Old friends #115

                       

Daily painting #115. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel  SOLD

It is so good to have all the ladies arriving back at the studio for classes! Not only is it great to discuss new projects with them, it is also lovely to hear everyones news from the holiday....like catching up with good friends! Many of the paintbrushes haven't been pulled out of the bag since our last class (oh dear!!!)....but it won't be long before they too are feeling like old friends!
It's time to get those brushes to work again....

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Uprooted #111

Daily painting #111. 8"x10 oil on stretched canvas

The KZNSA gallery is having its members exhibition from 21 January to 16 February. The theme for the exhibition is Grass Roots. Today's daily painting "Uprooted" will be submitted for the exhibition.  "Uprooted" by definition suggests ....to remove or tear away from a native place or environment...to displace, as from a home or country; tear away, as from customs or a way of life....
Rather a melancholic take on the theme, but having said goodbye to so many friends and family who have moved abroad, the theme once explored, evoked a very real emotion....

 This painting will not be available for purchase on my online store. Anyone interested in purchasing the painting should contact the KZNSA gallery directly. And just for the record ...my grass in the garden will no longer need a trim....I just about pulled out (what felt like) every blade of grass in my front garden to try find one with a root interesting enough to paint!!!

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Hot like chillies #106

Daily painting #106. 5"x7". Oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Two red hot chillies embrace.....

Hot hot hot.....heat of a different kind....inescapable, humid, sweaty, unbearable, heat!
Welcome to Durban at the moment! The rainy spell we had a month or so ago is really causing havoc with the humidity levels, which can add a couple (more than a couple) of degrees onto an already unbearable temperature! Some parts of the world are freezing over and we are sweltering, melting, dehydrating!! Bizarre weather or global warming dealing its punishment....?
A few days ago I shared this photo with some friends.....

.....and this candlestick doesn't stand in the sun! The drooping candles are a result of the room temperature!!!!!

You know it's hot when even the candles can't cope......









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Early protea #105

Daily painting #105. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

After my late night last night, I was in my studio early this morning....before the day ran away with me again! Dirty paintbrushes had been abandoned in jars of turps and the proteas were still posing on the table next to my easel.....SO ....another view of the proteas...from a different angle (placed into the shadow of my still life 'stage')....painted at a much more sane time of day!

Day 12 of the 30/30 challenge done and dusted (before midnight this time!)

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Midnight protea #104

Daily painting #104. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

I thought I would paint something typically South African today ....I seem to be the only South African artist doing the 30/30 challenge.....I think....! So of course I chose my favorite flower to paint....the protea! The protea is our National flower and there are 100's of varieties ....I could never get bored painting them! They are not so easy to find at the moment as they are out of season and the price for just one stem has nearly doubled....but fortunately they are so striking in texture, colour and form that  just one protea in a vase looks just perfect too! 

My protea sat on the kitchen table waiting to be taken up to the studio to paint....it beckoned to me...teased me....and by late afternoon was tormenting me....but somehow today was just too busy, the hours rolled into one another, my children had friends over to sleep and before I new it ....it was close on 10pm and I hadn't made it into my studio yet!!!!

Well I have to admit to dragging myself into the studio, once everyone was finally asleep.....I thought that perhaps today might be the day I just don't do a painting....BUT....I got started....and soon I was hooked....the sudden quiet of the house was a welcome pleasure....and my tiredness melted away as I relaxed into my favorite space (physically and mentally). It is midnight ...and now I am wide awake, but I painted the protea....and I am so happy I did!

The joys of painting daily! 

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Baby Aubergines No.2 #102

Daily painting #102. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

I promise not to bore you with more aubergines after today, but this is the other little baby variety we found at the market yesterday (about the size of a small pebble). I have actually seen these ones before but not the long finger-like variety I painted yesterday. I would think baby aubergines (also known as eggplants) could be really bitter, however a friendly lady who was scooping handfuls of these into a bag yesterday, told me how she cooked them up....diced with onion, garlic and a variety of Indian spices and served with a yogurt dressing on the side. She is vegetarian and sounded like she was passionate about cooking! The longer variety I painted yesterday are apparently delicious used in a pickle (pickle meaning a type of relish eaten with a meal) . After sharing her culinary secrets and seeing my obvious interest in the aubergines she asked what I intended to cook....well I had to be honest and confess to picking out the nicest looking ones to paint! The poor lady looked at me in shock.....let out a giggle of disbelief and continued her shopping! No worries....sometimes I think I am a little crazy too...but it's the little bit of crazy that keeps me sane!!!! 

I do however intend to not let these little gems go to waste and I will give the Spicy Indian Aubergines (my own version thereof) a try....

Are you following the 30/30 challenge? See all the paintings (including mine) here.

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End of the Season (cricket ball) #55

Daily painting #55 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board  SOLD



It is the end of a season. Endings make way for new beginnings. We are nearing the end of another year, (our school year runs Jan-Nov), another happy term of studio classes is drawing to an end and the first half of cricket season is almost up!

Cricket is  a popular game in South Africa and while I may not have a sporty bone in my body, I am married to a professional cricket coach. My husband Andrew runs his own cricket academy called Shedders Cricket Academy, and naturally my son too, lives to play cricket! If you don't know anything about cricket....cricket usually lasts the whole day....sometimes it can last 5 days...it is a long game that I have had to learn to enjoy watching, but it is time consuming to say the least. Cricket season is always a busy time in our house!

So finally we have reached the end of another season, cricket kit (and tired bodies) can be given a rest. The studio exhibition was a great success, only a few more days of school and ....another 'season' is over....think it's time for Summer holidays!