Thursday, April 3, 2025

Such an amazing team hanging my solo show

Steven and the club's Property Manager, Peter
hanging 
Breakfast at the hotel
-- a big 
job for sure.

The show is up at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto and eager to
see you (the show?  Yes the show is eager to see you!) Saturday, April 5,
2 - 5 p.m. Goodies, 55 paintings to see.  So come on down. Free of course.

My thanks to Catherine, Simone, Flo, Tanya, Nola, Heather, Steven and Peter.

You are all amazing and I am very grateful.

Have a loving your life day!
 

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Packing the truck -- the show hangs tomorrow

 

The Cake House
Acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025
Today I spent the day packing up my art -- more than 50 pieces, many large
for my solo show opening Saturday between 2 and 5 p.m. at the Heliconian
Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto.  

My husband Steven and I packed and then drove through snow and sleet
to pick up a rental van to move the paintings to the show (too many, and
too big for a car. 

Then my son Christopher came and helped us too. What a great team.
Weird weather, and we are almost ready to take the paintings to the show.

Next -- get the treats for guests, look for a dress, and I'm sure there's a 
long list of other tasks before the event.

Love to see you there.

Have a loving your life day.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Super happy with The Happiest View

 


The happiest view 
Acrylic on canvas
36 x 60 inches
Barbara Muir © Revised 2025

For quite awhile I've felt that there was something missing in this painting,The Happiest View, and it was the waves.  Yes!

I am a huge fan of water.  Take me to a stream, a pond,  a lake, and best of all the Ocean,
and I am super happy -- no matter what time of year it is.  And I really love crashing waves.  These are mild ones, and this painting will be on view as part of Art of Celebration, my solo show at the Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto, opening this coming Saturday -- April 5, 2025 from 2 - 5 p.m.

Still painting and getting ready.

Have a loving your life day!

Monday, March 31, 2025

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!

Sunday, March 30, 2025

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!

Saturday, March 29, 2025

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!
 

Friday, March 28, 2025

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!

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!