Visitor #86

Daily painting #86. 6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board

I was sitting on the floor in my bedroom wrapping Christmas presents with the door to the outside verandah wide open to try and get a slight breeze inside....it is extremely hot and humid after all the rain we have had. My attention was suddenly drawn to some birds that were making a huge fuss outside and I jumped up to see if maybe one of the cats were teasing them. I then realized what all the noise was about ...the bird feeders which usually hang up to attract all the beautiful birds we have around had been taken down during the rain and high winds we had not so long ago...and these little visitors were screaming for their food!

I put the feeder back up and for ages we had the little birds flocking back to perch on the railings, peck at the feeder, chirp and fluff out their feathers as if to say..."it's about time you put our food back!" I didn't realize how much I have missed our little visitors and can't believe I have been so busy I didn't even notice they were not there! Time to slow down and enjoy the little things I think....

One day to go until Christmas.... I hope you are slowing down too!

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"Spring onions #85"

Daily painting #85. 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board 

A delicious breakfast with my husband and children, a shop at the market (which included these spring onions), a long lazy lunch with family, good food and wine, swimming in the pool, beautiful weather.....I love the holidays!!! 

I also love the children's excitement at this time of year...Christmas is truly a magical time for them and they are counting the sleeps! I hope you too are finding some time to relax and not still falling in the trap of Christmas chaos and last minute shopping! If you feel like all you have done is shop around for the perfect gift for those close to you and feel like spoiling YOURSELF for a change....visit my online shop and give yourself the gift of a little painting! A painting lasts forever and is the perfect gift.... It gives you endless pleasure! You can visit the shop in many ways...click on "visit my shop" the rainbow coloured button on the left of the page or click on the link "Heidi Shedlock Fine Art" highlighted below or visit www.paintingsinthepost.tictail.com 

My online shopping site is a safe secure shopping option and if you live in South Africa you can always contact me directly at heidishedlock@gmail.com

With only 2 days to go, I hope you are starting to feel the "Christmas love"! I know I feel so blessed to spend this time with my family as, for too many, Christmas is sometimes a difficult time! I know I am counting my blessings!

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View on a Summers day #84

Daily painting #84. 4"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board

Yesterday our Durban weather came back to give us a slap on the wrists for moaning about all the rain we have had! It punished us with high humidity levels and a real 'stinker of a day' ( a slang way of saying it was just too HOT!). My children spent the day in the pool lathered in sun block lotion from head to toe! There was no way I was tucking myself up inside my studio to paint a still life!

So....I settled on my upstairs verandah! I could watch the children in the pool below and I had the most beautiful view over the tree tops and out to sea where a little ship was balancing on the horizon. It was so hot the light had a hazy, blurred effect and quite frankly I was forced, more than ever, to simply and quickly record in paint....the lure of my children calling for me to come join them in the pool was too great....I headed straight down to cool off  and have some fun with my kids! Summer is here....

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Two cherries and a silver Christmas ball #83

Daily painting #83  6"x4" oil painting on primed canvas board

I love the atmosphere of Christmas... There is something magical about this time of year! 

My cats are enjoying it too....the Christmas tree is a great source of entertainment with all those shiny balls just waiting to play 'hit and catch" and when they finally fall off, the shiny balls like this silver one are such fun to chase around the room!! Let's hope the whole tree doesn't come tumbling down!

 This silver ball was rescued from the cat yesterday, he was staring at it pawing the image of the cat reflecting back at him.... He just couldn't understand why I took his new found friend away!

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Protea for Christmas #82

Daily painting #82. 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas panel

So which flowers will be gracing my table on Christmas Day when the family come for lunch? 

Of course...proteas! Christmas decor with a bit of a South African touch! A bit of rustic meets traditional... Some grass hand woven placemats, glass, crystal, silver balls, rustic candle sticks and some beautiful vibrant proteas to take centre stage! Do you also have fun decorating the table for Christmas? Now that I have planned my Christmas table I need to give some thought to the menu...the only serious consideration I have given to food lately is when I am painting it! Tomorrow I need to find some culinary inspiration ....

Enjoy this simple protea... They really are one of my favorite flowers! I love the fact that yesterday I sat using tiny brushes to build up a fairly realistic image of mince pies. Today, I worked with bigger brushes, enjoying the build up of dollops of wet paint that could be moved around and worked back into. Teaching forces you to be able to move out of your comfort zone and embrace many techniques or else your students will all end up painting like carbon copies of yourself. I try hard to help my students find their own individual style. It has taken me a long while to embrace being able to shift the way I work with my brushes and my paint (depending on my mood) as being something positive rather than a hindrance ....it keeps me on my toes and keeps me experimenting with paint and every painting should be an exploration!

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Christmas mince pies #81

Daily painting #81. 5"x7" oil painting on primed canvas panel

Today has been a hard day ....we all have those sometimes! My mum was admitted to hospital for some tests and I have spent the day pacing around, doing nothing and worrying too much! I will get a real blasting from her if she reads this post...her attitude is always "don't worry it doesn't help...just makes you feel worse...and things always work out!" Well, I worried anyway and struggled to settle in my studio and actually couldn't even face up to doing any painting....

Then I started to read all the awesome comments from some of you who follow my daily painting. A loyal supporter (you will know who you are)  sent me a message to say she looks forward to my paintings everyday.... And another said she had been waiting to see some Christmas images....and there were many more encouraging comments ....wow...how you all cheered me up! You all made my day. I pulled myself together ....and painted...and loved it!

I am reminded of 2 important things today...

1. Always take the opportunity to say something nice to someone...you never know how much they might be needing your generosity of spirit (thank you people)
2. When I avoid painting....it is normally the time when my head (and soul) need it the most! So paint...

Kind people, painting, coffee and delicious mince pies saved the day.... Thank you x

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Christmas tree #80

Daily painting #80. 6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas panel

Today I have completed 80 days of little dinky daily paintings...random recordings of the mundane and everyday! With Christmas only a week away, I decided it was time to add a bit of festive cheer! A random recording of  a shiny Christmas bauble hanging on the tree... I love Christmas trees!

This year my children decorated the tree ....they wanted to do it by themselves! I think they did a fine job....don't you?  So in the lead up to Christmas .... Stay safe, have fun, love those close to you, take some time to slow down and recharge...most importantly remember the reason for the season!

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