Summer mango #68

Daily painting #68 5"x7. Oil painting on primed canvas board

It has continued to rain on and off again today so I had no choice but to paint in the studio. A few days ago I found some delicious green mangoes at the market and they are beginning to ripen and full my kitchen with the most heavenly summer scent of sweet tropical mango! I can't wait to be able to enjoy them for breakfast but considering our weather has been anything but summery with all the rain and clouds I decided to bring a little bit of summer onto my canvas. Hope you can ALMOST smell that sweet scent of tropical summer too.....

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Garden Aloe #67

Daily painting #67. 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board. SOLD

We have had SO much rain lately....even as I write this post this evening ....the rain is lashing against my studio window! We seem to go to sleep most nights to the sound of rain...we have had tropical storms and huge winds but thank goodness, being summer it is not cold! This morning we woke up to sunshine (although by lunchtime it had clouded over again) and it was so lovely to be outside in the garden, I couldn't resist painting outdoors today....something I haven't been able to do in a while!

I sat painting a large aloe that grows at the side of my house. I have to own up to using a bit of artistic license ....the flowers are actually dead, drooping and about to fall (it flowers in winter) but I couldn't help enlivening them on my little canvas. I love the coral tones in the flowers and besides....the colour 'coral' is the latest fashion trend....I am told.... and we can all do with being a little trendy every now and again....even an aloe!

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Jam sandwich #66

Daily painting #66  6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board

The humble sandwich has found its way onto many artists canvases....I tend to associate sandwiches with school lunch boxes!!! In South Africa our children don't eat school lunches provided by school. We have to send a snack and packed lunch with them to school, although most schools have a shop (known as the 'tuck shop') where you can purchase food and sweets etc ...it tends to be used more for a treat than providing daily sustenance! My kids are a bit spoilt. I tend to make an effort to pack delicious lunches! So my morning routine once the family are up and in the kitchen (and a cup of coffee is down the hatch) is to set about packing lunch....a chore I am delighted to have a break from when the holidays arrive!

So....NO MORE sandwiches and school lunch boxes for 6 weeks....YIPPEE!!! 
(I think many Mums will agree!)

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Holidays begin #65

Daily painting #65  6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board

It was a good feeling this morning to wake up to holidays (read "long summer vacation"dear American friends out there)!!  I am an early riser, the early morning is my best time of day, so of course I was still awake EARLY! I could enjoy the morning...no morning school rush! There was time to enjoy...go slow...drink an extra cup of coffee and ease into what the day had to offer. Early mornings are always full of anticipation for what the day may bring.... right now I am anticipating a good summer holiday with loads of quality family time...my best!

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A row of red #64

Daily painting #64  4"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board

Sorry to bore you with more cherries....but I just can't get enough of these juicy little crimson gems! They have taken centre stage again today...an upright leader setting them straight...another raised in applause ... one turning shyly away ... and others taking their final bow....a royal show of crimson!

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First cherries #63

Daily painting #63  6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board

It must be nearing Christmas....cherries are on sale again at the market and the food stores! YUM!!! I love cherries! Fresh, juicy little treats that even look like Christmas.... like shiny red Christmas baubles...good enough to eat!

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I had to share these sweet little images with you ....

My daughter Amy, who is 10 years old and loves spending time pottering around in my studio, decided to start a little daily drawing in one of her sketch books. Tomorrow she will do daily drawing #30 and I am so proud of her! Every afternoon she finds an image in one of her picture books and focusing mainly on shape and spatial relationships she does her little drawing completely independently...no help from busy Mom! She is self motivated and so enthusiastic....daily completion of an image takes dedication...I am so proud of her commitment and passion...long may it last!

Paintbrush #62

Daily painting #62  4"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board  SOLD

It is the end of the last full week of studio classes for the year...WOW... how fast the year seems to have flown by! Hope the paintbrushes aren't left to go hard over the holidays...

Keep those paintbrush miles ticking over ladies... keep those brushes working!
Happy holidays....