Wrapping it up

Aren't we lucky!
(work in progress)
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

I think (and I can't be sure) that I'm finished my newest painting for the 
Art of Celebration, my solo show at the Heliconian Club, opening this
coming Saturday -- April 5, 2025 from 2 - 5 p.m.  Looking at it I of course
see things that need changing. Maybe. New picture coming. Lol.

So it's coming together. Now for more list making, checking, packing,
planning.  Some of you (many of you) have done solo shows and
know there is a lot to do, and it's easy to feel like you're behind.
So with your kind inspiration I am staying positive.

Whew -- getting there. I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Mother's Day to mothers in the United Kingdom

 

The baby's sleeping

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

(This painting captures my feelings about

motherhood perfectly.  No matter how

grown up your children become, this early

beautiful time, and the powerful

feelings of new motherhood last for mothers

throughout their children's lives.

That's why we are so protective, so

crazy, so fiercely proud, and so loving.

A heady mixture.  Enjoy kids!)

It is Mother's Day in the United Kingdom today, but not in Canada.
Happy Mother's Day to UK mothers.

Getting ready for a solo show is a busy time -- exciting yes, but aside from
painting -- finishing some new works, revising older works (thank you
Mitchell Johnson for inspiring me to do that), and just gathering and 
planning -- it is delightfully time consuming.  In a way the perfect
escape from world news, and the constant worry lurking and ready
to overwhelm us. 

I learned a couple of days ago that a wonderful artist, and teacher
Skip Lawrence died. I studied with him in California, and he inspired
me to switch from watercolour to acrylics.  He was a fabulous teacher. So
I was sorry to hear that.  His main message about painting was that
painting created joy, and I completely agree.  Thank you Skip.

Have a loving your life day!

Delighted to show this next Saturday

Tea Alone

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © revised 2023

This painting, one of my favourites, will be in my solo show next Saturday.  Please come out between
2 -- 5 p.m. to the Heliconian Hall at 35 Hazelton Ave., on Saturday April 5. I am really looking 
forward to seeing you there.

It's Saturday night, which is movie date night for me and Steven.  We spent a wonderful afternoon

with family, and are looking forward to finding a funny movie to watch.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Plus have a loving your life day!

 

Getting ready!

Robin earns his stripes

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2019

Today a fellow artist from the Heliconian Club came over to look at the paintings
I’m planning to include in my show, and to talk about plans for the day of
my first opening – next Saturday, April 5 from 2 to 5 p.m., 35 Hazelton Ave.,
Toronto. We were mainly looking at big paintings, so didn't get around to
small ones like this.  But it is Robin season in Toronto, so I may include it.

My friend was delightfully calm, and it was a happy meeting. If you are in
Toronto next weekend – I’d love to see you. At the opening, I I know it’s
gonna be a lot of fun!

Have a loving your life day!

A great painting day

 

Untitled -- Work in progress
Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

There are days when paintings just come together, almost magically.  It was a beautiful day
today, and I spent most of it in my studio, happily working on finishing touches on some
work.  This needs a bit more refining -- that will happen, and I'm very happy with it.  You

can see the finished work next Saturday, April 5 -- from 2 - 5 p.m. at the Heliconian Hall,
3rds 5 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.

I had been working on this and not finishing it for a few years -- and today -- all is well.

Have a loving your life day!

The sweetness of snow

Night shot -- Sudden spring snowfall
Photo: 
Barbara Muir © 2025

It was starting to be full on spring here -- snowdrops (the flowers) were showing up
in people's gardens. The Type bookstore in Forest Hill Village on Spadina that I love
had a flower box of tulips outside.  And then a day ago, at about this time (evening)
 -- I looked out and the snow was back, covering everything.  My phone lit up the
photos, so you don't get the full effect, but it was awesome.  Then of course it all melted 

But today at lunchtime -- large movie style snowflakes were falling.  They didn't last,
but they sparkled in the sunlight, and looked so beautiful.  Then of course full on
spring sun made them disappear.

Later I was walking my dog, and another dog walker and I laughed about the snow.
It had returned in very small sporadic flakes.  We agreed that it was beautiful, and
then laughed and said that we were clearly Canadian.

Have a loving your life day.

Art of the kitchen -- a sweet still life

 

Kitchen scene
Photo
Barbara Muir © 2025

Hi dear friends,

I am super tired tonight, after a great day painting, and a lovely walk
with a friend. So I don't like to show you work until it's complete.
Instead I'll let the delightful available still life from the kitchen
be the art on the blog tonight.  

Have a loving your life day.

More celebrations

 

Steven and me at the 

beginning

(Yes I was not blonde yet)

Photo
Wallace Muir © (my father)

It's out Monthaversary of our wedding day today, and as on

every month we toasted one another and wished each other
Happy Monthaversary. Here's a post from a former blog on
the topic.  Corny yes.  Is love corny, then I'm all for corny.

"People who read my blog often comment on how we
are always celebrating. Of course that's not true, but
Steven and I do notice a couple of important dates
each month that are just ours -- our Monthaversary
of our first date, and our Monthaversary of our wedding,
which happened 11 months after our first date.

Last year on this day I wrote to you that love is coming,
if it isn't in your life right now, and you want it. I could
never have imagined meeting someone who loved me
from minute one, before meeting Steven.  And I wish that
love for you in your life.

Are we perfect?  Not at all.  We argue quite a bit, but do
we love each other -- yes. To the moon and back."

Have a loving your life day.

So glad we got to see the last day of Eleanor Lowden’s solo show

Twilight Sky
Acrylic
Eleanor Lowden ©

Steven and I hurried over to Leslie Grove Gallery today to see Eleanor Lowden’s
solo show on the last day of the exhibition. Her work is beautiful, vibrant,
cheerful, and moving.

We had a wonderful conversation with Eleanor, and I got to watch her paint a
 beautiful, small landscape.  It was a treat to see how she painted,
 and that she could keep a conversation going at the same time. Impressive.

If you don’t know her work, check it out on her website. If you do know
her work, it sounds like she has lots of shows coming up, so do yourself a
favour and see her beautiful work in person.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Monthaversary plus a belated Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day celebration!

 

Lucky Shamrocks

acrylic on birch,

5 x 5 inches

 Barbara Muir © 2012

SOLD ♥

Me and my sweetheart Steven, with some 

Valentine's Day bluebirds
(These photos were taken at
the Louvre by a friend who
lives in Paris.)

It was a pretty great Monthaversary of our first date today. We celebrated
Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day with the family.  The most fun. 
The younger family members collaborated with a neighbour to create
comedy routine, after comedy routine -- and had us laughing all afternoon.

Now it's movie night, so we will talk again tomorrow. I hope you also had

a wonderful day.  If you're wondering why we're celebrating these things

now -- it's because it was when we could get together.  Simple -- and fun!

Have a loving your life day!

The love of tulips

 

Spring tulips

Three versions in acrylic on

watercolour paper

Barbara Muir © 

Today was another great day painting from the model. I'm still not ready to show
you.  The exciting and challenging thing about working on a large painting is
that you keep moving back, and looking at it from a distance, and seeing 
things differently and changing it.  A friend told me not to overthink.

I know what that means, but frequently with a portrait painting, overthinking it
is what saves it.  The painting has to express the subject.  Sometimes 
that takes work.

I love these tulip paintings, and they seem right as I'm painting a woman in a red
dress.  So beautiful.

Have a loving your life day!

Happy Spring

 

Cloud Magic

Acrylic on canvas

4 x 6 feet 

Barbara Muir © 2018

The first day of spring makes me think of my mother who loved the changing of

the seasons -- especially spring and summer.  She loved walking and swimming.

She would be massively shocked at the state of the world now--not that the
world was not in chaos when she was alive.  It just seems more so.

My solo show opening April 5 and on view at The Heliconian Club, 35
Hazelton Ave., Toronto for the month of April, is about celebration. In

fact it's called The Art of Celebration. So my art in the exhibition
features the things in the world -- people, landscapes, still life
that make me happy. Everyone I know now is worried, or anxious
about the news -- so this show will be an escape. All cheerful.

A wonderful painter, Mitchell Johnson is having a few shows in the next
month, and one is of giant paintings in his super style.  This painting is

so far my most giant painting without combining canvasses, and I may
show a couple of the combination paintings too.  

I wish my mother was alive to come to my show.  I think she would be
happy for me.  I am slowly working on a large portrait for the show, and
the model comes again tomorrow.  As soon as it's finished, the
organizing, labelling, packing will begin.  I am so proud of all the

artists I know who do this all the time.  Hats off to you -- it's a big

deal.

Have a loving your life day.

Edit, edit, edit

 

An inside look at journal pages
I created when I taught an art journal
course. This is a collage of a mix
of images, coloured stars
sign maker's gold, marker and
watercolour crayon
(The message reads, "It's funny
this preoccupation with angels
because I don't believe in angels
except in the way of, "Be an
angel will you darling and
bring me a cup of coffee
please.") 

As a college professor I've taught writing and presentation.  The key
in both cases is somewhat the same as in painting -- edit, edit, edit.
In writing try something, if it doesn't work, delete and write it in
a different way. In art try something, if it doesn't work, rub it out, or paint
it over. Try something else. Part of it works, part doesn't?  More editing
on a visual plain. 

Back and forth.  And fingers crossed -- eventually you get it right.
If anything making art is harder than writing, which would surprise people.

Have a loving your life day!

The art of inspiration

Dreaming of Florence

Charcoal on bond paper

18 x 24 inches

© Barbara Muir  

 It’s strange how things repeat in life. Last year I was working on a painting
inspired by a John Singer Sargent painting, using a wonderful model and
this year inspired by many artists, I am working on another painting of a
model for my show coming up in April.

I love the drawing of the model Shakoya set in a Florentine background.
The halo also refers to Florentine paintings, especially by Botticelli,
whose work I love. I was lucky enough to see the work in person when I
showed in Florence, and was more dazzled than I could ever have imagined.

I’m not remotely religious in any sense, but I do love a halo. To me it indicates
a very kind and loving person.  We could use more of them!

Have a loving your life day!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Steven and I dancing with glow sticks at one of
our former kitchen St. Patrick's Day parties

Tonight is a very quiet St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Steven and I will wear the
St. Patrick’s Day hats that we’ve had forever, and have a wee bit of green
champagne to toast the day.

As I said, in a former blog post, our family are very celebratory. One day when the
children were little, we bought green treats, green candy, made a green meal and celebrated
St. Patrick’s Day. You can never do things once with little children – they remember, and
thus a tradition was born. Neither of us are Irish.  But we do appreciate the day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Have a loving Your life day!

The fascination of process

Sweet Sunlight and Coffee

Acrylic on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2023

In the final painting, the character recedes and is important but less 
visible.

Planning sketch
marker on Fabriano paper
5.5 x 8.5 inches
Barbara Muir © 2023

I found this cool drawing from 2023 when I was prepping to do a painting of the
interior of a café. I completely forgot that I ever did a drawing first, that’s not
always part of my process. But there it is. And it turned out quite differently in
the painting.

In my a current painting. I’ve been working with a model in my studio. That’s
a very exciting way to paint – so direct. In fact, the model inspired the entire
painting's direction by telling me what she’d like to see, and where she wanted to be.

So my process changes all the time. I painted a tiny bit today, but the most exciting
thing was going down to the lake and walking along, staring at that beautiful blue, and
listening to the waves -- so wonderful. Before we went to the lake there was very
heavy rain, and we saw a rainbow as the sun came out.  A pretty wonderful day.

I hope you had a great day.

Have a loving in your life day! 

The gift of the studio

 

In the studio

Acrylic on canvas
16 x 16 inches
Barbara Muir © 2008

It's been a long time since I had a model pose in my studio.  This week a 
wonderful model came three times to sit for me, and it reminded me of
how fun that always was. That painting is not complete so I can't show

it to you. The gift?  When you're painting a model, you don't think
about anything else.  Wonderful.

I'm pretty sure, although the face isn't clear in the image above, and I don't
have a better photo, that this is Shaniece, who was a superb model, and friend.
She now has a family, and I am so grateful to her for the work she
helped me do.

Today we organized renting a van to take my work to my show for the 
April 5 opening.  And as strange as that was, it was also exciting.
Another step in the list of steps to the big event.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Pi Day

Stand Back for the Pie

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 

As usual I'm featuring this painting today, because not being a 
math freak, Pi reminds me of pie, and Steven makes the best
cherry pie I've ever tasted.  

In 2022 this painting won first place, and I won a $500 
in a contest with the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural
Center in California in a virtual exhibition. And that was 
fantastic.

In a former blog I shared this information on Pi

Day:

"Pi Day is named after the Greek symbol π which is the ratio
 of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The first three
digits in Pi are 3 (this is the third month) and 14 (the fourteenth day)
= 3.14 or Pi.  What better day to eat pie if you get the urge.
And any way you slice it you will not be alone in your
pie indulgence. Steven just ate a piece of the farmer's 

absolutely delicious blueberry pie to celebrate. Marvellous
Edibles farm who sell at The Brick Works market and Wychwood
Barns market in Toronto make extremely delicious pies too.  

They were chefs in Europe.

My mathematics fiend husband, (Steven) has been
known to sleep with a Calculus text beside his bed at the
ready, should he feel like reviewing it with his morning coffee.
He also makes a mean cherry pie -- the point of the
painting. The pie."

Have a deliciously-happy-Pi-day! 

Ready for good news

Good news Clementines with Lemon friends
Acrylic on cradled birch panel
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2019

It was a beautiful day here in Toronto, and I'm grateful that I went for a walk with
a dear friend, who kept everything on the upbeat, despite my somewhat 
grumbly mood.  There is a lot going on that is frankly terrifying, so it's 
important to have friends who delight, like I do, in looking at a cardinal
singing from the top of the tallest tree.

Steven and I went to Ikea for dinner tonight, and were confronted by a lineup
of 1,000 people, so that wasn't possible. Then we drove a while and settled on
Thai take out. That was good.

I painted today, and will tomorrow -- working on a portrait for my solo
show.  Coming up -- April 5.  Still lots to do to get ready.  I hope I'll
see you there -- The Heliconian Club --35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto,
Canada.

Check out my Instagram -- @barbaramuirart
I will post any updates there.

Have a loving your life day!

Best practices

McIntosh Apples
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

I was reading a former blog about best practices, and this image came up
on my screen.  I don't know where the painting is -- maybe it sold, but I do
know I love it.  I have been busy the last two days -- partially working
on a large painting for my show in April, and also cleaning up my house,

and sitting a show at the Heliconian.

This painting seemed perfect to hold my place on my blog for another
day until I have something new to show you.  One of my best pratices?

Writing the blog every day.  That's absolutely one of my things I do
that makes me happy -- and there you go.  You make me happy when
you read it.  So Thank you.

Have a loving your life day. 

Some women I admire

 Some of the important women
in my life that I've
painted and drawn. 
Plus a portrait of
my mother by Chris Muir (my son)
© Barbara Muir
(To do this properly I need 100
more of these at least. Thank
you everyone!)

I know so many wonderful women, and meet new amazing women all the time. I hope 
you know that you all make my day -- make my life an awesome experience. You
bring light, art, humour (humour is huge to me), kindness, understanding, support,

and inspiration.

Thank you!

Have a loving your life day!

The invitation's revised look

 

If you live in Toronto and need printing, or design for printing done, I recommend
Chris at St. Clair Printing & Graphics. Here's the newer design for my invitation
to my solo show.  Even more beautiful. Thanks Chris.

And hey -- please come out to the show at one of the 3 openings.

Have a loving your life day.

Sheroes

No Question about it -- one of my top sheroes is Oprah

Oprah Winfrey Skype Sketch

(from the show Where In The Skype Are You?
I am at minute 8:35)

Willow charcoal on 

Canson Mi-Teintes paper
11 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches
Barbara Muir © 2009

Me drawing Oprah on 
The Oprah Winfrey show

Last year on this day, I talked about some of my Sheroes. This year I feel like
every woman alive who is kind and loving is my Sheroe. Women stay strong
through unbelievable hardships, tragedy and loss. Through war and illness.
Hugs to all the women living through hard, or worse times.

And to all the women who keep their families, and friends happy because of
their love — you mean the world to us. 

So Happy International Women’s Day weekend. 

Stay safe, strong, courageous and confident. We need you! 

Have a loving your life day.

International Women's Day

My friend the artist, Nicki Ault

took this photo of me with two of

the paintings from my Ocean series

that I brought to show the other artists at

the Ayr exhibition in 2011 -- one of the 
best artistic celebrations of International
Women's Day that I've been part of.
Nicki is going through a hard time
this year, and I send the positive

energy of all the friends who met 
14 years ago out to her.

This is my post from last year, which works just as well today:

"It is International Women’s Day, and I'm grateful to all of the 
wonderful women in my life — starting with my mother. and my
sister, and extending to all the women in my family, all of my friends,
and all of the amazing women I’ve met in my working life in art and
in teaching. This year seems especially hard for celebrating with the horrific wars, severe climate change and other world issues.  But that makes the beauty artists bring even more vital.

Today I'm going to repost a piece I wrote in 2020 about super art 
show in Ayr, Ontario celebrating International Women's Day in 2011,
where I met artists who are delightful friends.

Let’s change the world!

Here it is -- 

"Me with the painting I entered in

the 100 Years of International Women's Day show

at the Ayr Gallery in 2011. My painting is about

happiness -- an underlying theme

in all of my work.  

Ready for Joy

24 x 24 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Barbara Muir © 2011

Today is a big day for women around the world.  So many things
are changing for us all the time, but most of us will agree
that we have a long way to go to go.  For me this day will always 

remind me of a wonderful 100 Years of International Women's 

Day show in Ayr, Ontario where I met some women artists, and 

shared space with women artists who were, and who became friends. 
These women along with women friends and artists around the 
world have changed my life.

Georgia Fullerton with her painting                   Left to right: Marcia Labelle, Tammy Hext, Kim  
 at the Ayr Gallery show(upper image)                           Rempel, Nicki Ault, and me

Preservation                                                             International Women's Day 2011

24 x 24 inches

Georgia Fullerton © 2011

So I declare this an International Day of Gratitude for all
of the women in my communities here in Toronto, in
the blog and Instagram and Facebook world, and in the 

wide artistic community, and friendship community around

the world.  You have constantly inspired me, supported me,

and made me feel valued. You make me happy.  Thank you.

Have a thanking the women in your life day." 

Happy weekend after a week packed with art

Journal Sketch
marker on journal paper
6 x 8 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

I spent the afternoon today painting a wonderful model in my studio.  She is a pro, and
wow you could tell.  It's a big painting -- not ready to show you, but it will be in my
show, opening April 5 -- whew -- less than a month away.

It is such a treat painting from a live model. She was dressed beautifully and we had
such great conversations during my frequent breaks. Very inspiring.

I've kept up the practice of journal drawing -- but hey -- this is an exceptionally good

one of a beautiful woman -- perfect for Women's History Month.

Have a loving your life day!

Work in progress

 

Beautiful Cedarvale Park
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Barbara Muir © 2025

What does that mean -- work in progress? You could actually call all art
works in progress.  I am so grateful for the work of Mitchell Johnson
who posts videos of himself going up to one of his paintings hanging
in a show -- sometimes framed -- and just starts painting on it.

He's opened up a world of possibilities to me -- to revise what no longer
works for me.  But in this case the work in progress just means that it
is almost finished, but not quite.  I've been having a lot of fun painting
this -- a painting of a nearby beautiful park.

Have a loving your life day!

Hard at work, and it's raining

 

Rain Ahead

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2017
Available

It was a big working day today.  Almost finished a painting, got a large canvas
double gessoed (the gesso used by the manufacturer sheds paint), did some 
planning, organized some finances, and walked 10,000 steps in the rain.

It's been super cold here, so one effect of the rain, was it was way warmer.

It's so Canadian to be excited about 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit),
but we were. 

I found a point of view I like in a former post about rain.  Here it is:

"A friend said that people assume that when
we artists paint a grey sky, or a rain filled image that
we are gloomy.  But no.  Because we love the look
of rain too!  Landscape painters love weather and
change, and find beauty in nature's variety.

This painting -- Rain Ahead -- captures the amazing rain my
husband and I saw driving home to Toronto from Ottawa on our
 anniversary weekend in 2017."

Have a loving your life day.

The invitations are printed!

 

Invitations to my solo show in April 
The Art of Celebration

The first set of invitations is printed. Did I forget something in my hurry to get the invitations 
printed?  Yes!  The name of the show -- The Art of Celebration.  But hey! the most
important information is there, and if I know you, and you're in Toronto, I'll be happy
to give you one of these soon, and if you're not in Toronto, and want to come, please see
the details on the invitations photographed here, and I'd love to see you there! 

Have a loving your life day!

Living in the now

Colours of Joy
Acrylic on Canvas
36 x 48 inches
Barbara Muir © 2024

(This seems right for tonight --
painted 100% from my 
imagination. And I like it.
It will be in my April show.)

It's been a great day in the "now" today.  My printer started working on my
show invitations, and his design looks great.  I met an artist at my favourite
art store, and we're friends on Instagram.

Plus it was sunny and the snow was melting.  And I worked on two 
paintings.  Yes!

Here's what I said about Now last year.

"You read a lot about nostalgia -- remember back when...?
And then for an artist there is infinite advice on planning for
the future.

How about owning now? My husband and I sit on our
back porch in the white painted wicker chairs watching
birds flit in and out of our Christmas tree that a friend attached
to one of our trellises against the fence. (Note: it's been
way too cold in 2025 to do this yet) But yes Steven spills bird
seed onto the tree, and the birds love it.  It gives that tree
a whole new life.  Yes by the end of March it will be over,
but in the now it is amazing. (In 2025 we watch the birds 
in the Christmas tree through the kitchen door.)

How about drawing in the now? Looking at something
that pulls you in, and making it into an image. Walking
into the studio and thinking, 'what if I do this?,' and
doing it."

Have a loving the now day!

Great day today on the road picking up art

Now that was good!

Black marker on notebook paper

6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 

We had a great day today travelling to another town to pick up a painting
from a collector who is a friend. The collector is very kindly allowing me
to show one of my favourite works in my solo show in April.

Scrolling through past posts I found this image, and love it. 
Steven and I love room service breakfasts in hotels so much!
For us a romantic hotel visit (like we had on Valentine's
weekend) means a delicious breakfast in the room every morning,
beautifully served on a little table, maybe even with flowers.  

It’s late. We just got home, and I’m going to make dinner, so that's it
for tonight.

Have a loving your life day!

Super opening today at the Heliconiaj Equinox show

My work in the show.

Some people piled their coats on
the couches
that surround the beautiful space.

I was so enthralled with the music
that I didn't take any good photos.
I will do better at the opening
on March 12.

The Equinox exhibition opening was today from 2-5 p.m.  The show
runs from March 1 (today), to April 2. And it's a beauty -- a jubilant,

and thoughtful celebration of the beginning of spring.

At the reception today, Heliconian Club music members Rita Greer,
(clarinet), Louise Morley (piano) and Velma Ko (viola) performed a
Mozart Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. as
part of the free public opening. And they were fabulous.

The next opening is on March 12th, and I'll tell you more as the 
date approaches. 

Have a loving your life day!