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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Garlic cloves #120

Daily painting #120. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

We have had a busy week and another busy week is on the horizon so today was a 'stay-at-home-relax-family' kind of day! My best! Relaxing at home on a Sunday usually means we will braai (barbecue).....my husband loves to stoke up that fire and cook over the hot coals! Today instead, we decided to make a traditional South African meal called a potjie. Potjie directly translated in Afrikaans means little pot. So essentially it is a type of stew (there are millions of varieties) cooked in a traditional African black pot over hot coals. The pot gives the meal a distinctive taste and the coals add a subtle smokiness. So while my husband gathered, chopped and peeled the ingredients I sat keeping him company and painting one of the ingredients. I am amazed at the huge variety of colours in garlic....beautiful subtle tones! My husband did at one stage glance over my shoulder and question what the 3 blobs on the canvas were....but a beady glance kept him quiet thereafter! He redeemed himself by cooking up the most delicious meal.....!

There are only a few more days left of the 30/30 challenge and today marks 120 paintings in 120 days for me! By the time this post goes live it will also be day 3 of my JANUARY SALE! All prices displayed in my online store have been discounted ...some of them by as much as 50% so be sure to not miss out if you have had your eye on a little painting! Please contact me if you have any questions on heidishedlock@gmail.com. To view available daily paintings in the store gallery click the blue highlighted writing below....

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Orchid detail #119

Daily painting #119  6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

The orchids on my verandah are about the only flowers that are not wilting and dying after only a few days in the heat we are experiencing at the moment. Flowers in a vase are drooping after just a day or two! This heat just saps your energy....thank goodness for swimming pools to cool off!

Today is day 2 of the January SALE ....yesterday the sale got off to a great start! So if you haven't had a chance to look ....there are some real bargains! It's time to make way for some new daily paintings! All prices displayed in the shop are the discounted prices. Prices are displayed in $ if you live in South Africa please contact me for the price in ZAR (South African Rands) and to receive FREE POSTAGE which I am offering for the duration of the sale! Email me at heidishedlock@gmail.com The sale ends 31 Jan at 12 pm SA time.

View the gallery of available paintings by clicking on the highlighted writing below or by going to www.paintingsinthepost.tictail.com

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art

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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Patriotic Protea #70

Daily painting #70  6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board   SOLD

Still a bit patriotic today ...but on a much lighter note....

I was painting in the studio and my son was standing behind me watching! He thought it was wonderful that I was painting a Protea in support of our National Cricket team (whose official team name is the Proteas). Being cricket crazy (cricket is a popular sport here in SA) both my son and husband are off to watch the Proteas take on the Indian cricket team here at Durban's cricket stadium tomorrow! So of cause I must be painting a protea as a show of support... according to my son! Well I didn't have the heart to tell him that cricket was the furtherest thing on my mind as I sat painting and my choice of protea had something to do with shape, colour, texture and a genuine love for the flowers, rather than anything to do with patriotic support for our national team! 

That being said, hope the Proteas (as in the team) have a great game tomorrow! I think the girls will be heading off instead for some retail therapy (dreaded Christmas shopping actually) at our local mall. Don't forget to visit my new online store, use the code JINGLE and redeem 30% off the purchase of a daily painting ....if you too are in need of a little retail therapy or perhaps a little spoiling! Happy shopping ....

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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!