China rose #367

Daily painting #367. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Something you may not know about me is that when my children were born I gave up full time teaching for a long time. Not being one to sit around and do nothing, my Mum and I started up a business called Shedlock House Interiors from some beautiful old out buildings from our home in Kloof (a suburb inland from Durban centre). We moved from that house almost 9 years ago but running Shedlock House Interiors with my mum was so much fun. We would trawl the antique markets and auction houses in search of treasures. We would buy up bits and pieces and old furniture which we would recover and restore with a shabby chick vintage look. Last week my mum found a box with a pile of old, beautiful plates. It must have been part if an auction lot we purchased way back then. Well I was delighted to rescue them from the dust and I now have some more interesting little treasure cluttering my studio which no doubt will find their way into my little paintings....

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Just another day #366

Daily painting #366. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas SOLD

The question everyone was asking me yesterday was ... "So what now?" Well, what else would I do other than paint....so today was just another day. Only I didn't stay in my studio I found my familiar and comforting little spot on my upstairs veranda overlooking the sea. We have had some much needed rain lately and so the sky has been heavy with clouds.

Thanks to everyone for the messages yesterday....it felt awesome to load daily painting #365 onto the Paintings in the post website....I hope you are visiting again today and will continue to visit regularly. I always struggle when uploading images of the sky because as you crop the image, it abstracts the image slightly because you are viewing it so close up....and quite frankly with the images of the sky, the image gets lost to a degree. So I have loaded another image taken of the painting to show you the difference (particularly with the sky paintings) when viewed from a regular distance and I have placed a pencil next to it to give you a true idea of the size....

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Sunny side up #365!!!!!!!

Daily painting #365!!!! (Yippee!) 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel 

365 DAYS OF LITTLE DAILY PAINTINGS .....what an awesome journey!

So how does one decide what to paint for your 365th painting ....a milestone worthy of celebration! Well that particular decision has been on my mind all week, until I suddenly realized at one of those 3am moments that I had to be true to myself and my year long journey. I NEVER know what I am going to paint and have never allowed what I am going to paint be an issue. My journey has simply been the recording of my everyday, banal existence in a hectic, busy life where I have tried hard to slow down and 'smell the roses' (there have been many roses!). My recordings have been of the ordinary, the seemingly unimportant which for some reason has caught my attention! And so I decided to not try too hard.... To keep it simple and record something ordinary from yet another simple day in my everyday life. The simple day which will forever be etched in my memory as the day I painted ordinary little eggs (breakfast) as the 365th painting in a year of daily painting! What an amazing journey of reflection and (most importantly) painting! Thank you to all of you who have joined me along the way .....I have made special friends (I bare my soul to you!) ....and I hope you will continue to follow along and share my journey with your friends! Tell others about Paintings in the post.....in the hopes that I can inspire a few people out there in some way or another. There are so many daily painters and what I have done is not new or novel, I just never thought I could do it! I encourage all of you to find the courage to do something you didn't think possible ...and hang in there(even when the going gets tough)....anything is possible if you start with the decision to try! 

 With all my love and thanks  x Heidi 

I will be celebrating 365 days of daily painting with an exhibition at Gallery 415 (above Spectrum Art in Umgeni Road). The opening will be on Thursday 30th October and no invitation is needed....all are welcome to join me. I would love to meet you if you have been following Paintings in the post. The exhibition will be open for 2 weeks. On Saturday 1st Nov I will be at the gallery giving a talk on my daily painting journey and experiences. On Saturday 8th Nov I will at the gallery painting a daily painting on site for anyone who would like to see. I hope to meet you there, both old and new friends alike!

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Studio proteas #364

 Daily painting #364. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

1 DAY TO GO!!!!! I can't believe it....I feel like I need to pinch myself!

I remember so clearly loading daily painting 100, it was at the beginning of January. It felt so good to be typing in a triple digit and 100 seemed like such a huge milestone! Tomorrow marks 365 days of little daily paintings .....and I sit back in my studio looking at all the little paintings feeling quite nostalgic and quite frankly in awe! We never know what we are capable of until we try. Some days have been easier than others ....and some little paintings have worked better than others (working on such a small format is NOT easy) ....there have been a few little gems and lots of (excuse the language) absolute bugger-ups! There have been times when I have had to substitute my trusty oils with watercolors and inks (which I am not as confident with) because traveling with wet paintings was not possible. There have been challenges and days when I thought I would just simply give up! But I didn't and it has become such an important part of my being that I am not sure I could survive without my meditative ritual.  Most importantly I have enjoyed the journey, grown, learnt so much about myself and best of all, regardless....I have painted...everyday! 

These 2 proteas have been keeping me company at my desk in my studio this week while I try to sort, document and organize ALMOST 365 daily paintings!

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Bot Gardens #363

Daily painting #363. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

ONLY 2 MORE LITTLE DAILY PAINTINGS TO REACH 365....I can't believe it!

Yesterday I painted at the Botanical Gardens and took some of the ladies who paint in my studio with me as many of them have never painted plein air and working quickly to capture is a good experience. I mainly wanted them to experience the joy of being outdoors to paint or draw ....it is a soulful experience! I have to admit though to finding a far off hidden, shady spot near the gardens workshop area as the gardens seemed to be teeming with tourists snapping their cameras and talking animatedly to one another in foreign tongues! I didn't feel like having people peering over my shoulder....so hid in a secluded little spot! 

The morning was great fun. This is about an hours worth of painting...I wanted to head off into the gardens to find some of the ladies and see how their little paintings or drawings were progressing! We ended the morning off with some tea and a few laughs .....a great way to start the weekend! Thanks to all of  the ladies who braved a new experience....hope you enjoyed it! 

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Visitors and roses #362

Daily painting #362. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

I had the most special visitor this week and she arrived with a bunch of yellow roses to wish me 'Happy 40th birthday"! When I lived in London almost 17 years ago, Mrs Peck was my landlady. She owned the house I stayed in, in Malbrook Road, Putney. She became like my 'English mother' for the time I spent over there and although we initially stayed in touch, we had sadly lost contact over the years. I was determined to try to track her down when I returned to London in July....I was not even sure she still lived in London! It's a really long story which I won't bore you with but I managed to find her and imagine her surprise when she arrived home from church one Sunday morning to find me on her doorstep! It was so special to reunite with her...she is almost 80 years old and yet looks just the same as I remember her! She is in South Africa visiting friends at the moment and popped in for some tea and a visit. I can't believe that I have seen her twice in 1 year after not seeing her for almost 17 years! It was wonderful to see photos of her grandchildren and her daughters, Belinda and Georgina, who I have such fond memories of. I hope to see her again sometime, which means another trip to London.....wishful thinking on our current exchange rate but one can always hope....(hint hint to my darling husband)

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Moth - an offering #361

Daily painting #361 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I know that some of you get uncomfortable when I paint strange (not so 'pretty') things like moths and medication ....and I will admit to having a giggle when I read and hear some of the comments. But this little moth was an offering left behind by my cat! It's wings were damaged and I don't really want to give much thought to his ending because that makes me feel uncomfortable! But by nature cats are predators, like it or not, and the fact that my little black and white cat (ironically named Noo-Noo) chose to leave his little catch in my new studio is a break through! I have often painted Noo-Noo and called him my studio companion, but my studio companion has deserted me since I moved into my new studio space. He clearly doesn't like it! He sits defiantly at the door gazing at me disdainfully through half closed eyes. My appeals to come in are met with a slight tilt of the head in the opposite direction....the kind of defiance that from my children would result in a scolding! His little routine and his daily habits have been disturbed but I am hoping to win him over....I miss my little furry friend in my studio! Hopefully his little offering left behind at my easel is his way of saying 'hey this space isn't so bad' and hopefully he will be back again soon!

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Thank you...x #360

Daily painting #360. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Sending flowers your way....from me to you...and hugs, thanks and blessings for all the beautiful birthday messages I received from all around the world! I felt loved, blessed and extremely fortunate to feel so much love on a birthday! It certainly was a special one! Tomorrow is a public holiday in South Africa so I will be celebrating over a lovely lunchtime celebration with my family and a very special friend! My cousin (she is actually like my sister) Candice will be there in spirit and I will be raising my glass to her in her absence for making this year (she made Paintings in the post go viral) the most unforgettable year! With only 5 days to go to reach a year of daily painting....I have lots to celebrate! Cheers to you Candice in Chicago....and to all the wonderful people that sent me messages.....thank you...thank you!

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A little piece of 40! #359

Daily painting #359. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I have had quite a few people ask me how I feel about turning 40. Quite frankly it feels no different to any other birthday and I certainly don't feel like I am about to hit a major (midlife) crisis....nor do I feel like life is about to begin (apparently life only begins at 40) ! Actually I have a feeling that tomorrow (today by the time you read this post)  will feel pretty much the same as any other special day surrounded by my awesome family! I am quite sure too that the day after will feel pretty much the same too! I am glad I am not buying into the whole "life begins at 40" story or I might be setting myself up for disappointment! I think what I am trying to say is that I am really quite happy with how life is treating me right now and I don't think it has anything to do with age and everything to do with choices.....to choose to be happy and grateful is a fine thing! Long may that last...regardless of my age! So tomorrow I will celebrate a coming of an age feeling grateful for all that has passed and hopeful and enthusiastic for all that is still to come!
A special Paintings in the post follower in Canada is celebrating her 60th birthday on the same day as me....so "Happy birthday Martine....from me to you! xx" (I hope you get around to reading this post)

Lastly I have some exciting news to share.....
There is going to be a Paintings in the post exhibition here in Durban to celebrate reaching 365 days of daily paintings! All the details will be shared soon!

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Glacé cherries #358

Daily painting #358. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

Time to do some baking this week....and trying to decide what to decorate the cake with. I wanted something simple. I thought these glacé cherries (the ones in the syrupy red juice) might look quite bright and cheerful. One of my children exclaimed "yum" and the other grimaced like they wanted to be ill! So it's back to the drawing board ....I bet no one will moan about grated chocolate instead!

It's a big week of birthdays and a whole year of little daily paintings to celebrate!

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Medication #357

Daily painting #357. Watercolor on A5 watercolor paper

I hate taking medication! But I have been struggling with a sinus infection and terrible headaches from the blocked sinuses and so I have finally given in ...and got some mediation to take to try clear it up! I even struggle to swallow the tablets which seem to sit momentarily in my throat resisting me as much as I resist them! I have tried natural nasal sprays and other things this week but nothing seems to have worked....so I am desperate! I even steered clear of my oil paints today, painting with watercolors instead. I know the turpentine, although it's artists quality, is havoc for my sinuses....occupational hazard perhaps!

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Four figs #356

Daily painting #356. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel 

For someone who nearly a year ago was terrified of publishing anything that I had written and felt more comfortable (and still do!) with images than words, I certainly have had a lot to say for myself in the last two days! 

So today is short and sweet....four figs from the painting demonstration, which wasn't so bad after all!

If you didn't see the image I shared yesterday of some of the little paintings I put out for everyone see....here it is below. I don't often look at them like this. I loved seeing so many little daily paintings together...like a reunion with close old friends!

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Fig #355

Daily painting #354. Watercolor, ink and pen on A5 watercolor paper

Today I find myself 10 days away from reaching 365 days of daily paintings...I can't believe a year has gone by so fast! The closer I get to this little milestone, the more contemplative I become over Paintings in the post, my daily painting journey and just what it all means to me! I have offered to do a daily painting demonstration for my painting students and the big day is tomorrow!
I have painted many times with people watching (but not for Paintings in the post...other than family peeping over my shoulder) so I have been puzzled today by the slight anxiety I am feeling at painting tomorrow with an audience! It has been niggling at me all day...is it the fear of failure...is it the fear of criticism....is it exposing myself in front of others to the roller coaster ride of emotions ("this will never work...yes maybe this can work") that daily painting pushes you through (I have written about this before) ...will the adrenaline help me produce something good or will tomorrow be a daily painting flop? When doing a painting demonstion one is normally quite organized and will know in advance what you are painting and have some ideas milling in your head as to how you might approach the painting. Well true to almost 365 days of daily painting, I have no idea yet what I will paint tomorrow ...I wish I did...and perhaps that is what is niggling at me?
I resisted painting in oils today. I haven't done a little watercolor sketch since my trip to England when travelljng with wet oil paintings was just not practical. I have no training with watercolors, but I love to play. I should refer to them as mixed media because although I use mainly watercolor, I also tend to add a bit of ink, pencil and pen in too if I feel like it. I find the process quite delicate and soothing and today it was good for my soul! It was also good for clearing my jumble of questions and easing my anxiety about tomorrow's painting demonstration. I realized that my nervousness has nothing to do with any of the above concerns and everything to do with the fact that tomorrow I will let a whole lot of people (special people at that) into my little haven. Daily painting has become like a meditative ritual ...a time of day when I can be alone with my thoughts and my often chaotic headspace. It is my breathing space in the day....my time for reflection ...my soul food ....my time to calm and restore (even when the paintings don't work!). Tomorrow I am opening up this very personal space and sharing it with others....and I feel nervous!

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Postage #354

Daily painting #534. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

A couple of months ago I came across an English watercolour landscape painter who also engages daily in painting charming little English landscapes. I loved the little works and started to follow his journey. I am interested to know what inspires others to paint daily as I do. I discovered that the artist had started up a postcard art group where artists around the world engage in sharing...posting off little postcards to one another as a way of sharing artwork, passion and inspiration. I have heard of similar projects before and so of course I was delighted when I was invited to join the group! A few weeks later I received some delightful little artworks in the form of postcards from all around the world! My sheer joy and elation at receiving something handmade in the post made me feel like a kid at Christmas all over again! It confirmed for me all the reasons why Paintings in the post has become such an important part of what I do! Besides being passionate about painting each day, I love the fact that my little paintings travel all over the world, that people are receiving something hand made in the post and that snail mail in this crazy, busy, internet driven world we live in, is still alive and thriving! The process of sharing through traditional mail carries a sense of nostalgia and intimacy which for me has such charm!

So this week I finally got around to completing some postcards to share. I only made 4 but I am in the process of making more! They were made using gouache, ink and pen and had a bright summery feel (summer is in the air here). They had the Persian proverb "the world is a rose....smell it and pass it on to a friend" inscribed on them. I love this sharing 'thing'....

My little postcards are headed off to 2 places in England, Sweden and Australia. I had such fun getting them ready and finding charming stamps to put on them. The little South African stamps at the moment have pictures of African beading on them and I especially loved the ones I painted today....they have little beaded ladybugs on them! 

The greatest excitement was taking my kids to pop them in the postbox ....have your children ever put anything in a post box? Well mine were fighting over putting them in .... A real novelty (my paintings are sent over the counter as packages not in the good old red box).

Such simple pleasure....a painting in the post!

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Iceberg #353

Daily painting #353 6"x6" oil on primed a canvas panel

We have had so little rain recently and my garden is quite neglected.....other than keeping it tidy, everything sort of fends for itself and nothing receives any special tender loving care. I keep saying I am going to spend more time in my garden as I actually love it, but there are just not enough hours in the day and even my herb garden is now down to those plants like Rosemary, Bay leaf and mint which just tend to themselves. But I have some iceberg roses planted in the front of my garden and at the moment despite the lack of sufficient water, they are yielding the most beautiful blooms....quite frankly I feel like I don't quite deserve such beautiful offerings....but I am grateful anyway! 

I have cut some for my studio to enjoy!

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Doughnut #352

Daily painting #352 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel 

I bought this doughnut on Saturday morning while out grocery shopping and on returning home, dumped the little packet in my studio with the idea of painting it later. Well....my studio has been a chaotic dump site and clearly my brain is in similar disarray....I forgot about it! I was looking for the envelopes to post off some paintings this morning and came across the little packet containing the doughnut ....thank goodness summer is not here yet, armies of ants would have been feasting in my studio by now!! Quite frankly leaving food around or even dirty plates is just disgusting! I am always nagging my kids to take things to the kitchen and not leave them lying around! They were completely 'grossed out' by my doughnut story and I guess I just lost a bit of respect next time I tell them off for leaving something lying around! 

So the very crumbly, stale doughnut finally got painted, I definitely didn't take a bite out of it and my kids are horrified at the waste of a jolly good doughnut.....but I like the painting so all is not lost!

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From my studio #351

Daily painting #351 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

I have so enjoyed getting the space which is my new studio organized and sorted this weekend. I am still not finished but at least the space is becoming easier to work in and the piles of books etc that had been dumped on the floor (and every other surface) is slowly being allocated a permanent space! The studio has 2 working areas, one of them being a converted kitchen area from a granny flat and this space is perfect for storage, priming canvases and for washing brushes! I took the photo below from the window above my washing area...washing brushes might just be more pleasant with a lovely view onto my garden! The other area is a working space...space for my easels...space for my desk, computer....and all the other 'stuff' that gathers in a studio...and it has double doors which open onto my garden. This little painting was painted from my new little spot late yesterday afternoon!

I think I am going to be happy in my new creative space!

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Three's company #350

Daily painting #350  6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel 

ONLY 15 days TO GO UNTIL I HAVE PAINTED A WHOLE YEAR OF LITTLE DAILY PAINTINGS!!!

These little bright red companions where keeping one another company at the breakfast table this morning ...the last 3 left from a delicious sweet tray of strawberries that I actually bought for the purpose of painting before eating....but they looked so good it didn't quite work out like that! So before the last 3 were eaten they were whisked off to the studio first!

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Toys #349

Daily painting #349. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

This little soft stitched bunny sits about 3 inches tall. I have been having a good clean out and doing lots of sorting with the alterations to the space for my new studio. I have donated lots of old toys and books that my children have outgrown....but some things I just can't bring myself to give away!

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Exam roses #348

Daily painting #348. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

My beautiful little 11 year old girl Amy is doing her ballet exam tomorrow. It is the last exam before she can get her point shoes which is a HUGE thing for any little girl who loves ballet! She practices walking on the tips of her toes in eager anticipation of those point shoes! Clearly I have not a single ballet dancers gene in me....I can think of nothing worse than my toes all squashed up in ballet shoes and my whole body weight balancing (I wouldn't be able to balance) on them...my poor toes!!

So a beautiful bunch of roses for my beautiful ballerina. To wish her luck....tell her we love her ....and remind her of just how beautiful we think she is ....with all our love Ross, Mum and Dad!
You will rock that exam my angel!

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Orchid time #347

Daily painting #347. 6"x8. Oil on primed canvas panel

My orchids I have to admit are quite neglected. Other than the occassional water, they don't receive any special orchid food or any special treatment despite the fact that I am told by many that orchids are quite temperamental! Clearly the trick is to have them growing in just the right spot...and I have discovered one, by sheer accident I might add! I have noticed that all of a sudden my orchids are not only full and heavy with buds again but they are also full of flowers! When did this happen and have I really been just that neglectful that I haven't noticed until now?
I saw a lovely little piece of writing today via a social network site and just had to share it with you...

Thank you Tyler Knott Gregson for the reminder! In the bigger picture who cares that the orchids are neglected (I just don't have time in the day for feeding orchids quite frankly) but I do plan to make an effort to enjoy the beautiful flowers that they are blessing me with! And I am definitely going to remind myself to 'swim'!

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Aloe #346

Daily painting #346. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

A school friend of mine whose Mum was in the very same hospital my Mum was in only a few weeks ago, passed away this week. There is such heartache in loosing someone you love...quite possibly the worst feeling in the whole world! It's left me thinking this week of life, loved ones and how precious this time we have is. My Dad passed away a while ago and not long after that my husband lost his Dad too...it was an emotional time and hearing of someone loosing one of their parents brings floods of emotions right back up there again! A special friend and kind soul gave me a beautiful big aloe to plant in my garden when my Dad passed away. My Dad and I were not as close as we should have been, my parents got divorced when I was 3 years old and the rest is a complicated story ....but the aloe stands in my garden and I can't help glancing in its direction each time I pass....

On the morning that my old school friend's Mum passed away there was a slight drizzle of desperately needed rain. Her words were simply..."my Mum has gone and she has sent us rain..." 

I thought that was beautiful! 

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Cucumber #345

Daily painting #345. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

The days are getting warmer and more humid....and so are the evenings! Summer is on its way! Just the right time of year to get back into eating delicious cold salads for supper....yum! Fortunately for me my kids love raw salad type veggies and so I love making all varieties of yummy salad type suppers. A much healthier way of eating and quite frankly....I could do with it! 

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End of the weekend #344

Daily painting #344 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

We have had boys staying with us from Johannesburg who were participating in the Inter-prep School's Hockey Festival that my son and his school team were playing in. So it has been a busy  weekend of watching hockey and feeding hungry exhausted teenage boys! Hosting boys is always special. These boys form amazing friendships and next year as they all move on to different high schools (many of the Johannesburg boys are coming to boarding schools here in Natal), they will meet again on the sports fields, renewing friendships! 

After the boys had been sent off on their way to the airport we gathered on the veranda for some quality family time...and of course my husband HAD to braai (barbecue). I love lazy Sunday afternoons like this. We laugh and spend quality time together and recharge the batteries for the coming week. The weekend ended with beautiful pinky salmon evening skies and a glass of Chardonnay!

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Blue and white pot and blueberries #343

Daily painting #343. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

A little treasure from my studio shelf and some left overs from breakfast....blue on blue!

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Morning #342

Daily painting #342. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Right, so firstly I have to just put it out there that this rates right up there on the scale of kitsch ....but I painted anyway to show you what has been greeting me each morning. The summer heat is fast approaching and the mornings are getting light early and quickly. The little birds are already sitting on the telephone wire outside my bedroom at first light waiting for the feeder to be full of food! It is the most delightful sight to wake up to....and I guess this is one of those moments that I tell my students about ....some images work better as photos than paintings! But I share paintings....and little snippets of my life ....so here it is in paint...rather kitsch but so what! Beautiful soft first light over the ocean and my little feathered friends! This is how I start my day....

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Geraldton #341

Daily painting #341 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

My new studio space is slowly starting to take shape and I am hoping to move in soon! Just a bit of painting and touch ups to do but I can't wait to move into my new creative space! The studio doors open up onto a patio area in my garden and I have been starting to plant some 'pretties' in this area....plants that my dogs won't eat! This space on the patio used have loads of herbs growing there but when my dogs (then puppies) arrived, the herbs were quickly demolished and the area became a permanent snacking ground for them! Today I bought this Geraldton Wax bush to plant there....it has a dainty little light flower and beautiful rich little red buds and the leaves are quite spiky....a bit like a Rosemary leaf so I am hoping the dogs will leave it alone!

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Afternoon #340

Daily painting #340. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

I didn't have much time to paint today! I taught a painting class in the morning, had a busy afternoon of hockey matches, ballet exam rehearsals and other activities that I ferried my children around to and in the evening I had some high school girls coming to the studio to do a bit of extra work...shew! So I had to squeeeeeze in a moments breathing space and painting time in the late afternoon, early evening. That time of day when the light is changing to golden, the birds are coming to sit on the telephone wire and the monkeys are finding a resting place in the trees....that time of the day when the 'manic spin' of a busy day is starting to unwind and slow down....the perfect time to enjoy a bit of breathing space!

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Smith's beach #339

Daily painting #339. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Today's daily painting is very different. Firstly I always paint my daily paintings plein air (on site) or from life (the object in front of me) and when I do paint from photos (not for daily paintings) they are usually always my own. But today's little painting is of a beach, Smith's Beach in Australia....and obviously I am not in Australia! I was asked to paint it as a daily painting by a South African friend who now lives in Australia. I have a couple of South African friends who now live there ....and a couple of my paintings living there too....I really need to visit! So this little painting too will be traveling to Australia and it fills me with joy that it will remind a family of a special place...special times...and happy memories! After all that is what life is all about...the places we go, the people we treasure and the memories we make.... 

(I do think I need to visit Smith's beach after seeing the photos!)

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Spring bunch #338

Daily painting #338. 8"x10" oil on primed canvas panel

Today's daily painting is slightly bigger than my normal postcard size daily paintings, for no other reason than I just felt like working a bit bigger today! You will also be forgiven for thinking that I am a day late in wishing my Southern Hemisphere friends "happy Spring" but what I paint today, I write about tonight and will post tomorrow morning ...so this was yesterday's (first day of spring) painting, although the weather felt nothing like spring! It was about 21 degrees by lunchtime but still chilly in the morning and the evening...chilly by our standards but probably considerably warm for some northern hemisphere climates. 

Spring always gives one the sense of new beginnings, fresh starts and rejuvenation. September is going to be a good month for me! Not only is it Spring, but I will take part in the Leslie Saeta 30/30 challenge, I will be turning 40 years old on the 23rd and a few days later I will have completed my goal of painting a whole years worth of little daily paintings! Lots to celebrate! Happy September! Happy Spring!

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