Here's to the lemons

Memories of California

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

This painting from 13 years ago seems perfect for today.  And the post seems
right too.  I am painting like crazy, framing, making lists, getting ready to
submit my work for the Off The Wall show on Monday, deliver it Thursday and go to the opening next Saturday. 

Here's what I said then: 

"A few years ago (he says he didn't, but he did) my older
son taught me that when you can't have flowers as a centerpiece,
lemons and limes do the trick.  Not only that.  I mean they
are beautiful -- especially in a pretty, antique glass bowl.
But say you get a cold -- a clear possibility in November --
you cut part of a lemon into slices, pop them (three slices)
into a mug, pour in boiling water, add a dash of Cayenne
pepper, and some maple syrup -- and oh boy does that taste
and feel good.

This painting seemed right, because I've used at least four lemons
today, which would be 8 cups of the hot drink described above,
and I am feeling much better.  I was on the edge of a cold,
and may have vanquished it.  Yes!"

That was the story today in 2024 too. I did the painting in response to a
 Carol Marine challenge. She's not doing them anymore.  But I love her
work, and feel like I have learned a lot from her. 

Have a loving your life day.

A feeling of Nova Scotia

 The artists' yellow house
Acrylic on birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © revised 2024

I think this is done.  But I know I've been profoundly affected by the 
artist Mitchell Johnson's incredible videos, in which he paints over
older work -- sometimes as it's framed on the wall. So I may do more.

I like the feeling the painting has now. And it will be in the Off The
Wall exhibition opening next Saturday, November 30 between 2 and
5 p.m. at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto.

I'd love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day.

The excitement of spring

Spring Exuberance

Work in Progress

Acrylic on canvas board

6 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

It was a particularly grey day today. I was grateful to be working on this cheerful
painting. Still a work in progress, but almost there. It reminds me of the force of
spring— how one minute you’re walking through snow, and the next flowers are
taking over every possible space.

I was grateful for our neighbour Bob’s tree out my window today -- still hanging in
with its golden leaves. It’s almost alone now. Many trees are barren.

This painting will be for sale at the Off The Wall show.  Come to the opening at the
Heliconian Cub 35 Hazelton Ave. Admission is free So mark down November 30 on
your calendar between two and five – it’s going to be a party.

See you there.

Have a loving your life day

Work in progress for the Off The Wall

 

Untitled
work in progress
Acrylic on raised birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

Had some fun working on this today.  I am trying not to have a very bad cold, but
I think I do have it.  Positive vibes or not.  So I couldn't run around, and do the 
million things I need to do, and this happened.  A bit of touch up and a few changes
tomorrow, and it will be done.

Have a loving your life day.

The commission goes home

Malia at the beach
Acrylic on canvas
I8 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

(In the excitement I didn't get a 
super photo of the painting, but 
you get the idea! So much fun.
I'll visit the family and get
a better image.)

It was an exciting day today as my painting of Malia as a little girl, (she is
now 14), went home.  It is always a moving moment when you first show
a collector a painting that they've been waiting to see.  Malia's mother,
Carm, came to pick the painting up, and she was quite pleased.  Then
I carried the painting home for her (she lives around the corner) and 
Malia asked to see it.  She says she loves it.  High praise.

So that was a very rewarding experience.  Thanks so much Carm,

Jason, and Malia. Also thanks to Tobias, because it was his portrait as
a young boy for an HGTV program 15 years ago that inspired the idea of the
painting of Malia when she was a child.

Have a loving your life day.

Family fun and more for the Off The Wall show

 

Apples on a plate
Mixed media
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024
Framed

The family art club met today and began a big Happy Holiday poster.  There are stars,
and wreathes and presents, and candy, and cups of hot chocolate, and the poster (a 
banner really) is not finished.  More next meeting.

This is another painting for the Off The Wall show opening on November 30 between

2 and 5 p.m. at The Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto.  I'd love to see you
there. 

Have a loving your life day.

Sunset at La Pocatière

 

Sunset at La Pocatière
Acrylic on birch panel
(framed)

5 x 7 inches unframed

Barbara Muir © 2024

It's Saturday night, and movie watching time in our house.  But before I go -- here is
a sweet painting I'll be showing in the Heliconian Off The Wall Show opening
November 30 from 2 - 5 at 35 Hazelton Avenue. If it's not "on the wall" and you
want it, just ask.  It is framed, so you could take it home, and put it "on your wall." 
Sorry I do get a bit silly on Saturday night.  Happiness and all that you know.

La Pocatière is one of our favourite stops in Quebec on our long 2000 kilometre (1000
mile) drive to Nova Scotia from Toronto every summer. It is beautiful in any weather,
and at any time of day. 

Wishing you a great rest of the weekend.

Have a loving your life day.

Friday madly prepping and looking back

Morning light

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2010

I actually did some of the things on my list today, which felt great. I am
completing paintings, painting edges, naming, signing, making labels and
lists for the Off The Wall show.  It should be overwhelming, but for some reason I was having a super time doing all of this today

Scrolling through an old blog I found this image of the morning light on our bedroom dresser, and I like it.  Not sure if it was sold, or painted over, (that does

happen, usually for good reasons). Still it made me happy just seeing it.

I will post more new stuff in the coming days. Wishing you a great weekend.

Have a loving your life day. 

The Off The Wall Show -- you're invited!

Invitation to the Off The Wall show.

Free admission

Hi Friends,

Here's the invitation to the Off The Wall Show at the Heliconian Club,

35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto.

Admission is free and there will be treats and wonderful coffee. 
People who purchase can have their work wrapped, and take it home
right away, then another work by the artist goes up on the wall!

I am planning to have 30 paintings in the show.  So please come out

and say Hi!  We'd love to see you.

Have a loving your life day. 

Another painting for the Heliconian Club Off The Wall show

Tulips in a silver jug
Watercolour on watercolour paper

5 x 7 3/8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

Here is another painting that I'll be showing in the Heliconian Off The Wall exhibition
I've talked about quite a bit here.  Please come to the opening if you're in town. It's
on between 2 and 5:30 on November 30, at 35 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada. There will be cookies, and lots of art to look at.

I am a big fan of tulips.  As we speak there is a vase of brilliant red tulips in my 

kitchen -- so cheerful as the fall cold comes in.  Don't get me wrong -- I'm a major fan 

of fall and spring.  But it does feel like a happy miracle to have tulips in the fall as the 

leaves begin to vanish, and we need all the cheer we can get.

Have a loving your life day. 

The last of the Nasturtiums

September's bliss

Watercolour and marker

on Arches watercolour paper

6 x 10 inches

Barbara Muir © 2012
(I know it's November. Lol.)

I went into the garden today to pick what I'm pretty sure will be the last
of the nasturtiums, and I am so sorry they are going to probably be
finished tonight if it dips below zero.  They are such a wonderful
flower -- so joyous, so easy to take care of, and you have to pick
them so they will bloom.

So right now our kitchen table is filled at one end with small white
cream jogs boasting very happy nasturtiums.  I have been prepping

paintings, and painting all day.  It was a beautiful day here, and
I enjoyed every minute of it.

Have a loving your life day. 

Remembrance Day

Canada Bereft
One of the sculptures at the 
Canadian National War Memorial
at Vimy Ridge in
France.

This Remembrance Day I feel sorry for all of the people --
soldiers and civilians -- who have died, and continue to die
in wars.  The last time I checked there were 32 conflicts 
going on currently. It feels especially sad that we haven't
learned that wars don't work -- they just kill people.

I think of one of my students in a writing class, when we
wrote journals about a perfect day.  He described a 
perfect day in the war in Afghanistan.  How his division
attacked a village.  He was 19 years old when he joined
the army.  As he was reading in front of the class, he
almost cried shouting, "it's not the Highway of Heroes,
it's the Highway of Murderers," and ran out of the classroom.

As a girl I was an Ottawa School Patrol (school crossing
guard).  We helped people cross the street.  And we got to
go by bus down to the war memorial on Remembrance Day.
We marched wearing our school patrol white belts with the
soldiers and police. We felt so special. I'm glad I didn't
grow up to be a soldier, and my thoughts are with my
student today who did.

Have a working on peace day.

Grateful for my website

 

Some images -- not all on the

website. I need some help
getting it up to date now, and
that will happen in the next couple
of months.  I wanted to 

put a celebratory piece up for you tonight.

This was an incredibly exciting event for
me -- getting a website.  

I first went public with my website on November 3, 2021, and it is a wonderful thing.
People who want to see my work, don't necessarily want to read my blog, and some
people don't want to look at Instagram.  So there it is. https://www.barbaramuir.com
-- wonderfully organized, and a clear way for people to see what I do.

I am over the top grateful to my son Christopher for organizing it, designing it,
and just helping me all the time with my questions about how to handle my sites.
Thank you to everyone who helped me with the website, and to everyone
who has visited it to check out my work, buy my work, and promote me
as an artist.

Have a loving your life day.

Another painting for the Off The Wall show

 

Country sunset

Acrylic on mounted 

birch panel

5 x 7 inches

Barbara Muir © 2024

Here is another painting for the Off The Wall show opening on 
November 30 at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Avenue.
The show is free of course, and there will be delicious treats!
Plus if you want to buy a painting the prices are sale prices --
very reasonable, and you can take the painting home with you
if you buy it!  A super event.

I love the happy mood, colour and texture of this one.  Wishing
you a good weekend. Don't let the news get you down.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband

 You can't keep a good man down

Acrylic ink and acrylic on canvas

36 x 48 inches

Barbara Muir © 2020

We had a very sweet family celebration for Steven today.
His actual birthday was yesterday, but ever since we found
out that his real birthday was November 7, which is our son Sam's
birthday too, we've either celebrated on the 7th, and 8th, or on both.

We discovered when Steven's mother (now gone) was
living in Ottawa, that there had been some mix up when Steven
was born, and his father recorded the wrong date. His mother
explained that the date on his birth certificate was correct.

Our solution?  As Sam's birthday was November 7, and 
Steven had celebrated on November 8 for his whole life,
we kept that tradition

If anyone deserves two birthday days it's this guy -- such
a kind, generous human, and the love of my life.  He 
is the best.  Happy Birthday Steven.

Have a loving the people in your life day.

Happy Birthday Sam

After the Dance

Sam sketch

Acrylic on canvas

30" x 30"
Barbara Muir ©

Today is my son Sam‘s birthday. We are so happy that he was born.
He has been a wonderful person for all of his life, and we wish him
an amazing day today, and a fantastic year!

I’m showing you a painting that I did a while back. Sam was a wonderful
model. I painted all day today again, working on a larger piece And when
I have time on some smaller pieces for the off-the-wall Show. 

Have a loving your life day.

* Computer issues stopped this from publishing yesterday.  Happy
Birthday Sam!

Happy Birthday to my Mother

Isabel Muir

(My mother)

by my son Christopher Muir

Christopher Muir © 

(It took a lot of convincing to

get my mother to pose for

this shot. She didn't

like to be photographed, or

to be the center of attention.

My image is a photo of the photo,

which is why there are reflections

on it, from the glass.)

My mother is dead, and I miss her
every day.

This is my mother's birthday.  I don't believe in heaven, and neither
did she, but she does live on profoundly in our hearts. 

My mother was a gorgeous beauty -- never aware or confident
of that for reasons I will never understand.  Because today would have been
her birthday if she were alive to see it, and I've thought about her
all day.

My mother was brave, resilient and always looked for joy in small
things.  Even blind, with a serious lung disease she asked me to
help her fill out cheques to dozens of charities.  Not large amounts,
but the thought of helping people was uppermost on her to do
list.  I miss her every day, but especially today. She would have been
saddened indeed by today's news, but as always she would have 
risen above, and gone on to keep contributing to people's happiness
in the world, any way she could.

Have a loving your life day! 

Back to my art group

Art Group Sketch
Maybe Work in Progress
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

Tonight was so fun.  With set up, and take down, I might have had 
40 minutes total to paint.  The model was beautiful, and an 
excellent model.  The best.

It's a treat to be around amazing artists, and to see their work.  So
wonderful.  So that was tonight.  I've been painting all day -- it's
break time.

Have a loving your life day.

Small and Beautiful

Flowers for you #2
Acrylic on birch panel
5 x 7 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

A friend urged me to join some painting contests today. I know it’s a good idea.
Right now though I’m working on getting quite a few paintings ready for the
Off The Wall show at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave. in Toronto, opening
on November 30, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. I hope you’ll be there. It's free, and of course
there are treats. Plus the top price for the paintings in the show is $200 and most
of mine will be $100.

That means you could drop into the show, fall in love with a beautiful, small painting,
pay for it, and take home a gorgeous gift for the holiday season. Yes, you can take it
home that day! That’s why it’s called Off The Wall.

I’m really looking forward to this show. I think it’s going to be fun. The work will
be available to be sold at all of the Heliconian events in the month of December.
So if you don’t make it to the opening, there will be a lot of other opportunities
to get yourself a beautiful, small painting. I really hope I get to see you there.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Birthday Sally the dog

Sally the dog

Acrylic on canvas

5 x 7 inches 

Barbara Muir © 2014

It's our dog Sally's birthday.  We will sing to her and give her a
special treat. We got Sally, who turns 12 today at a very sad time
in our lives. Our almost 14 year old dog died that year in
September, and my mother died a couple of weeks later. 

We needed a dog, and visited the Humane Society adoption
Center, and chose Sally.  Well in fact she chose us. She was a skinny
dog lying on a ripped blanket. When I sat down on the floor beside
her cage, she pulled my purse into the cage, and that was that.  Steven
found me sitting on the floor crying looking at Sally, and the rest has been
12 years of loving this beautiful animal.  She no longer looks like this
painting, but she is even more beautiful in our eyes -- her family, and she
loves our family.

Sally was one year old when we got her, and we were her fourth
owners.  Tonight when we sing Happy Birthday to her, she will sing
Happy Birthday to herself, and get two cookies and something good to eat.
In the last couple of weeks we've been worried that she's losing her sight,
and maybe her hearing, but she hasn't lost her sense of fun. 

Have a loving your life day.

Cats on Saturday night

 

Our cats
Monet facing us, and
Fiona facing Monet 
curled up on our dog Sally's bed
Photo

Barbara Muir © 2022

Tonight I was going to talk about the Nasturtiums in the garden -- how it's 5 degrees Celsius
(33.8 Fahrenheit), and how I don't want them to die, as I've been picking them every day
with great pleasure for a couple of months, and they're beautiful. Plus I've painted some
very happy paintings featuring them.

Then as I was thinking this, our cats started vying for the kitchen heat vent. And scrolling through my
photos, I saw this sweet photo.  Our cats rarely cuddle, but they did when we went to Paris
last May, because they missed us, and they might cuddle again because of the cold.
Fiona is 17 (she's the smaller one) and Monet is 3, she's looking very tired in the photo.  

They are super affectionate with us. They love our dog Sally, and they do not like to see us

troubled about anything.  Tonight is movie night, and they will get upset that we are watching 

TV too long (kind of like overprotective parents).  At the same time they'll appreciate the

long, warm snuggles with us on the couch as we watch our movie. They are of course annoyed 

by the cold.  They love sitting on the back porch with us, but not in this weather.  And they don't

 go out without us.

Have a loving your life day.

International Self Portrait Day

 

For David Lobenberg

Self portrait
acrylic on canvas
12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 2009
(I did this portrait for David Lobenberg's

June Paint Off in 2009)

You can read about it here.)

I learned that it was International Self Portrait Day today from the fabulous
portrait artist Jane French, who wrote about it in an Instagram post.

Wondering what to write about tonight -- I thought --Yes! Artists who paint
portraits -- and portraits are some of the subjects I like to paint -- frequently
have no model other than themselves.  So of course I've painted my portrait
more than once during my artistic life. This is one of my favourite self portraits. 
My husband Steven has it hanging above his work desk.

Funnily enough we almost never capture exactly what we think we look
like -- but this one works well for me.  There is a suggestion of a sense

of humour.  And I am grateful to be around kind and funny people 
most of the time.  So yes -- that is a quality I'm glad is there.

2009 was a very big year for me.  Lots of TV, newspaper articles, the
beginning of showing in International Art exhibitions.  And I drew 
Oprah live via Skype on the Oprah Winfrey show, so I also like
this portrait for the time that it captures.

Have a loving your life day.