Summer Aloe #43

Daily painting #43 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board. SOLD

The aloe is a succulent plant that is native to Africa....they are beautiful when they flower and grow in abundance in KwaZulu Natal. I am currently working on 2 large commissioned paintings for the board room of a South African company, but most aloes flower in our winter months and so I'm working from photographic references I took on my July trip to the game reserve.

Because I'm painting aloes at the moment, I'm drawn to looking at every aloe I see, observing shapes, colours, tones....and have felt cheated in not being able to enjoy the vibrant flowers which have already drooped and fallen with the onset of summer. I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful flowering aloe in my mum-in-laws garden!! It's beautiful coral blooms jumping out at me ....I couldn't believe my eyes! Apparently it is a summer flowering variety.....well ....you learn something new everyday!!

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Lavender and Rosemary #42

Daily painting #42  5"x7" oil painting on primed canvas board

Lavender is not something I would probably choose to paint....unless of course it was part of some beautiful Provence inspired landscape....but when I fetched my 10 year old daughter Amy from school, she was clutching this drooping, rustic, string bound bunch of lavender and rosemary from a farm they had visited on a school excursion. She smiled broadly and said "I love you Mommy" as she handed them to me....BEST bunch of flowers ever!! They had to find their way onto a dinky canvas as my daily painting, now they are fulling my kitchen with a beautiful 'French' perfume....happy Mom!!

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Starking Apples #41

Daily painting #41 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board

Starking apples are a delicious South African juicy red variety. They are crisp and sweet and I think I am as drawn to their flavour as I am to their colour! Sadly with all the delicious summer fruits that are available at the moment, these little beauties have taken a backseat in my fruit bowl and on my kids hit list....the humble apple is going to have to be used in a fruit salad I think!

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Red #40

Daily painting #40 5"x7" oil painting on primed canvas board

The colour red has so many different connotations...some positive, some negative. For me "Red" marks a milestone.... 40 days of daily painting....hooray!!! Thanks for encouraging me along the way....x

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Morning light #39

Daily Painting #39  6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board

Summer time means early mornings here in Durban! The sky lights quickly, the crisp, fresh light hinting at the heat the day will bring. The last 2 days have been summer days for sure, but the weekend is around the corner and it's bringing rain....typical!

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Closed Protea #38

Daily painting #38 6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board. SOLD

I found some beautiful Proteas at our local craft/foodie market called the iHeart Market to decorate my outside table for a dinner party this weekend. They were freshly picked, with petals closed tightly together, huddled up like they were protecting or perhaps teasing us that there was still more beauty to reveal...

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Market Plum #37

Daily painting #37  5"x7" oil painting on primed canvas board

While the weather might be trying to trick us that summer is not approaching...just not yet anyway...the fruit and vegetable markets are just smelling of summer!!! Heady sweet aromas of juicy tropical fruits....mmmm....and the colours!!! A feast for the senses....

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