Thank you to everyone who is wonderful.

Some of the important women

in my life that I've

painted and drawn. 

Plus a portrait of

my mother by Chris Muir

© Barbara Muir

(To do this properly I need 100
more of these at least. Thank
you everyone!)  

A crazy busy day, and I just feel like thanking everyone who
has been helping me get things done. I'm using a photo of some
of the important women in my life, and there are so many men
who help make our lives great.  Thank you to everyone.

Thank you for your support

Thank you for your kindness

Thank you for this community

Thank you for the inspiration

Thank you for your determination 
to keep on making art

Thank you for all that I've learned from you

Thank you for your humour

Thank you for your successes

Thank you for your beautiful and 
magnificent art

Thank you!

Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Happy Monthaversary

Part of the invitation. 

This is the Monthaversary of our wedding day, a very happy memory.
I went to the bank today, and was talking to one of the managers, who
is trying to figure out what to do about getting married to his girlfriend.
It seemed an appropriate topic.  And it has been a beautiful day.

Tonight I'm showing you part of an invitation we made for our 10th
wedding anniversary party that we had in the backyard of our semi-
detached house.  I think we might have line danced, which seems so
bizarre now.  Somebody DJ'd the night, and it was fun!

A friend found this in the endless files she's sorting through trying to
move. 

Happy Monthaversary Steven.

Have a loving your life day.

Happy Birthday to Hugo!

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

in front of my painting Dream Selfie -- Wonder Water Image #7
Photo
Steven van Schaik © 2016

Today is Hugo Leemeijer's, birthday, a young man who I met when
Steven and I were in Paris in 2016. Miranda Brouwers, and I were both showing
in the Carrousel du Louvre show in the Louvre. We met Hugo, his brother Marnix,
and their father, Miranda's husband, Rolf.  We had so much fun. Happy Birthday
Hugo. I hope you have a wonderful day, and a terrific year.  We are all wishing
  you a super time.

I'm thinking of Miranda and her family today. One of the things I love about
my blog, and social media is the ability to keep in touch with friends and
family around the world.

As I said in a former blog, "my friendship with Miranda is one of the loveliest
relationships in my life. We talk on the phone across the great Atlantic Ocean
once a week whenever possible, and always enjoy one another. (She's in The
Netherlands, and I'm here in Toronto, Canada.)"

We'd love to see the whole family again sometime.  It was great to get together
with Miranda and Rolf in Paris last summer. 

Happy Birthday Hugo!

Earth Day

 Bluebird (family Musicapidae)
on a coffee cup
Bird Study #1
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 8 inches
© Barbara Muir

What I have to do to write this blog sometimes is strange.  So today I'm writing the copy,
then I'll cut and paste the bird and the caption, and put it in above the post.  Funny.

I hope you had a beautiful Earth Day.  We did.  Plus the sunset was magical, and the moon
is exquisite. Nature is constantly reminding us about why she matters.  So as I say every
Earth Day, let's stop the wars, and get more environmentally intelligent vehicles.  In
Ontario if you're driving an electric car it isn't better for the environment because our
electricity comes from nuclear power, the most toxic and perpetually harmful method of
creating energy possible.  But the industry has infinite political support, which is

sad.

Enough.  I love the planet.  I don't have the answers.  But let's work on them together
for this guy, and for us and our children.

Have a loving the planet day.

 

A beautiful day in the country

 

Country view

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2024

We spent the afternoon visiting relatives in the country.  What a pleasure.  The
views over the river were amazing, and the conversations a complete
delight.

Tonight we've just enjoyed a walk through ever changing weather -- clear
skies, some snow, a bit of rain, clear skies, crisp cold, and all of it
beautiful.  I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday night.

Have a loving your life day.

We miss you Patti-Anne

Patti-Anne

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 36 inches
Barbara Muir © 

One of the powerful truths about portraits is that they make the person feel present
when you look at them, I wish Patti-Anne was still with us, she died way too young,
and if her doctor had been more knowledgeable, it probably wouldn't have happened.

I'm combining some blog posts about Patti-Anne and the painting today.
Patti-Anne died a year ago of an aneurysm.  She'd been experiencing severe 
headaches for more than a week.  The doctor gave her Tylenol on her first visit,
and when she went back a week later still with severe headaches, the doctor
prescribed an antibiotic. Here is the post I wrote last year slightly edited.

"I painted this portrait of Patti-Anne Fitzpatrick before I started my blog,
16 years ago, and before I understood that I needed good quality photos
of my work.  Patti-Anne died yesterday when she was taken off life
supports after suffering a severe aneurysm.  She is profoundly missed.

I thought I'd share this blog post I wrote about her in 2008.  I had so much
fun painting her portrait, as this was long before COVID and she sat
and posed for me in my studio.

"Patti-Anne, my former boss Frank's wife, is what Frank would
 describe as, "beyond gorgeous," and a very funny woman.
One of her favourite expressions is,"too funny!" as she cracks up
watching a comedy skit. She is also a pro golfer, so when Frank
asked me to paint her, I knew I had to honour her love of the
outdoors.

Of course she posed in my studio, but I placed her on my back
porch, with a sunny, abstract floral background. I love the energy
in the painting -- her athletic strength and femininity coming through,
and the clear expression of the sparkling sense of humour I enjoyed
so much while she sat for the portrait."

Goodbye Patti-Anne, we miss everything about you." 

A big day in our family

Journal Sketch 

Marker on journal paper

6 x 8 inches

Barbara Muir © 2023

Yesterday our youngest son, a happily married man had his last day
on his job here.  He and his wife are moving out of Toronto, to
another town, and they will be deeply missed by all of us in the
rest of the family.  We are so proud of them.  Just when I was feeling
all sentimental about missing Sam, I found this journal drawing of him when 
he was a young boy dressing up as a king for Halloween.  It made
me very nostalgic.  But now new opportunities are opening up,

and I'm sure we'll all have fun when we visit and get together.

Have a loving your life day.