Blue skies, blossoms and birds #168

Daily painting #168. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

So if you read the title of the painting before reading my blog post, you will be forgiven for thinking "Birds, what birds?" Yes, I know there are no birds in the little painting, just a quick painting sketch of a tree! This afternoon my daughter and I were sitting upstairs marveling at all the beautiful birds that visit our garden and the public gardens which borders our house. From our upstairs veranda we overlook the tree tops of this garden and yesterday we couldn't believe the amazing variety of birds that we were finding.....and I have to admit that I am no avid bird watcher....so other than the more common birds like Kingfishers and Weavers and Barbets, I was unable to identify most of them! What we also noticed was one tree in particular which stood out with its beautiful pink blossoms amid a sea of different tones of green. This beautiful tree reminds me of a Cherry Blossom tree but I know it is not! The tops of it looked so striking against the backdrop of blue sky.....so a quick little painting sketch to remind me to notice the beauty on my doorstep a bit more often!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings)

Rose in a silver pot #167

Daily painting #167. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel 

This little rose broke off close to the stem the other day when I was arranging a bunch in a vase. I placed the little rose into a little silver pot and popped it onto the kitchen counter....it has lasted much longer than the rest if the bunch! It has opened up into a lovely full bloom and although the petals are just starting to fall it still looks beautiful! A little rose for your weekend....have a fantastic weekend everyone! This time next weekend I will be in Cape Town with my cousin Candice from Chicago....I just can't wait!

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

Morning, with a hint of autumn #166

Daily painting #166. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, on my personal page not Paintings in the post, you would have predicted that today's painting was of the morning sky! It was so incredibly beautiful that besides painting it, I couldn't help taking a few photos on my iPhone as the light changed and the sun tried to make its way through all the rain clouds! Of course I had to share at least one photo with my friends and family! The contrast of the light and the moody rain clouds made for a beautiful treat. Even better, there was a beautiful crispness in the air, even after the sun came up! Autumn might just be teasing us, but it was fantastic to not wake up to sweltering heavy heat! Autumn in Durban is THE best ....and it might just be on its way!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click highlighted writing to view gallery of available work)

Old brush #165

Daily painting #165  pen, ink and watercolor on A5 watercolor paper

I have been busy in my studio with a couple of other projects today and only started getting set up for my daily painting later this afternoon only to discover that I had forgotten to prime some more little canvas panels! I normally prepare about 20 of them at a time and have had such a busy week that I didn't realize until yesterday that I needed to prime more canvases.....and of course this morning I forgot! I like to give the little boards a couple of layers of gesso with a light sanding inbetween each dry layer so they really need a day to prepare!
So my daily painting is another little pen, ink and watercolor painting.....of the old Chinese brush I use to apply the layers of gesso. Maybe if I paint it and leave the brush sitting on my work table, it will be the first thing I see in the morning and the old brush will serve as a reminder to prepare some more little canvas panels!

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

Spoon No.2 #164

Daily painting #164. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

Same spoon....different day, different weather, different time, different light.....different colored  silver spoon!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click highlighted writing to view gallery of available daily paintings)

Silver spoon #163

Daily painting #163. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

The last few days seem to have revolved around food with all the birthday celebrations! Delicious lunches, dinners, cakes, puddings.....oh my....too much delicious food....time to slow down! How very lucky we are and how grateful I am for special family times like these!

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art
(Click highlighted writing to view gallery of available work)

Dad #162

Daily painting #162. 8"x10" oil on primed canvas panel  NFS

I have to admit to starting to draw this painting up last night while my husband was at a rugby match. It is slightly larger than my normal daily painting and I have had to try work on it without him seeing,  so I completed the painting today and will be giving it to him tomorrow with all his other birthday presents! By the time this post goes live in the morning it will be Andrew's 50th birthday!

"Dad" is a painting of my father-in-law, Peter Shedlock. Andrew's Dad passed away last year and I know that not a day goes by when he doesn't miss him. As he raises his bat to celebrate his 50 tomorrow, I know his Dad would have been so very proud. Proud of the gentleman he is and proud of the loving and devoted husband and father that he is to us.
So..."Happy Birthday" and blessings for the year ahead....all our love and wishes Heidi, Ross and Amy xxx

Purchase paintings at Heidi Shedlock Fine Art