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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Plum and cardamom jam #103

Daily painting #103. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

I found a glass jar of organic Plum and Cardamom jam (jelly) made at a little organic farm up in the KwaZuluNatal midlands and thought it sounded rather unusual and delicious! I also love supporting local producers so I had to buy some! Granted cardamom is something I would associate with a curry rather than a jam, but I know it is a spice used in many Indian desserts or sweet dishes and so the combinations of the spice with the plums sounded delicious....AND IT IS....but not according to my family who have, to my dismay, judged the jam before even tasting it! An even greater dilemma is that I simply cannot finish off the entire bottle on my own (I could quite EASILY do so!!!!!)  and so I decided to share a great big dollop of it with you.....

10 days into the 30/30 challenge....a third of the way there!

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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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Baby Aubergine #101

Daily painting #101. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

One of the joys of returning from holidays is that there is no food in the house and loads of dirty clothes! So yesterday was spent doing laundry and buying groceries at our local shop and the market! The laundry and the grocery shop...I can do without! But I love going to the local fruit and veggie market! The colours, textures and smells are so appealing to the senses...it gets both my painting and my culinary creative juices flowing! We have a large Indian community in Durban and no store is without a section which caters for Indian cuisine  for example spices and unusual produce some of which I can't even pronounce the names of! I love Indian cuisine and love experimenting with the spices and flavours and often look at some of the produce and wonder what it is used for. The kids and I were looking at some of the produce yesterday and found a variety of little baby aubergines (also known as eggplant). I am familiar with large aubergines which I often cook with but was intrigued with these little varieties....all different shades and shapes! So of course I had to buy one or two to paint!

I have been so focused on counting down to 100 paintings in 100 days that I haven't told you about the 30 in 30 challenge! I have joined about 400 artists who have committed to completing 30 paintings in 30 days starting on the 1 Jan and running through to the end of the month. I have been painting daily anyway so I thought it would be a good reason to keep me going. Most of the artists seem to be from all over America and I thought it would be a great way to connect with other artists doing daily paintings! I am loving seeing everyone's work and the huge variety.....so today I am 8 days into the challenge....22 to go....  Take a look at the Day 8 collection!

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Last day at Pumula #100

Daily painting #100!!!! 8"x10" oil on primed canvas panel

100 paintings in 100 days!!!! YIPPEE!!! I can't believe I have had the discipline to get to 100 paintings in as many days....and over the festive season! Well it just goes to prove that mothers are always right....my mum always says you can do anything if you set your mind to it....and right she is!!! Thanks for all the comments and kind words along the way and a HUGE thank you to those of you who have purchased my little daily paintings! They have travelled to England, Scotland, America, Australia and all over South Africa....some of you being in possession of as many as 5 from the collection! Thank you to all of you for the support! I will continue to paint my little daily paintings....it has become so much a part of my daily routine...how far will I go....who knows!!!! But painting is what I love to do most....so I hope you will continue to join me on my journey of constant discovery ....

Today I worked on a larger format than normal....and this will be the last in my sea/sky scape holiday paintings....sadly holidays come to an end, but I do still have a few more days at home with my children before the new school year begins. I always feel heavy hearted leaving Pumula, but we leave knowing we will always be back and once you are home...well...there just is no place like home!

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First light on Umzumbe beach #99

Daily painting #99 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

We have had the most glorious weather for our holiday....summer at its best! But while I am gushing about summer, sun, beautiful beaches and fabulous days....my cousin in Chicago is experiencing blizzard conditions and -35C temperatures....I can't even begin to comprehend that .....

I think I am even more grateful for our warm South African climate when I read that! I hope the harsh conditions are over soon....

Only a day away from reaching 100 paintings in 100 days.....YIPPEE!!!!! So the big question is....Would you like to continue seeing little daily paintings? I would love to hear from you....please leave a comment if you have been following my project...I would love to meet some of the folks that have been following my blog....thank you!

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