Friday, December 17, 2021

Some of my heroes -- the next three things I learned in 2021


Happiness
Acrylic on Birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2014

2021 has been another tough 12 months.  Does that go without saying? Maybe
not.  One thing is for certain -- the people who care about you and help you
while respecting your social distance, wearing masks, getting their shots are
up there on my hero list. So here are three people who have taught me the value
of kindness all over again this year. This means I'm up to 2003 things I learned this year.
18 to go!

Raylea Lambert
A huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to Raylea (pictured above) for trying to make
sure I go for walks.  Raylea is kind beyond measure, and as often as possible
during the week through this strange up and down world of 2021 has 
gone on walks with me and her dog, Ginger.  My own dog has pulled
me and actually helped me get a concussion a couple of times, so
I usually walk with her with Steven. These walks with Raylea have been
a glorious treat for me. Thank you Raylea.


Chris and Steven putting
up
Breakfast in the Hotel

Petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel
when it was on display at
St. Clair Printing and Graphics 
Acrylic on canvas
6 ft. x 8 ft.
Barbara Muir © 2012

Chris Chan, at St. Clair Printing
Chris is amazing, funny, and a wonderful printer. As an artist, unable
to sit with other artists and draw from the model during this bizarre
time - Chris's wonderful prints of my reference photos have helped
me to keep inspired, and keep on working. I am immensely grateful
to him.  He asked me not to write this, because he doesn't want to be
so famous! 

Sally the dog
Acrylic on canvas
5 x 7 inches 
Barbara Muir © 2014

Siobhan Mulcahy
Speaking of our sweet dog, another huge thank you goes out to Siobhan
Mulcahy, who walks our dog Sally with a pack of other cheerful dogs three
times a week, during the work week. This makes our dog happy, and much
easier to live with, and that is wonderful. 

And to everyone out there who makes our lives happier, thank you
to the maximum, maximum. Have a making peoples' lives happier day.

2 comments:

Evelyn Oldroyd - painter said...

Wonderful neighbour and such a warm beautiful painting. And the large painting in 4 panels! Love it. Do you find it easier to work from a print than a screen?
I thank you for making my life happier with your posts. Good reminders to be grateful and happy with what we have right now and all the good people in our worlds. 🙏🏻❣️❣️❣️

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you so much Evelyn,

She is a wonderful neighbour. It all depends. I find it easiest to work
from life, when the person, or objects are transmitting directly to me, but
my printer makes lovely prints, and they are inspiring. I send him the photos
I'm thinking of working with and I get them the same day, sometimes in half an hour.

Thank you for making my life happier with your beautiful art. Yes we need to be
grateful. We were 7,800,000 in line online today for the booster, and went to a drop in clinic, and were in and out because we got there half an hour early, in half an hour. It was like a miracle. Stay safe, and stay healthy.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO 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!