Purple and Red Flowers with leaves – watercolor on 140# Arches Cold Press
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. It’s been crazy busy and now I must run out to watch my nephew’s crew race.
I got a mother’s day gift from my dog Kaiya. Hmmm, She doesn’t work. I wonder how she bought it, wrapped it and left it on the counter for me. Does she have money and credit cards I don’t know about? Oh well, I guess I will remain ignorantly blissful about things like that. 🙂
Spring seems to have finally arrived. I painted some purple cone flowers and some red flowers above using a reference photo from my friend in class who is from that no-left-turn state, New Jersey. The state that mocks me. But in fact these flowers were found in New Jersey so I dedicate this painting to my cousin Anthony and his partner Dayle who always tell me that NJ can be beautiful.
And for a final sign that spring has arrived, here’s a photo of the beautiful Cherry Blossoms from the Esplanade during the Cherry Blossom festival last week.
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
60 comments
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May 8, 2011 at 11:18 am
Jimmy
I thought the cone flowers were a photo !
Happy Mother’s Day to Millie and V and all the rest of them.
xoxox
May 8, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Carol King
Millie and V and Alice and Gina and Lois and…..US! 🙂
May 8, 2011 at 11:26 am
Mary Schwalm
What did Kaiya get you? Would your husband be jealous? Did the dog set the standard, for say, another celebration date?
May 8, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Carol King
Kaiya got me the gift that YOU suggested to Matt. What did jpeg get you?
May 8, 2011 at 11:49 am
AKLizzy
Gorgeous painting!!! I am so impressed!!!
Cheer for the dudes in a boat for me!
Love you!
May 8, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Carol King
Thanks Lizzy, I guess you liked this so much you commented twice. Well, that’s ok. I like to see you here.
May 8, 2011 at 12:14 pm
christine
great painting – but why are the cone flowers called “purple”? yes: and cheer loudest for the coxswain!
May 8, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Carol King
I do not know why they are called Purple. I do know they are also called Echinacea.
I cheered loudly. The boys came in 2nd, but they still qualify for the next round. Yay!
May 8, 2011 at 1:14 pm
jaybastian
Very beautiful, Carol. What a lovely painting.
May 8, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Carol King
Thanks Jay, So nice to see you. 🙂 When I started this painting I said to myself, oh, this is so going in the trash. But then something happened. I pushed it and pushed it until I liked it.
May 8, 2011 at 1:23 pm
AKLizzy
Goregous painting!! I am so impressed!!
Cheer loudly for us!!
Can’t wait to see you in July!!
May 8, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Carol King
Thanks so much Lizzy. The boys came in 2nd. They rowed hard, but got beat by Fordham. The same team they beat last week. Looking forward to seeing you in July too.
May 8, 2011 at 1:31 pm
dana
You do so brighten my days with your blogs. Love your sense humour and warmth coming across.
May 8, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Carol King
Thank you Dana for your kind comment.
May 8, 2011 at 3:27 pm
nicola (pointypix)
Carol, that painting is amazing-i honestly thought it was a photo! Happy mother’s day-am very impressed with your fur baby’s level of intelligence and ingenuity! :0)
May 8, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Carol King
Hi Nicola, Glad you like the painting. My dog is either very intelligent or knows how to manipulate her dad! I’m going with the latter.
May 8, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Bonnie Luria
Carollaaaa, I too thought that painting was a photo. What great energy in the way you put it together. Vibrant and beautifully rendered.
Kaiya, is no fool. She knows where her kibble is buttered.
Neither is Kaiya’s daddy.
May 8, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Carol King
Bon Bon, Not a photo and actually it was almost trash. I started it and then thought to myself, what crap! But I decided to try some fun techniques like negative painting and pulling up areas and next thing you know I got something I liked.
And Yes, Kaiya and her dad are no body’s fools. 🙂
May 8, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Donald Diddams
I don’t know about NJ, but those coneflowers just about jump off the page! Beautiful.
Now about your dog… I wouldn’t worry too much unless she starts getting up in the night and using that credit card to order dog treats from Amazon.
May 8, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Carol King
LOL! How’s life going for you off Island? Thanks for your comment on the painting. My dog, well, she’s got more looks than brains. But now I’m going to check the Amazon account for excessive activity in the dog treats dept.
May 8, 2011 at 5:59 pm
steve x
Carol, I love the painting and I love your humor, but most of all, I love you. Can’t wait to see you!
May 8, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Carol King
Hi Steven, Are you going to be at Alice’s for the 4th? Can’t wait. Hope to see you and Lisa soon. And thanks for your comment on the painting. xoxox
May 8, 2011 at 9:35 pm
steve x
We are definitely going. wouldn’t miss it.
May 8, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Debbie Adams
Beautiful Painting, Carol! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 11:51 am
Carol King
Thanks Debbie, Same to you. Hope you are enjoying your time in Hatteras.
May 8, 2011 at 8:06 pm
cathy bockel
You didn’t know your dog has charge cards… let me tell you i am always after my dog she is constantly getting into my purse taking the charge and running to doggie day care to hang out with her friends.She has even been bold enough to get her nails done! i’m tellin you, just be thankful your dog thinks of someone other than herself:)
Seriously fantastic painting. It is amazing.Coneflowers are a favorite of mine and i have never been able to paint them like that. The dark center with the orange spikey things… how didi you do it? awesome.Happy spring and mom’s day!
May 9, 2011 at 11:54 am
Carol King
Hi Cathy, Those dogs are too much! LOL. I just stared and stared at the orange spikey things until it dawned on me. I had already painted the top of the flower orange, so I put frisket on it and then painted it with a really dark color (black made from red and green). When I took the frisket off, I had the orange on the black background.
May 8, 2011 at 8:14 pm
cathy bockel
oh my goodness i have missed so many of your posts. I always love the painting and the wonderful insights you share. Just finished reading bikes in nyc. Your posts are happy reading for me and great art. You have been very productive. I guess i have been so stressed and overworked … you know us slacker teachers, riding the gravy train and all.. anyway i am thoroughly enjoying your posts and great art. Dog sketches, park scene wonderful. i’m getting motivated!
May 9, 2011 at 11:56 am
Carol King
yes, I know all about you teachers and your exhorbitant salaries and benefits packages! Really, who cares if our kids get a good education!!!
(in case anyone couldn’t tell, that was sarcasm.)
I’m happy you enjoyed the posts and the art and that it got you motivated. I look forward to see what you’re up to.
May 8, 2011 at 10:38 pm
lesliepaints
WOW!!!! I’m going BONKERS! This is absolutely gorgeous! I just sat and stared at this ever-so-long! The darks and the “LIGHT”. You rule. …and Happy Mothers Day to you too. Kaiya counts, she just enlisted the help of “The Husband”, I’m sure. I really want to know how long this painting took you because it appears to be a lot of work. I hope it is getting entered in a show.
Love the photo of the cherry blossoms, also. I mowed the lawn today and felt like I was in another world as the wind was blowing all the petals from my flowering pear and scattering them about me as I trolled back and forth. Wonder what it would be like to stand under these trees as the wind starts scattering them.
Beautiful post for a Mothers Day!
May 9, 2011 at 11:58 am
Carol King
I think this painting took about 4 hours or so. It’s not as big as my usual ones, I will have to measure it and post the size. I loved painting this so much. It was so relaxing doing the negative painting behind the leaves and so much fun too.
I love when the trees drop their flowers and the (in my case) sidewalk is a carpet of pink or white.
May 8, 2011 at 10:47 pm
aswirly
Hooray for Spring!! What a lovely watercolor painting. This is simply beautiful Carol. I just love how you captured the center of the flowers!
May 9, 2011 at 11:59 am
Carol King
Hi Amber, thanks for yoru comment. It’s finally spring like here and everyone is much cheerier!
May 9, 2011 at 8:17 am
Cathyann Burgess
Impressive painting Carol. The circular composition is perfect.
The work on the leaves alone is awesome. Great job.
You have a very attentive pooch(and Hubby):-) lucky girl.
The Yorkie has been at my side since I’ve been ill, he even brings his toys to me to cheer me up. Amazing animals, dogs.
Happy Spring to you …finally, eh?
May 9, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Carol King
Cathyann! How are you feeling????? I hope you’re better. And I’m glad to hear your yorkie is taking care of you. (Not that the husband isn’t.)
I cannot say enough times how this painting almost went into the trash. But somehow it told me to keep going. I’m glad I did. (The painting talking to me interfered with the voices in my head, but luckily the painting was louder.)
May 9, 2011 at 11:50 am
asmalltowndad
Beautiful painting, Carol! The colors just makes the flowers leap off the page.
May 9, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Carol King
Thanks Ryan, I see you, too, did a beautiful flower painting on your blog which I’ve come to see a few times but haven’t commented on yet. I will do so immediately.
May 9, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Alex Zonis
This is a totally fantastic painting, Carol! The realism is wonderfully handled to just the right degree, very precise yet not overdone. Love the color contrasts. Really love everything in it!
I was thinking about you and wondering what are you up to since there was a bit of a break in your blogging. Now I know, and to quote yourself – “It was worth the wait!” 🙂
May 9, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Carol King
Aw, thanks Alex. sometimes it just gets super busy and working full time can suck the creative life out of me!
I’m glad you like the painting. And I appreciate your comment that it was “worth the wait.” 🙂
May 10, 2011 at 3:59 am
Zeinab-Art
wow! you are a great artist, do you know? I thought they are real 😉 and also I like your smile.
May 10, 2011 at 9:05 am
Carol King
Hello Zeinab and welcome. Tahnk you for your kind comments about the painting and about me! 🙂
May 10, 2011 at 7:06 am
rahina qh
hey Carol, you hae been busy painting! and such lovely pieces… i paricularly like the way you have used these colours together, and anyone who can use water colours… well i gotta take my hat off to you:) lovely work!
May 10, 2011 at 9:08 am
Carol King
hi Rahina, Thanks so much for visiting and commenting. I like the color combinations too. Thanks!
May 10, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Rick Daddario
bwahahaha – you have one great canine. lucky you.
yeah, i’d just accept the gift and may be return a little extra scritching and hugs unless you start getting hidden charges on YOUR CC.
aloha Carol. i like painting those dark areas between the leaves and petals – i like the way they pop out when i do that. i’ve found i can do almost anything with color for the leaves and blossoms if i have an accurate drawing as you have for shape – and then paint the negative areas around the leaves and petals and zing. way cool and fun. aloha.
May 10, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Barry Coombs
I remember the first time I tried foliage with a negative painting approach. Like you, I thought it was terrible. I put it away for a few days and was greatly surprised when I next looked at it. It was if talented elves had finished it. The approach was a real revelation and an important learning experience. Nicely done.
May 17, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Carol King
Thank you so much Barry. All I want to do right now is negative painting. 🙂
May 11, 2011 at 10:27 am
Joan T
Beautiful painting of the NJ flowers!!! The cherry blossom festival must have been great. I got to paint in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens recently and the trees were awesome.
May 17, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Carol King
I don’t live far from the BBG. Wish I had known you were there. The rose garden should be in bloom soon. I will have to visit again. The cherry blossoms where spectacular this year.
May 11, 2011 at 12:02 pm
sam
You manage to make coneflowers look tropical, even jungly… not as in a weird dream but as in a monkey. Actually coneflowers in a jungle with a monkey sound like a pretty weird dream. Oh well, your coneflowers are pretty.
My dog did not give me a Mother’s Day anything. I oughta replace his roasted pheasant foo-foo food and find some antique Gainesburgers. I think they were recalled sometime in the last century. He’ll probably love ’em.
May 17, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Carol King
I don’t know about you, but my dog will eat the most disgusting stuff off the street. And in NYC, there is lots of disgusting stuff on the street. Give that doggie a good talking to! Thanks for your comment about my monkey cone flowers.
May 12, 2011 at 3:35 pm
lindahalcombfineart
Your painting is beautiful! I love coneflowers. Did you know they now come in white and even yellows?
May 17, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Carol King
I did not know that coneflowers come in other colors. I do know they use the purple ones for echinacea.
May 12, 2011 at 3:44 pm
northpenninegallery
This is lovely Carol, simple and clean. You’re still life of flora is always so wonderful.
May 17, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Carol King
Thanks very much Keith. You are too kind.
May 15, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Francis
The colors of the flower is so real and impresive. Thanks for sharing the cherry blossom, they are gorgeous. Have a good week ahead.
May 17, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Carol King
Thank you Francis. I hope you have a good week too.
May 18, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Artswebshow
This is one absolutely stunning painting.
Nicely captured cherry blossoms too, spring is definitely here
May 20, 2011 at 7:33 am
napabelle
I agree with Leslie, this must have taken a while to do ! this is spectacular and glowing ! Bravo, and Happy Mother’s day !
June 18, 2011 at 9:58 am
Stephen
YOOWWW-EEE – amazing work Carol – Well done – What a treat!!! Stephen
June 21, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Amanda Hogan
Wow! I love your painting the color is vibrant.