Protea #489

Daily painting #489 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Without a doubt, one of my favourite flowers!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Too hot...and wilting!

Daily painting #488 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I am finding myself wishing away the summer at the moment! This Durban humidity is a killer!

These little 4inch paintings are really hard to photograph and the cropped version doesn't give a true reflection...here is a photo of the little painting that hasn't been cropped...

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details )

Asparagus #487

Daily painting #487 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Fresh asparagus on the menu in the Shedlock house tonight....along with lemon and herb roasted chicken! 

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Wasp #486

Daily painting #486 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel 

There is a persistent wasp who is determined to build its nest inside my house! It has tried making its home in numerous rooms and I am often gently trying to shoo it out of the window only to find a little muddy nest already half built on my curtain (the stain impossible to remove!). I have found little half built mud nests under chairs, on a lamp, tucked into the corner of a bookshelf, in folds of my curtain, in a jar on my dressing table......how persistent can a wasp be?! I know it is the same wasp because it is unusually larger than normal.  Wish he would get the message and find another home, preferably outside! 

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details )

No sleep #485

Daily painting #485 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Up and awake early this morning after a rather sleepless night. It is HOT and my mind seems to be spinning! It's like I just couldn't find the off button enough to settle into a deep sleep. Today is going to be a struggle....and insomnia must be the worst form of torture!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Yellow pincushion #484

Daily painting #484 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

Proteas are South Africa's national flower and there are thousands of different varieties. The pincushion is just one of the many and the bright coral red is the most common thereof. Today I managed to find some pretty yellow pincushions. In the summer heat proteas tend to last a bit longer than other cut flowers so hopefully I will get to enjoy this one for longer than a few days!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Last cherry #483

Daily painting #483 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

Over the Christmas season there is an abundance of cherries in the shops but now they are becoming harder to find! So the last little cherry....for now!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Two apricots #482

Daily painting #482 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

Two lonely apricots hide in the shadows on the shelf in my studio....

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details )

One cloud #481

Daily painting #481 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

This week has been busy and crazy!!! The days seem to have blurred into one but tomorrow is already Friday. A weekend is on the horizon....time to catch our breath!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Summer roses #480

Daily painting #480 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

Summer time is never a good time to keep roses inside. It is hot and I find they don't last too long in a vase so I haven't had any roses around the house in ages. They wilt off quickly sometimes before the buds have even opened! These roses however are hanging in there....and I am wilting in the heat instead!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details.)

Apricot halves #479

Daily painting #479 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Breakfast.....only I didn't have just one!!!!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Apricots #478

Daily painting #478 6" x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I am loving all the delicious summer fruit....sweet little apricots...the perfect mouthful! 

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art

End of the holidays #477

Daily painting #477 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel 

Another wonderful holiday season comes to an end! My children start school again this week and my son begins his first year of High School (Senior School). He is all packed and ready to leave in the morning to go to a 2 day orientation program with all the other new Grade 8 boys at his new school. Exciting times ahead...but for now I am enjoying the last few hours of our weekend and our holiday!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art

Salad onions and a braai #476

Daily painting #476 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

One of our weekend rituals is to have a braai (barbecue) ....my husband loves lighting a fire (no gas cooking in our house) and cooking over hot coals. It is his way to relax and it has become a traditional weekend family time when we all gather together, laugh, talk and enjoy one another's company. My husband is away in Cape Town on a cricket tour and so Ross decided it was his time to step up to the challenge and take over from Dad at the helm of the braai! It is the first time he has braaied on his own and his Dad must be a good teacher...he made a great fire and cooked the meat to perfection! My daughter made some roasted potatoes and a delicious fresh salad. I was so proud of them and even more proud that they insisted on having our normal family time together...even though Dad was missed! It is a wonderful thing to watch your little boy becoming a man ....and making a good braai is like a South African right of passage to manhood...at least in our house! Watch out Andrew, you might be about to loose your favourite weekend place at the braai!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings in the online store)

Beetle #475

Daily painting #475 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

My daughter found this beautiful beetle yesterday. It looks like the beetle's intricate patterns have been painted with a very fine paintbrush! It's back to school and back to teaching this week but I am already dreaming of our next trip to the bush. It's a busy term and with school sport on the weekends I am not sure when our next trip will be...we might have to wait for a while and my kids are going to have to find interesting creatures and birds in the garden instead....not quite the same!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing above to view gallery of available daily paintings in the online store)

Sushi date #474

Daily painting #474 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

My daughter was at a friend's house yesterday so after taking Ross for a 'school boy' haircut, I treated him to a sushi lunch date with Mom! I love it that at almost 14 it is still cool to have a lunch date with Mom....or maybe it is just that he LOVES sushi! My daughter doesn't share our mutual love of sushi so it was the perfect time to indulge! I love having one-on-one time with each of my children and Ross hasn't exactly had the most exciting end to his holidays after his eye procedure.

I had to take a photo of the sushi and I painted it when I got home. I always think sushi looks so pretty! I do not often paint my daily paintings from photos....I usually have the object in front of me so today was a bit of a challenge....the light in the restaurant was bright and the photo was taken on my iPhone. Not ideal but I had fun....the most important part of painting! It didn't go unnoticed by the 14 year old that it is NOT COOL for your mom to be rearranging and photographing her sushi, and the likes of "Mom, you're wacky" or something similar was muttered! A life lesson ....life is boring without a little bit of wacky! To this he laughed and said, "I couldn't agree more!" Thank goodness he agreed....this mom just saved face and hopefully the rights to another sushi date with her teenager sometime soon!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details )

Crimson bouquet #473

Daily painting #473 6"x6" oil on primed canvas board

Some 'pretties' to share with you today from my house to yours! My husband is away and the house seems so quiet....it's awful when someone from the family is missing! Thinking of all my friends whose children are leaving to start the new term at boarding school for the first time (our boys are starting their first year of high school/senior school) in the next few days...have strength...the mommies always need it more than the kids! Ross has chosen to stay at home and is going to a local boys school and right now my heart is grateful for his choice! New adventures await our boys in the next week...

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Brinjal (aubergine) #472

Daily painting #472 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

Brinjal... Aubergine... Eggplant whatever you name it, the colours are gorgeous and rich! I went to the market today for fresh produce and I always find it such a sensory experience. The colours, smells, textures...a sensory feast! This brinjal is about to be chopped and sautéed off with a little garlic and cumin!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Morning coffee #471

Daily painting #471 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Lots to get done today! My children begin their new school year in just a weeks time and I still haven't finished sorting out stationery and school uniforms. I will be teaching Visual Art part-time at a local girls school and so have lots of planning to do and I have 4 commissions that need to find their way onto my easel....daily paintings....posting paintings...invoicing....cataloging daily paintings from the holidays...replying to messages and emails....organizing private painting classes for 2015....and my studio looks like a tip after the holidays! My husband is also off to Cape Town on a cricket tour so single mom for a week...which I don't mind at all. So much to do...but not before a morning cup of coffee!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Pain candy #470

Daily painting #470 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Wherever possible I will always try to go the natural or homeopathic route but over the last few days I have gladly handed out these little painkillers to my son...and he has accepted them gladly, like a child accepts candy! Anything to dull the senses! I am happy to say that today he is much better! For the first time this afternoon he said he didn't think he needed any pain medication and although he  still has a lot of discomfort and a concoction of eye drops that he needs every couple of hours, I am delighted we can say goodbye to the little green and red painkillers! 

Last time I painted my mum's medication I got some really strange messages from people ...one kind lady even sent me links to self help rehab programs. It was clear many of the people had not read my post....so I post this random painting today with a smile knowing that someone out there is going to think I have lost it! I never think too much about what I paint...it would take me too much time and I would never get around to it ...so something random yet significant from my day!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Morning...with no sign of rain! #469

Daily painting #469 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I was awake so early this morning. It was hot and sticky and I had been plagued by one lonesome    mosquito all night! Quite frankly I am convinced there is nothing more torturous or detrimental to your sanity than one little mosquito making sport of dive bombing your ears in the night! So I was up with the sun....it looks like the heat is continuing and no sight of any rain clouds. One of the dams up north, Hazelmere Dam, which feeds the water supply to most of the northern suburbs is sitting at 35%  full and all these areas are on severe water restrictions. We are in desperate need of some rain up country to full the rivers and dams again. It would also be great to have a respite from the heat. I am dreaming of standing outside in rain.....but it doesn't look like any is heading our way just yet! Today is going to be another hottie!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Band-aid #468

Daily painting #468 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

If only 'fixing things' was as easy as putting on a band-aid! I remember a time when my kids were little when the slightest bump would send them running for a plaster (what we tend to call a band-aid)  and they would proudly don their patch like a war medal! Well a plaster is not going to do the trick now but we are focussing on healing and Ross is feeling better today, although still on strong medication. His sight is slowly coming back and he is keeping sunglasses on at all times and staying out of bright light. The terror of suddenly not being able to see is very real! I am grateful though that this procedure is going to prevent the need for him to have a cornea transplant and quite frankly when I watch the news at the moment my troubles are really quite insignificant. I always turn to gratitude ....if one can find gratitude for even the smallest thing ...you are heading in the right direction I am sure! Thank you to all of you that sent messages yesterday for Ross or responded to my post ....I was so touched that people from all over the world had read my post ....and taken the time to respond! Love, kindness, empathy and gratitude are better than any band-aid!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details )

Keep drawing ... #jesuischarlie #467

Daily painting #467 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Today has been an emotional day! My son had to go to the hospital to have a procedure done on his eyes this morning. We are home and he is in such agony (despite strong medication) and cannot see at all....it will get better! The 'mamma bear' in me is heartbroken that I cannot take the pain away! It is late and I have only just painted after watching the news channel to catch up on the awful events that have played out in Paris. Watching the gathering of people in Paris with pencils raised set me off on a massive  big sobbing session which had probably been brewing all day as the 'mamma bear' in me tried to be brave! I feel devastated for the families that have been affected by this awful massacre ...it is a sad reflection on humankind that some can feel justified in killing others. So through teary eyes,  I raise my pencils tonight in my studio (with my paintbrush) to all those who lost their precious lives in such an awful way..... #JeSuisCharlie #CharlieHebdo

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and all purchase details)

Ripe nectarines #466

Daily painting #466 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

Back to reality with a bump! I did what felt like a never ending pile of laundry, took Christmas decorations down and packed them away (my worst chore), went shopping for school uniforms for Ross who seems to have grown SO much in the holidays and also managed to do a large grocery shop! Shew I think I need a holiday! I was planning on getting back into my studio to do some work but that will have to wait for tomorrow, other than doing my daily painting and loading it online, I really haven't spent much time in my studio and my emails are starting to look like my dreaded laundry pile....never ending! It's time to get back to work....and some healthy habits!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Five roses tea bag #465

Daily painting #465 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

The last few days have been so relaxing. I have almost finished 2 books, spent some quality family time with my special people and managed to continue daily painting! We headed on home today as we did exactly a year ago when I painted my last Pumula painting...painting #100. How awesome it felt to have reached 100 paintings back then! Today I have reached 365...plus 100 more! 465 daily paintings in as many days......I have surprised myself!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Looking up #464

Daily painting #464 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Lying at the swimming pool on a pool lounger while my kids swim. This is what I see when I look up...blue skies and palm trees! What a beautiful day even though the heat is almost unbearable. I struggled to paint outdoors without my sunglasses on so this was a really quick one...looking up! I did get a few sideways glances from others at the pool who were chilling with magazines, books or cocktails....I had my paint box!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Flapjacks and berry jam #463

Daily painting #463 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Flapjacks, griddle cakes...or as we call them crumpets! Just one of the delicious things served today with an assortment of jams, berries and fresh fruit! Have I told you how delicious the food is here? The best part is that I don't have to cook it! Delicious food, plenty of rest, the ocean and a good book....what a way to start 2015!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art

(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details) 

Pumula late afternoon #462

Daily painting #462 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

We arrived at Pumula around lunch time to the most glorious weather. My children couldn't eat lunch fast enough to get to the pool for a swim...it was around 37degrees Celsius and the humidity levels added a good few extra degrees! By late afternoon when I finally found some quiet time to paint the sky had turned grey and the day's heat seemed to be brewing a huge thunder storm. Distant rumbles of thunder could be heard as I painted and I anticipated a good African thunder storm....but nothing materialized ....at least not at the coast! Pumula is a Zulu word meaning 'to rest' ...and this really is a place of relaxation. Below is a photo my husband took from our bedroom...so beautiful! How privileged we are to be able to spend time in the bush only a few weeks ago and to now be at the beautiful coast. South Africa really is a beautiful and diverse place. Only an hour away from Durban but heading west we would come to an amazing mountain range called the Drakensberg....bush, sea, mountains ....how lucky we are! A trip to the mountains will have to wait for another holiday! For now I am enjoying this beautiful coastline and a special place that we have been visiting for ages....a place that holds a bucket load of treasured memories for us!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing  to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Lilies #461

Daily painting #461. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

I was given these beautiful lilies over the festive season and it is SO hot at the moment they are literally opening before my eyes. A closed up bud one minute and the next I walk past and the bud is opening. I have felt a bit like a wilted flower today....the heat has been incredible and leaves one feeling lethargic and drained. A load of washing hung out to dry was almost dry by the time I had finished hanging the entire load! Tomorrow we are heading off down the south coast to our favourite little beach spot! I better make sure the sun cream is packed....it's going to be HOT! My paint box is packed and ready to go....

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Cherry and brandy Christmas cake #460

Daily painting #460. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas  panel

Today was the last day of the season's festive feasts...a traditional lunch on New Years Day at my mum's house. The last of the feasts ....and the last festive season painting until next year ....heaven willing I am still daily painting! My clothes are all feeling tight, a price to pay for all the feasting! For someone who loves to cook, I can honestly say I am tired of being in my kitchen! On the 3rd of January we are heading off for one last get away before my husband returns to work. We are going to a place called Pumula down the south coast. For those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you will know this summery place on the beach has a special place in my heart....my children have grown up here and we have been holidaying there since before Andrew and I were married! One of the best things about a trip to Pumula for me (besides quality family time) is that the food is delicious and I don't have to cook it!!! So I guess my clothes are going to get tighter still ....it is going to have to be back to some exercise and seriously healthy eating when we return! All the feasting is taking it's toll....and NO more cherry and brandy Christmas cake for me!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)

Old year, new year #459

Daily painting #459 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

It is the afternoon of the last day of 2014....and my last daily painting of the year! I have completed 459 daily paintings in as many days ...and 2014 is my first full year of daily painting...one each day of the year. 2014 you have been kind to me! As I bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new year, I am grateful for the health, determination and passion that has kept me going throughout the year. Who knows what 2015 has in store but I am ready to give it my best shot! Happy New Year to you all....wherever you may be....make 2015 a good one!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click on the highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings and for all purchase details)