Cold front coming.... #249

Daily painting #249. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Cape Town (the most southern province in South Africa) has been experiencing really cold weather and there is talk of the cold front moving up the coast towards Durban. Snow has been predicted over our Drakensberg  mountain range (no snow obviously for us here on the coast only huge temperature drops) and people are frantically booking this weekend away in the mountains in the hopes of snow....!!!! So this morning when the sun squeezed its way up under the heavy blanket of cloud I thought perhaps the cold front was finally here. Definitely not ....it has been a sweltering hot day with temperatures at 2 pm this afternoon still hovering around 33 degrees Celsius (sorry no idea what that is in Fahrenheit ). Although KwaZulu Natal winters are really mild and snow inland is a huge novelty, at this rate it feels as if winter might be giving us a miss this year! We are still wearing summer clothes and sandals with a light jersey (cardigan) on in the mornings and early evenings in Durban. No boots, scarves or jackets yet! Crazy weather .....climate change is happening!!!!

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Floral companions #248

Daily painting #248. 6" x8" oil on primed canvas panel

These soft pink beauties are keeping the plums, cherries and other obliging still life models company on the shelf in my studio....together they all make quite a beautiful arrangement of color!

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Two plums #247

Daily painting #247. 6" x8" oil on primed canvas panel

No one in my house is getting to eat these delicious plums because they have not left my studio. I love the rich ruby tones in them ....they look so good sitting up on my shelf! I wish I had a way of preserving their beauty other than with paint, that way I could keep them there to enjoy! Such juicy rich royal color!

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Comrades Day 2014 #246

Daily painting #246. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

As the sun sets in a golden sky this evening I am humbled by what is one of South Africa's biggest road running races ....the Comrades Marathon. As the sun is setting some runners are only just completing their race after starting out on the road this morning at 5.30 am to complete a distance of  89,28 kilometers (about roughly 57 miles....I think).  The runners run a route from Pietermaritzburg (inland) down towards the coastline to Durban....it is a grueling race with lots of hills and probably one of the toughest mental challenges these athletes will ever face. Thousands of people participate and many overseas athletes rate it as one of the best races in the world to participate in. I think this has less to do with the challenge of the race and everything to do with the atmosphere of sportsmanship, camaraderie and fellowship that this race brings out in the athletes. Thousands of supporters line the route from Pietermaritzburg to Durban to encourage the athletes along the way and provide refreshments. The atmosphere is amazing and I find it so emotional! My family laugh at me every year as I sit bleary eyed, tears streaming down my face watching people help fellow athletes, arm in arm to reach that finish line. Runners picking fellow athletes up off the ground when that finish line is in sight and yet their legs just will not move any longer.....athletes risking medal cut offs to help others cross that line! And my worst .....those brave athletes who have run the 89 kilometers and have the finish line in sight but just don't make it over before the gun goes off at a cut off time of 12.30 hours! My golly.....my nerves are shot watching the finish on the television and I salute all those athletes who crossed that line today (and those who didn't) and especially those that spoke words of encouragement or assisted in a way that helped someone find the will to carry on....you are all champions! I am blown away by the reminder again of the strength of human determination and how if we set our minds to something....anything is possible!

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Plums with blue and white #245

Daily painting #245. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

I love the way the juicy rich (almost royal) color of the plums is offset by the subtle tones of neutral and blue. I get such joy from working with paint and the richness and magic of color!

This weekend one of the little paintings were reserved in advance by one of my loyal Paintings in the post followers to celebrate a special friends 50th birthday! If you know you have a special day coming up like a birthday or an anniversary and would like to reserve the painting that will be painted on a particulate date and have some input into what you would like painted, I would be happy to oblige. Recently another Paintings in the post collector received a hand rendered voucher from some of her friends to spend on little paintings, so if you are not sure what a friend might like but would like to give the gift of a painting....a hand rendered voucher might be what you are looking for! I have also recently sent off a little painting as a wedding gift with a special message enclosed for the bride and groom! I love the fact that a little painting can be even more special to receive when given as a gift or to serve as a reminder of a special day!

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Peach and cherries #244

Daily painting #244 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

LAST DAY OF THE FREE POSTAGE WORLDWIDE OFFER FOR THE MONTH OF MAY!!!! So visit the online store!

My studio is starting to look and smell like a fruit stall or market (not that I am complaining) . All I need is a tub of delicious Greek yoghurt and I would have a feast of a breakfast right here in my studio! Although as I mentioned yesterday ....these cherries are good for nothing other than painting!

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Cherries on the shelf #243

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

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT OF THE FREE POSTAGE FOR MAY OFFER!!!

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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