Quick morning study #319

Daily painting #319. 5"x7" oil on primed canvas panel

Today has been one of those crazy, manic, hectic, rush...rush...rush kind of days! You know those days...we all have them! I woke up just knowing that finding time to paint or even get into my own studio was going to be tough! I taught a painting class this morning, had a meeting straight after and then a million things to do in the afternoon after which I knew I would only stumble through the door after 6.30pm with my children and still have to face cooking supper! So one thing daily painting has taught me is discipline .... I got home from dropping Ross at school and went straight to the cloudy view from my bedroom window over the green tree tops of the public gardens next to our home and I painted quickly ...without too much thought ...for the short 20 minutes I had before getting ready for class. So this is the result....a quick study in paint! It is not a masterpiece but I share it anyway with pride that I did it at all! Another reminder to me that just when you think you can't do something, if you set your mind to it and make a decision to try ....it's a step in the right direction! All those things I thought I wasn't going to have enough time for today ....well they all got done...and I survived. The only family member who didn't seem to cope with the day and adopted the attitude of 'wake me up when this is over' was my cat Shelly who tucked her face under her back legs, hid from the world and had a hard day sleeping!

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Pink #318

Daily painting #318. Stretched canvas

I know....there have been a lot of 'pretty pinks' on the blog lately but my house has been full of flowers and because I am one of those flowery types of girls (florals are my best....even in my clothes!!!) I just can't help but want to share them with you! I hope I am not chasing away any male followers with all the 'pretty'  but I think I feel a little spring in the air! No more pretty for a few days...I promise!
This daily painting will be for sale at the annual Montpelier fundraiser(along with a couple of other larger paintings) but if you are interested in purchasing it and are not able to make the fundraising exhibition please message me privately heidishedlock@gmail.com . Montpelier is a local Durban school which holds an annual fundraising exhibition and local artists are asked to participate in the event. I have supported them for a couple of years now and the next event is coming up in September.

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Long handle and short handle #317

Daily painting #317. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

I am very particular about my brushes and I am usually quite pedantic about my care for them, especially my trusty long handles which I seem to automatically reach out for, especially when working small! Usually a long handle brush and holding it as far back as I can does the trick in keeping my mark fresh especially when I work on such little canvases which prior to daily painting I would never have considered working on! This weekend however I worked with some good old short handle household paintbrushes, but this was for a different kind of painting ....I was painting up some old furniture. I was tired by the time I finished and gave the brushes a quick rinse but didn't pay them too much attention. I still have quite a bit of furniture I am wanting to paint, but I am going to have to buy some new household brushes.....my lack of TLC has resulted in hard stiff brushes that will be awful to paint with now! If this had happened to my trusty old long handle oil brushes I would with out a doubt be in FLOODS OF TEARS!!!!! Maybe I should just stick to oil painting and leave the furniture painting for someone else to do! Or maybe I should just wash my short handle household brushes with more care....

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Market candy #316

Daily painting #316. 6"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

Some pretty pink eye candy from the market....I do love proteas!

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Hot English Mustard in a jar #315

Daily painting #315. 6"x8" oil on primed canvas panel SOLD

The object has been the muse of artists for centuries and for me in particular the object holds a special interest. The objects we surround ourselves with tell a story about who we are, what we do, what we like. They often hold personal significance or at times are banal....a part of ordinary everyday life! As an artist my interest is in the relationship that I have with an object and how others bring their own meaning, stories or significance to the same painted objects. Almost a year ago I painted a little daily painting called 'Mustard' it was #95 in the daily painting series. I loved hearing the story and the significance of the little painting to its new owner. It is a delightful story of friendship, common interest and ritual and the perfect example of how the simple object can hold so much meaning! So this little painting is about to join the story....a story of partners! Here is the little painting's partner 'Mustard #95'.....

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Weekend #314

Daily painting #314. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

It is almost the weekend...I have no class today ....and am looking forward to some time in my studio! I can't think of a better way to get to me in the mood for some studio time, than an early morning start!

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Pink wild pear #313

Daily painting #313. 4"x6" oil on primed canvas panel

There is nothing more touching than receiving a hand picked blossom from someone's garden! Today one of the ladies in my painting class walked into the studio with this beautiful flower picked from her garden as she was leaving for class...how touching! Robyn did tell me the botanical name but I probably wouldn't get it right and besides I love it's common name....a Pink Wild Pear!! It is like a little sweet smelling ball of soft little pink flowers and is just too pretty. It also smells like someone just opened the honey jar ...sweet and rather delicious smelling! My little bee that I painted yesterday would have loved this flower as much as I do! It is indigenous and I am definitely going to look out for one next time I am at the nursery! 

Thanks Robyn....your little gesture made my day!

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