Surprises past and present -- such a delight

Kitchen study
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

I'd forgotten that I ever did this sketch, and I love it.  That is

one of the many sweet things about blogging.  Your memories

are there, and vivid.  I know this sketch was a preparation for

a portrait I did of a young neighbour who was funny, intelligent,

a superb helper to me, sometimes styling my house (my

studio) as best she could before the TV cameras came in, which

for awhile around the time when I painted this, felt like often.

Tonight I taught my once a week evening class, and one of my

students asked me what I write about if I don't have any ideas.

Elizabeth Gilbert wrote on Instagram about her time alone over

the past two weeks, and said she's never alone because there is

always so much going on in her head.  I feel the same way --

not that I'm at all in Gilbert's league, but if I was thinking more 

clearly I would have told my student that ideas are not the problem.  

In the blog post where I found this piece I wrote about the rules

about art and how they irritate me.  Local art university students

here are frequently told that they're not real artists, and 11 years ago, I

said that anyone who draws, paints, sculpts, take photos, and

whatever other art form you want to mention, is an artist.  When

a child picks up a paintbrush and paints for the first time, that

child is an artist.  Snobbery around art makes me annoyed.

Georgia and Me at one

of her shows last year.

The painting is Happiness

and it is mine!  I love Georgia's

work in every capacity.

It's late, I'm tired, it was an exciting and excellent class.  The fabulous 

Georgia Fullerton, associated with Durham College, The Robert McLaughlin

Gallery and an amazing artist, and therapist, dropped in to see

how I teach.  She approved.  Woo Hoo!  A very happy night.

Have a loving what you do day.