Cherries on the shelf #243

Daily painting #243. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

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Cherries are not really in season but I found some in one of our local supermarkets and couldn't resist buying some. They taste awful and have been imported and flown in from some far off place and although they look delicious, they taste just plain bland and nothing like cherries at all. However they are the most delightful little studio models! I love painting cherries! 

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4 inch nail #242

Daily painting #242. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel 

So why a 4 inch nail you are asking yourself right? You would be forgiven for thinking I had finally lost the plot, however this little painting made me realize even more so the value of little daily paintings....

Firstly a construction company finally arrived to fix my kitchen ceiling yesterday which collapsed due to a leaking geyser....I think I told you about it...but after nearly 3 weeks of haggling with the insurance the repair work finally started! Last night after they had cleared themselves out (my house looked like a war zone for most of the day), I found this huge 4 inch nail lying on the kitchen counter...it looked like a weapon of sorts! With all the chaos I had yet to find some quiet time to do my daily painting and so my children joked about the 'lethal looking' nail being the subject of my daily painting.....it seemed rather a stupid thing to paint but I decided to give it a go....a little bit of quirky every now and again is good....

Well little did I know what I was in for....something so simple should be easy to paint! HA! Think again!!! I struggled for ages to try create the form and the subtle contrast between object and shadow....I struggled to create the illusion of the actual object as opposed to something that just looked like a stripe along the canvas! I struggled with the subtle tonal values and neutral color! Wow who would have thought a little 4 inch nail would take so long to paint! I am reminded again and again of the value of painting these little daily studies. They are little struggles that challenge my technique, commitment, perseverance and even my nerves....it is not about WHAT I paint but HOW I paint it! These little daily challenges and struggles are necessary to make me a better painter and hopefully provide more insight when I am tackling larger pieces of work. I am humbled by the little 4 inch nail in the knowledge that there is always much to learn in this journey as a painter ....one really is a constant student and as long as we remain eager to embrace struggles there is always more to learn...even if as in this case the teacher is a simple 4 inch nail!

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Sennelier paint tube #241

Daily painting #241 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

Last week to make use of the FREE POSTAGE worldwide for month of May offer so visit the online store!

Well I never did get around to painting the roses. We have had such high midday temperatures (around 29-30 degrees Celsius) that the two roses in the vase looked awful by this afternoon when I returned to my studio to work on my little daily painting. (In a few days time it is supposed to be winter!!!!) Besides that I didn't really feel like painting more roses....so I was secretly pleased but was now lacking inspiration for what to paint today...
Well what can be more inspiring than a heavy, full tube of juicy luscious paint! I couldn't paint without a beautiful deep rich crimson as part of my palette and I am particularly fond of the Sennelier crimson....it is a deep, rich color....almost yummy!

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Rose #240

Daily painting #240. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Only 1week left of the FREE POSTAGE worldwide for month of May offer so visit the online store!

On opening up a wrapped up bunch of roses the other day to place them in a vase, I realized that two of the roses had damaged stems. I cut them both down and placed them in a separate little vase and took them up to my studio thinking they would be the perfect little models! Well I haven't really felt like painting roses and so they have been left sitting on their little still life stage, neglected. They have now opened up completely and probably only have a day or so life left in them ....this bloom is starting to droop over....and I am feeling guilty at not having made good use of some perfect little models! So....another rose....perhaps tomorrow I will paint the whole vase and both roses....

Tomorrow this large canvas (2m by 1.2m) will be heading off to its new home. I showed you the size of the canvas a while ago, comparing it to the size of the little daily paintings! It's been such fun working on such a huge canvas again, especially because I know it is going to a special family! I have to admit though I am going to miss not having the ocean indoors any longer....

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Little milk jug #239

Daily painting #239. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

LAST WEEK of the FREE POSTAGE worldwide for May offer! 

It has been a busy weekend....10 little girls for supper and a sleep over! A belated birthday party for my daughter! Wow, I need a weekend now.....! They all had loads of fun and it was lovely to have them stay over but I have to be honest, that cup of tea once everyone had gone home was the best cup of tea ever! This is one tired Mommy......

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Mini Rosa Tomatoes #238

Daily painting #238. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

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These little rosa tomatoes never last long in my fridge! They are small, sweet and burst with flavor as you bite into them! Perfect for salads, roasted (in good olive oil and balsamic) or as a snack just as they are .....

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Orchid #237

Daily painting #237. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel  

FREE POSTAGE worldwide for remainder of May....one week left of this special offer so visit the online store! 

One of the orchids on my veranda is flowering again.....such a delicate bloom! These buds are so heavy however that they are hanging over with the weight...

I want to say a huge thank you to Garden and Home magazine who have featured Paintings in the post in the June edition! How exciting....a big dose of gratitude to Candice and the rest of the team!

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