Moth #153

Daily painting #153. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I found this little moth on the table in my studio. He was sitting so perfectly still that I tapped him gently to nudge him away, but sadly he didn't move. At least he had not fallen victim to the torment of my cats as he had all his feelers and legs in tact and his fragile wings were perfect! I have to admit to being fascinated with moths, they are such ethereal creatures and have such beautifully patterned wings which are often unnoticed and overshadowed by the beauty and color in a butterfly. I am fascinated at how they are drawn to light ...
I have completed a few little sketches in my sketch book of this little moth and somehow it seemed fitting to paint him as one of my daily paintings. It was like he picked the perfect spot to sit and wait for me to come and marvel at him....
(You would be forgiven for thinking I am a bit crazy....my kids would agree with you! They want to know if now that I have finally painted the moth, can I please get rid of it!)

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Colours in the late afternoon sky #152

Daily painting #152. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

We arrived home later than I hoped this afternoon, but one bonus was that by the time we arrived home the sky was already changing to deep afternoon oranges as the day started to bid farewell! The main part of our house faces east and of course faces the sunrise so I often observe the beautiful morning. Getting home later ended up being a real bonus....or else I would not have noticed the beautiful colors changing in the late afternoon sky as I probably would have been indoors!
You would be forgiven for looking at the image as a rather abstract array of colors.....my husband did dare to ask " what is that?"....he should have known better! A simple observation of the changing sky....

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Rose study No.3 #151

Daily painting #151. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

A quick little study in my studio today. After the more precise little images painted in ink, pen  and watercolor from last week, I felt like I needed to spend some time playing with my paint, using bigger brushes and working quickly to create form!

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Nectarine #150

Daily painting #150  5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Healthy eating with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables after our indulgent weekend of constant restaurant meals! These nectarines are so sweet and juicy and I bought a tray of them yesterday. I wanted to paint a couple of them today but only found one left.....!

Today I have reached another little milestone...150 paintings in 150 days! I have surprised myself!

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Oil paint #149

Daily painting #149. Pen, ink and watercolor on A5 watercolor card

Today I was so happy to get back into my studio! I have to admit to spending more time tidying up my space than actually painting, but the tidy up was long overdue! Getting your workspace feeling like a space you want to live in is so important ....it creates the atmosphere which influences your emotional response to getting work done! So my tubes of paint have lids on again and neglected brushes have been given a little tender loving care. I have a clean glass palette and jars of dirty turpentine have been removed....I am all set and ready! I have really enjoyed working with the pen, ink and watercolor, but am looking forward to working with those 'juicy' oils tomorrow.....
I will paint #150!!!! 150 paintings in 150 days!

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Spoon and berry jam #148

Daily painting #148. Pen, ink and watercolor on A5 watercolor card

Four days of hotels, restaurant food, Johannesburg traffic and sitting around the cricket field....it's time to head on home! YIPPEE!!!! There is just no place like home .....

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Acorn #147

Daily painting #147. Pen, ink and watercolor on A5 watercolor card SOLD

Today I was reminded of one of my childhood stories I remember listening to (I am sure I still have the book somewhere) about Henny Penny and Chicken Licken and how they are off to tell the world that the sky was falling down on them! What they believed to be the sky falling down was actually an acorn landing on their heads! A silly little story ....however I was reminded of it today because of all the acorns that were falling on heads while we watched cricket today under the shade of some giant oak trees! It certainly felt like the sky was falling down ....

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Change of season #146

Daily painting #146. Pen, ink and watercolor on A5 watercolor card SOLD

Our boys are playing their cricket tournament (which is the reason I am in Johannesburg) at one of Johannesburg's top schools, St Johns College. The school's campus is so incredibly beautiful....you would never know it's in the middle of a city! Our boys didn't get much cricket played today...the weather was so strange. We had sun, rain , thunder, lightening and cold temperatures all in one day. The game was finally called off because of the lightening in the area and it was deemed unsafe for the boys to play. Satellite lightening detectors let off a warning siren if lightening is detected within a 20km radius and then boys are required to come off of sports fields and stay under cover....so our boys never made it back onto the field. The real sign though that summer is nearing its end was the carpet of oak leaves that lined the schools pathways and roads...a crisp, crunching carpet of fallen brown leaves! Summer will soon be on its way....

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Five roses tea #145

Daily painting #145 pen, ink and watercolor on A5 watercolor card SOLD

 Wow today feels like it has been a long day! Airports and traveling have a way of making you feel like that....I am exhausted! But I am happy! Johannesburg is a busy city.....it has such a different atmosphere to relaxed (sometimes too laid back) Durban and while I would never choose to live here...it certainly has a vibe and the occasional visit is great! We had a lovely meal at a little local Italian deli which we walked to from the hotel and a delicious coffee after the meal! But now that I am back at the hotel I am regretting my caffeine indulgence....I might be awake for a while! I probably should have stuck to a cup of tea back at the hotel....a little cup of Five Roses tea!

It feels strange to not have my oil paints or my little traveling oil paintbox with me....a strange feeling indeed!

I had to share one of the images I took from the plane....by now you will know how much I love painting the sky....so I couldn't resist taking some pics from above the clouds for a change! Beautiful cloudscapes.....

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Three little brushes #144

Daily painting #144  pen, ink and watercolor, A5 watercolor card

Tomorrow I am leaving for Johannesburg, one of South Africa's larger cities and I am traveling by plane....the dilemma is do I travel with my oil paints or not? Our airlines have become so cautious about what is in your luggage and oil paint is listed as a flammable product! I know so many friends that just pack them into their luggage and have never been stopped, but my other dilemma was that I am only there for 4 days, hardly enough time for an oil painting to dry and I am staying in a hotel, so do I want to travel around with wet paintings?! I put my dilemma out there on my Paintings in the post Facebook page and there seemed to be a bit of excitement about the idea of seeing some little pen and ink and watercolour paintings! So, thanks....you helped me make up my mind! I am going to do some little, simple images in pen, ink and watercolour for my next few daily paintings and I am quite excited for the change, although I know by Sunday I will be missing my oils and itching to get back to them! But a change is good and I like the drawing element involved in this type of work and the delicate nature of the images created this way ....a contrast to my thick oil paint!
So tonight I dusted off my Winsor and Newton traveling watercolour box, gathered all my materials and sat down to paint these 3 little brushes ....that was after I had packed my bags (and both my children's bags)  and it was nearing that silly time of night when night is actually about to become a new day!!!! I might have to sleep on the flight tomorrow.....but I do like the simplicity of this little image....something different for the next few days!

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A protea for Ross #143

Daily painting #143. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel. SOLD

Today has been all about proteas! They are my favorite flower ....they are South Africa's national flower ....and our national cricket team are called the Proteas! For those of you who follow my blog regularly you will know my husband is a professional cricket coach and my son is passionate about the game! Today Ross received his 1st team cap for playing 5 games for his schools 1st team and the boys were presented their caps by our local cricketer and Proteas player, David Miller. It is a little boys dream to play for the Proteas! But playing for his school, Clifton 1st team, was a goal my son Ross set for himself and today he did himself proud! So this little Protea is for you Ross....may you always remember that anything is possible when you set your mind to it.....and nothing comes without hard work....even to a Protea!

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Paprika #142

Daily painting #142. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

A little bit of extra heat....like we need it at the moment!

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Telephone pole and afternoon sky #141

Daily painting #141  5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel. SOLD

Prompted by the unbearable heat of the day, I spent much of the day bobbing up and down on a pool chair in the swimming pool. Jumping into the water regularly...to try cool off! Lying on the pool chair  my gaze was on the beautiful blue sky and soft clouds drifting slowly on an almost non existent breeze. By late afternoon the bright blue morphed into an array of warm afternoon tones....such simple beauty in the sky!

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Radish #140

Daily painting #140. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

It's Saturday and so of course our day was spent around the cricket field watching my son play a school match....it was a typically long day! Painting radishes when I got home was probably not a good idea....all I kept seeing every time I looked at the firm red radishes was red cricket balls!!!! Too much sun and cricket today for sure!

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Onion and a Chinese vase #139

Daily painting #139. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

It has been so hot today!!!!  The heat has been unbearable...the kind of heat that leaves one feeling lethargic and worn out! What makes the heat more unbearable in Durban is our high humidity levels which leave you feeling constantly damp and sticky.  The thought of cooking or preparing food is just  awful....who feels like eating a meal in this heat! My ingredients for supper tonight made it onto the kitchen counter until I got distracted by an onion that had rolled away and huddled up safely next to a blue Chinese vase on the counter. Luckily my husband arrived home with a plan for dinner....and I sat painting and keeping him company while he sorted out food....now that's a good way to end Valentines day!

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14th Feb study #138

Daily painting #138. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

An early morning study ...on Valentines day! I hope you have a special day and share the love around....take time out to hug and hold close those who are special to you.....you can never spoil someone with love! We shouldn't need a special day to remind us of that!

We have a winner in the Valentines lucky draw, it is .....Lesley Mitchell
Thank you to my children who helped me to do the draw and film it....just so that you can see we did a fair deal! Thank you to all the others who participated, I really appreciate it!
(A technological gremlin was not allowing me to load the recording of the draw onto YouTube and then onto the blog....so visit the Paintings in the post Facebook page to see...)

                

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Valentines protea #137

Daily painting #137. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Well the shops seem to be teeming with red heart shaped chocolates, fluffy toys holding hearts with the oh so predictable text and buckets of ridiculously priced flowers lining the entrances and aisles!  No sooner will Friday be over and the same space will be trying to entice you with chocolate bunnies and candy coated eggs for Easter....
Well I have never been too conventional and anything typically red, fluffy or screaming "I love you!" would not be my first choice of Valentines gift....although I have to admit to being quite partial to those chocolate bunnies .....so I think my flower of choice for Valentines would have to be a red protea rather than a red rose and if truth be told I would choose a painting over a bunch of flowers any day! There are a few pieces I have my eye on....(hint hint Andrew if you happen to read the blog in the morning) so if you have had your eye on a little painting don't forget to make use of the VALENTINES offer on all floral paintings....you will also stand a chance to win the painting "Cherries and lace" in the lucky draw! The offer and the giveaway closes 13 Feb at 8pm (SA time) and the winner will be announced on the blog on Valentines Day!

Have a happy Thursday....nearing the end of another week already!

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Late rose #136

Daily painting #136. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel. SOLD

It is late and although I had all good intentions of getting into the studio early this morning, before my class even started.....it just didn't happen that way. The roses that were taken from the kitchen table were abandoned for most of the day in the heat of the studio....time ran away with me....and every minute of the day was busy! So by the time I found myself entering my studio with hesitancy, it was dark! The light therefore had to be artificial rather than the glorious glow that had been present in the morning! I decided to paint just one single bloom and concentrate on how the artificial light caught the petals.

Don't forget that by purchasing a floral painting in my VALENTINES offer you automatically gain entry into the lucky draw to win "Cherries and lace" all paintings are marked at $40 online or R420 locally (contact me at heidishedlock@gmail.com) the offers ends at 8pm on 13 Feb and the winner will be announced on Valentines day on my blog!

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Willowvale Pharmacy bottles #135

Daily painting #135. 8"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

Last week it was a year ago since we said our goodbyes to my father-in-law, Peter Shedlock. Grandpa Pete was a pharmacist and owned a pharmacy called Willowvale...so many people knew Grandpa Pete....he was a legend in the community! I have a small collection of beautiful old medicine bottles and antique jars that he gave to me, still containing remnants of some yellow or white powder....the substance unidentifiable by the faded yellowed label on the jar! I bought a few of them into the studio to paint last week ....but just couldn't settle down to paint them.....they are beautiful with transparent and semi-transparent colors and shapes and I love the way the light catches them. Grandpa Pete you were in our thoughts the whole of last week, but today I finally found it in me to paint the Willowvale Pharmacy bottles!

If you didn't read about my VALENTINES offer yesterday....painted flowers will last a lifetime, so all floral paintings in the store are $40 or  R420 if purchased locally, contact me at heidishedlock@gmail.com . Anyone purchasing a floral painting (view them all by clicking the highlighted writing below) will stand a chance to win the little painting "Cherries and lace" ....all names will go into a draw, the offer closes 8pm SA time on 13 Feb and the winner will be announced on Valentines day! So someone will be getting a little surprise on Valentines day.... 2 paintings in the post instead of 1!!

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A day of rest #134

Daily painting #134. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

It has been a while since I have taken the time to observe and paint the morning sky....without feeling rushed! I find painting sky very soulful.....and sometimes it is just what I need to fill the soul tank! The days seem to have been so busy lately (and way too hot!!!) and with our Saturdays being consumed by school sport ....so much needs to be crammed into a Sunday...like kids catching up on school work, trying to see family, and generally catching up on chores around the house.....that doesn't leave much time for relaxation and time out! What happened to a day of rest? Maybe next weekend.....

Hope you all have a great week ....another VALENTINES is just around the corner, so be sure to purchase a floral painting for Valentines and stand a chance to win a little daily painting for free! All floral paintings are $40 in the online store and R420 if purchased locally (contact me at heidishedlock@gmail.com). To see the available daily paintings click the highlighted writing below....

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Coral and green #133

Daily painting #133  6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Much of yesterday, actually the whole day was spent around the cricket field watching my son and his team play against another Durban school in a tournament started by 2 well known South African cricket players each of them an old boy from each of the schools. The day was long but our boys won and are now the proud owners of a new piece of silverware (a rather large trophy) ....

So having spent most of the day at cricket....I did take my traveling paintbox but it never made it out of the bag....I had to paint from a photo last night when we finally made it home....not my favorite way to complete a daily painting but I painted.....and the discipline of finding the time to actually paint and complete something everyday is sometimes the most important aspect of painting daily!

The VALENTINES offer of purchasing a floral painting at $40 at the online store or R420 locally (contact me at heidishedlock@gmail.com) ends on Thursday 13th February. Anyone purchasing a floral painting will automatically qualify for the lucky draw to win "Cherries and lace" ....you could receive a little daily painting for free! The winner will be announced on Valentines day! Good luck....and don't miss out on being part of the fun! 

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Sunflowers #132

Daily painting #132. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel. SOLD

I had one of those "I told you so....!!!!" moments with my daughter this morning. Only problem is that the "I told you so" was directed from daughter to mother rather than the other way around, I have to admit!!! A friend, on reading about my Valentines flower painting idea sent me a message saying she loves seeing the daily paintings, and enjoys the proteas and roses (one of which she owns) however she would love to see me paint some sunflowers.... Little does she know Amy had only the day before tried desperately to convince me to buy some beautiful bright sunflowers from our local florist to paint! I had stood there debating the merits of painting sunflowers with a 10 year old, explaining that somehow sunflowers just screamed Van Gogh and I just couldn't bring myself to find the confidence to do them justice. Well now I had no choice but to give them a go...so off I went to the same florist today and came home clutching 3 sunflowers.....for Amy and Tersia!

If you didn't read about my VALENTINES offer yesterday....painted flowers will last a lifetime, so all floral paintings in the store are $40 or  R420 if purchased locally, contact me at heidishedlock@gmail.com . Anyone purchasing a floral painting (view them all by clicking the highlighted writing below) will stand a chance to win the little painting "Cherries and lace" ....all names will go into a draw, the offer closes 8pm SA time on 13 Feb and the winner will be announced on Valentines day! So someone will be getting a little surprise on Valentines day.... 2 paintings in the post instead of 1!!

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Protea study #131

Daily painting #131. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

This time next week it will be VALENTINES DAY! While I have to admit to not ever making too big a fuss over Valentines, I will also admit to enjoying being spoilt or made to feel special every now and again! But the idea of getting flowers at Valentines sends my head into a spin....flowers (especially roses of course) quadruple in price and quite frankly I find it ludicrous! So if you do enjoy a spoil at Valentines why not hint to your hubby to buy you a painting of flowers instead! A painting will last a lifetime....your real flowers (especially in South African heat) will be lucky to make it through the week!!
I have decided to sell the last remaining flower paintings (all roses, proteas, lavender and aloe...there are not many) at R420 locally in SA (incl postage) or $40 through the online store. For local purchases you will need to contact me privately heidishedlock@gmail.com

AND.....every person purchasing a floral painting will enter into a draw to win "Cherries and lace" !!!  Purchase a floral painting and you will automatically stand a chance to win the little painting and receive 2 Paintings in the post! The Valentines special will end at 8pm (SA time) on Thursday 13th Feb and the winner of the lucky draw will be announced on Valentines Day! Someone is going to get a little extra spoiling ....

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Liquorice Allsorts #130

Daily painting #130. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Liquorice Allsorts....yummy, fun and colourful....they take centre stage, climbing, tumbling, rolling and fooling around....a little bit of fun for the middle of the week!

130 paintings in 130 days today! As someone pointed out to me ...I have been painting little daily paintings for a third of a year!

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Pretty Pilchard #129

Daily painting #129. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

Another beautiful find at the market yesterday! I love to have a look at the fresh produce in the Seafood section but my daughter is a fussy seafood consumer and so I am limited in what I can purchase unless of course I plan on cooking 2 meals ....which of course I have no plan to do!!!! Two fish however that even the rest of the family, other than my Portuguese stepfather, would refuse to eat are sardines and pilchards! So I had to ask the man serving behind the counter if I could take a photo of his fish .....in the hopes that I could paint them later! He thought I was crazy but was obliging....so unlike my usual daily paintings which are almost always captured from life this beautiful Pilchard was  captured from a photo....I love the subtle colours and tones as the light catches it!

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Mango on a box #128

Daily painting #128. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

The heat might be unbearable at this time of year but one positive is all the delicious summer fruit that is on offer! I am especially enjoying the mangoes at the moment! I love chopping them and adding them to my plain yoghurt for breakfast. Today I couldn't resist buying a whole box of  mangoes. They were vibrant in color and delicious in taste....and even the box could be put to good use as a 'stage' for the star of the show....the mango! 

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Blueberries and a sugar spoon #127

Daily painting #127 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Today has been a family day....a lazy lunch catching up with family and relaxing on the verandah in the cool breeze. It has been MUCH cooler today....thank goodness! Family get togethers in our family always happen around the table and involve yummy food. I think I am going to have to spend the rest of the week eating fruit and salad only, to compensate for my indulgence....however life would be dull and boring without a little indulgence every now and again!

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Cricket ball #126

Daily painting #126. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas

We have spent the entire day around the cricket field! My son had a school match today ...it started at 8.30 and only ended at about 4.30....and the game was called as a draw!!!! For those of you who have been following my blog you would have heard about cricket before....my son LIVES to play cricket (a very popular summer sport in SA)and my husband is a professional cricket coach who runs his own cricket academy so there is LOTS of cricket in this house! It is a LONG game....and today was a LONG game on a VERY HOT day! My son collapsed into the swimming pool when we got home and shortly after that he collapsed into bed! Granny and Grandpa are coming for lunch tomorrow, but other than that I think a quiet, relaxing day will have to be the order of the day tomorrow!

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