with the family on Friday, and decided we'd
have a special treat tonight at one of our favourite restaurants.

It was a beautiful and very cold day.  We sat on the back porch
watching the wasps who would otherwise be interested in us,
devour the maple syrup we'd put out for them.  Watching
them was mesmerizing and very relaxing, and we could have
watched the crew of about 14 come and go, and jostle for
position.  But we had places to go.

So we went down to the lake.  It was magnificent there -- big
sailboats anchored in the bay, blue water sparkling in the sunlight,
children playing under the trees, couples in love (like us), a
woman running by talking to her mother on the phone through
headphones and telling her that some of her behaviour caused
tension.  Seagulls floated in the air about us and we were as happy
as can be.

Then tonight we dressed up and went out for dinner.  It is supposed
to be very cold tonight so I cut lots of flowers from the garden and
brought them in -- now the kitchen looks so festive.

The roses in tonight's drawing, could be an Inktober drawing but
I did it four years ago.  To me roses are celebratory, and although
we don't have any at the moment we have a lot of garden flowers.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.  October in our family is packed
with celebration.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Thanksgiving

The only important message on this weekend here in
Canada is Happy Thanksgiving!  Families and friends
all over the country have spent the weekend gathering
together to express our gratitude for the bounty of
the harvest, for each other, and for the planet.

I love Thanksgiving because it includes everyone.
It is not about religion, it's about gratitude for what
we have, and sharing a meal with the people we
care about.  There are no gifts other than food and
good company.  It is a wonderful holiday.

I am taking a break today, so for now best wishes for
a very happy day on the last day of this long weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving.

So grateful for artist friends and our community -- an art weekend

Me with the artist Jennifer Hinrichs and her

beautiful work The River, (see below).

The River

Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches

Jennifer Hinrichs © 2019

On Thursday night we stopped in at the Aird Gallery in its

new location at 906 Queen Street West.  My friend Jennifer Hinrichs
had a piece accepted into their juried show Paint which runs until
November first.  The gallery was packed both with paintings, and
with eager art lovers -- always a treat to see.

It's a wonderful show, so if you can make it, go and take a
look.  The gallery is in the basement of the building, and they are
hoping to expand.   It's in a great area with lots of restaurants and
all of the good things the city offers.

Jennifer's piece River makes you want to do what the young girl
in the painting is about to do -- find some water to swim in
and jump in.  Oh for summer!  It's cold tonight and the thought
of a hot summer day is a treat.

Today we went to the Art Gallery of Ontario, had a delicious lunch
in the Member's Lounge, and went to see the Rubens exhibition.  I
loved the quote they had on the wall, and thought "right on Rubens
 -- good attitude!" Rubens said, "I confess that I am by natural instinct
better fitted to execute very large works than small curiosities.  Everyone
according to his gifts; my talent is such that no undertaking, however vast
in size or diversified in subject, has ever surpassed my courage."  He
wrote this in a letter to William Trumbull dated September 13, 1621.

I'm not fond of his paintings of sad religious images with figures lying
in agony bleeding, but I do love his portraits and needless to say, the man
could really paint. And size did not scare him.  He was telling the truth.
Some of the works are very large in scale.

Home to my own humble studio, and time with the family again.
We went for a walk in the park, and enjoyed the art of the natural
world, and the beautiful moon tonight.

Have a loving art, and a Happy Thanksgiving weekend day.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving -- the gift of family

Today's flowers from the garden

Watercolour and black marker on 

watercolour paper

6 x 9.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

Tonight we had Thanksgiving dinner with our growing
family.  The youngest person at the table was two
months old, and no she did not have turkey.  It
was a delicious meal and wonderful fun.

At one point a song played that my mother had
especially loved, and I suddenly wished so badly
that she could have been here to watch her family
laughing, dancing and singing.  My mother
died on (Canadian) Thanksgiving Day six years
ago.  I'm putting this painting up because it was the
first painting I created after she died. For me the painting
was the beginning of the possibility that I would
ever feel joy again.

And of course I have.  I am lucky to be a happy
person at heart.  And I am blessed to have a joyous,
loving family, and very grateful for that.  Most
Canadians will celebrate later in this long
weekend, but tonight was the only time our
whole crew could meet.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Inktober -- My mother's sewing -- my father's art

Cutting a pattern

Black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

In some ways in a family of artists my father was the most

prolific.  He had a very serious period as a photographer in
black and white images that he printed himself in his dark room,
and could have easily gained fame from the quality of those
photos.  Plus he was a pretty good, self-trained painter.

I based today's Inktober drawing on a wonderful photo of
my mother cutting gorgeous fabric -- perhaps for a dress.
As I've been thinking about Botticelli, and Florence, I
think the link here is that the fabric was no doubt Italian,
and perhaps Florentine.

My parents went to Italy for six weeks when I was a girl,
and left us with a woman, who might have been a drunk, but was
certainly mentally ill.  Children were too much for her.
She waited on the front lawn all day the day my parents
were expected to return.

The fact that my mother's great grandmother was Florentine
was never discussed in our family.  A cousin of my
father's was into family tree information, and found that
out to my great delight.

I learned how to sew very well from my mother, but have
not continued that skill.  As for my mother -- she could,
and did make anything.

Have an enjoying your story day.

10 reasons to be happy

Untitled (Work in Process)

Acrylic and acrylic ink, and 

marker on canvas

11 x 14 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2019

I took a little break from Inktober today, although the painting I'm
showing you started with an ink drawing on canvas. 10 reasons to
be happy -- is an exercise I used to do with my psychology class,
and it always created a great mood. We need that right?

1.  I talked to some wonderful artist friends today, and
exciting plans are in the works!

2. Toronto has declared a Climate Emergency.  I
know that sounds like a bad thing, but it isn't.  It means
that the city is recognizing Global Climate Change, and we
may begin changing how we do things as a city. Terrific news.

3. I had time to work on my larger painting today.

4.  I did some work on the painting I'm showing you
tonight, which is a work in progress.

5. I sat on the front porch with Steven when he came home
from work, and we watched the magical end of day light
in our neighbour's golden leafed tree.

6. It was Steven's turn to make dinner, and dinner was
delicious.

7.  We are having Thanksgiving dinner with our family, which
is wonderful.  I love Thanksgiving.  (This is the Canadian one,
which is about the harvest.)

8. The Fall Blooming Anemones in our garden are hanging
in even though it's been super cold at night.  They are eight
feet high and a beautiful cloud of white flowers.

9. Even though our entire street is under construction, I got
a parking space in front of our house!

10.  You make me happy every day, and I'm so glad I know
you, and that you comment on my blog, and make me feel
like I'm part of a community.

Have a finding reasons to be happy day.

Thinking about Botticelli -- carry on Inktober

Drawing of Botticelli's Madonna of the Veil

black marker on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Today was a great day for painting.  I got clearer on
where I'm going with the piece I'm working on, and
that felt wonderful.  It is not ready to go public, so
I turned to my very old friend Botticelli, and
did a drawing of his Madonna of the Veil.

The drawing in no way reflects how amazing the
painting is. I love how Botticelli creates such
beautiful halos, and that they slide over the rest of
the world, taking precedence.  Still I had fun doing
the drawing, and I think the care required working
with ink, is making painting seem relatively easy.

Have an enjoying learning day.

More Inktober -- the gift of empty time

Reading in the studio

Ball point pen on paper

5.5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

There I was sitting a test.  Normally so frustrating, because

there are two hours with nothing to do. But today I brought
the start of a drawing and kept working at it.

Once again it's in a very fickle ballpoint pen's offerings.
The pen kept quitting and quitting, but ultimately I am
very happy with where the drawing ended up.  I may
try and take a better photo of it tomorrow.

Meanwhile have a wonderful day, and thank you
Inktober for making drawing one of my priorities.

Have an enjoying your time day.

Visitors, nature and cat birthdays

Gabrielle Fischer Horvath, Director Catch the Moments

Gallery and studio visits my studio.

Today I was delighted to have Gabrielle Fischer Horvath,

come for a visit.  Gabrielle is an amazing sculptor, and the
art director and curator at Catch The Moments gallery in
Niagara Falls.  We had a lovely time over coffee, and talked
about possible plans for the future.

After Gabrielle went on to her next appointment, my son Sam and
his girlfriend Emily dropped by, and we talked about art
(Emily's -- see my blog about her work) some more.

The wasps devouring maple syrup and

leaving their human hosts alone.

Meanwhile on the back porch the wasp invasion was nicely
controlled by a dish of maple syrup.  Make that at least three
dishes of maple syrup with refills, and we could sit out happily
and observe them without fear of being stung.  They had no
interest in us.

Tonight we celebrated (two days late as they pointed out)
the cats' birthdays.  Timbah and Fiona have birthdays on
the same day.  As far as I can determine Fiona just turned
12 and Timbah turned 15.  Wow.  Time goes fast with
animals.  They were treated both to our singing Happy
Birthday with an extra chorus by Sally the dog, and to
a special dinner featuring sardines along with their
regular food.

Timbah gets a birthday song, and

sardines (a special treat).

Fiona gets a birthday song, and sardines too.

Fiona wants the birthday candle to accompany

her while she eats.  After all it is her

birthday, so she gets her wish. And

sardines -- a very special treat.

So all in all it was a very full and joyous day.

Wishing you a joyous day.

Portrait of a beautiful day

Self portrait of a very happy me

Ball point pen on paper

5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

It was a stunner of a day -- very beautiful.  I am feeling better, and

was well enough to make a fast trip to the market with

Steven.  The farmer friend at the market gave me pickles because

apparently they're good for the immune system, and his were

soooo good (he's a chef). 

Then we sat on the back porch relaxing watching wasps devour 

the little bowl of sugar and water I'd left out.  I read somewhere

that that keeps them away from you if you want to sit outside

at the height of their interest, and it worked big time.

The back porch is always hot on a hot day, and so it was delightful

on a cool, sunny day.  And the rest of the day was equally lovely. 

Have a very happy day.

Inktober -- favourite café in the MoMA

Lunch at the MoMA

black marker on French drawing paper

5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

What I love about this Inktober practice is the ability
to draw what catches my fancy.  I've been looking for
an image of this amazing bouquet for a few days now,
and finally found it.

This was an absolutely striking bouquet of brilliant
pink flowers set against dark green leaves, in a high
white glass vase.  Astoundingly beautiful, and I have
not done it justice.

What I always loved about the photo was the surprisingly
sulky woman in one corner.  I think I've made her a little
less sulky, and seeing it as a drawing, I think it might
make a good painting.  But for now.  A friend of mine
(and I can't remember which one) met the guy who does
these bouquets in the MoMA and the Met in New York
city.  And that friend watched him do a demo, which
I would love to see.  Because some of the many things
that made me fall in love with New York City were
the enormous and elegant flower bouquets in those two
art museums.

Have a loving flowers day.

Inktober continues -- more Madonna and friend Franco

More work on the drawing of 

Botticelli's Madonna of the Pomegranate

for Inktober

Black marker on paper

5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019

Today I was trying to take it easy as suggested by my

doctor.  I have been fighting what is thought to have been
pneumonia for a month, while continuing on with
my regular life, painting, teaching, being in art shows.
Apparently I have no symptoms left, but need more
rest. And I've been told to chill.

So today's efforts are a continuation of my work on
the drawing of the Madonna of the Pomegranate,
and a fast sketch of my friend Franco Mbilizi from
a selfie he took lying on the grass with his dog.
The dog was too hard for today, but I tried to
capture Franco.

Franco the Creator

Black marker on paper

5 x 8.5 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Don't worry Franco.  Send me another selfie and
I'll draw you again.   I did have fun working on both,
so I think that's what the doctor ordered.

Have a doing what you love day.

Inktober -- drawing a Botticelli

Drawing based on Botticelli's Madonna of the
Pomegranate
Pen on white drawing paper
Barbara Muir © 2019

I don't know if I can commit to producing an ink

drawing every day -- which is what Inktober is
about.  But going through my files today looking for
something to draw I came upon a photo I took
(in Florence I believe) of Botticelli's Madonna of
the Pomegranate.

I worked on it for quite a while.  She's complicated,
and all about colour and form.  And this is a line
drawing, but I enjoyed myself, and that's the main
thing.  I'm not big on copying the masters.  But I
learned so much about what Botticelli was doing
from staring at a photo of the work so long.

If I continue on in Inktober now and then, I may try and
finish this drawing.  I am not religious at all, but I
loved the mood of this piece.

Have a drawing for Inktober day.

Progress is happening

On the easel Untitled (work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Everyone I know is talking about the environment,

discussing solutions, sending suggestions about how

to behave, what to do, what not to do, and how to

vote.  In Canada our federal (national) elections are this

month and the environment is front and center.  

I am working (very slowly) on a painting for the Four

Seasons show at the Heliconian Club  next month, which 

is focused on the climate change crisis we're living through. 

It's one of those paintings that takes a long time, but gets richer,

and more vibrant the more I work on it.  And today it is

starting to become clear to me where I am going -- step,

by step -- to get to the big picture. (Well 30 x 30 inches -- so

not small).

Have a taking care of the planet day.