Red rocks of Utah – work in progress on 1/4 sheet of Arches 140 lb cold press
As much as I talk about it, retirement is no where in my near future. But it may be in the Husband’s sooner rather than later. He’s got 19 years with the NYPD and although not wanting to, he may retire at 20 years as a result of injuries incurred on the job. We’ll see. And boy did he like Utah when we visited 4 national parks in that state in September. I recently told a friend that the Husband keeps telling me he wants to retire to Utah. This friend looked at me with a straight face and said “you’ll be arrested”. I’m not sure about that. But I’m pretty sure they won’t get my jokes. Or the fact that I prefer black as a color choice in most of my clothes.
Speaking of clothes…I remember the drive we took our last day in Utah from Moab to Salt Lake City so we could catch an evening flight to NYC. On the way there I was fussing with the radio buttons trying to find something decent to listen to. As we got closer to SLC, I finally found some music stations, but the commercials were the best. I remember one commercial in particular. It was for a clothing store. Two teen-age girls were discussing the fashions sold at this store and how cool the clothes were. And then came the hook…
1st girl: I love the clothes, they are so cute!
2nd girl: And modest too!
And that’s when I stared. At the radio. And then laughed. I don’t know about you, but I do think teen and tween girls often dress quite inappropriately for their age. 16 year-olds look like they are 30. (OMG, did I just say that?) But I’ve never once heard a teen-age girl exclaim “THESE CLOTHES ARE SO MODEST! I LOVE THEM!”
I’m still thinking about those beautiful hoodoos and rock formations though and sometimes when I come out of the subway I look up at the skyscrapers and imagine that they are the red-rocks of Utah. Maybe we will go back someday. In the meantime, I’ll continue to paint them like I did here and here. The above painting is still a work in progress. I am going to add more detail to the rocks, some cracks, crevices and striations. There is also an electrical cord in the picture. I don’t know how that got there. Clearly it speaks to my superb photographic abilities.
I also worked on my Central Park Duck a little more to add some depth. You can see the difference compared to my last post of the duck here.
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January 14, 2013 at 11:55 am
Beth Parker
Beautiful start to this painting, Carol, and the ducks are looking amazing!
Now…. on retirement in Utah. Did I ever tell you I lived there for 5 of my formative years? I left in 1973, after my sophmore year in high school. Modest was a requirement at school, but not a topic of oohs and aaahs with the teen set. Since I was a teenager, life was all about me, but later…. I asked my parents how they liked living in Utah. Mom said they rode their dirt bikes and went camping. Other than that, all there was to do was drink. But we lived in Delta, with a population of 1200 and about 10 Mormon churches. The only black person I ever saw was a milk man who came and went each day. It was a long time ago and probably nothing is the same. If you snow ski, it’ll be amazing!
Sorry…. ran on a little.
January 14, 2013 at 11:59 am
kk2n777
LOVE what you did to the duck painting and can’t wait for the finished red rock painting.
Please do not retire to Utah. I need you near me to go to theatres and restaurants, and to listen to my complains about work. I will promise to wear black and modest clothing….
January 14, 2013 at 12:08 pm
lesliepaints
Those rock formations look so much like three judges(in their robes) standing around and talking; maybe even a fourth sitting off to their left, listening in. I know I have a weird imagination. What it tells me is there is pretty good composition going on here and when I can see forms that relate to something in a human’s life? Well, even more interest created.
The duck is fantastic and the darks make that painting come alive. The ripples actually look like they are moving.
January 14, 2013 at 1:26 pm
RHCarpenter
LOL! This one had me laughing and I had to check the photo again to see if you had painted in an electrical cord (ok, so I gave it no thought and just saw telephone wires in my mind instead) – then I saw it! ha ha I like the colors and the shapes of this. I, too, LOVE southern Utah and those colors, striations, formations, shapes, amazing skies, etc. Loved Moab and have a SIL in SLC so if you move, keep in touch – we can go hiking and painting someday. Bryce Canyon was more amazing to me than the Grand Canyon because you could get so close to everything. Perhaps Moab would be more to your liking for a retirement town? Anyway, I can see you changing some attitudes about New Yorkers, too
And all artists dress in black, don’t they? ha ha
January 14, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Cathyann Burgess
The duck is fabulous, Carol.
uh….I am thinking that Utah might not work for you…LOL….
But there is Wyoming and Colorado and Idaho.
Happy New Year!
January 14, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Jana Bouc
Your handling of the water in the duck painting is quite masterful. Beautiful! My son’s girlfriend is from a Mormon Utah family. However she’s a woman more comfortable in her body than any I’ve known (especially of my age) and modesty is definitely NOT her thing. But I guess she left Utah for a reason….
January 14, 2013 at 9:23 pm
jimmyboi2
Great work ! You continue to blossom.
Kirk had a knock at the door when I was in the shower recently– TWO LDS MISSIONARIES!! He sent them away… DAMN. I keep missing them. I am so wanting to invite them in to hear what they have to say. Don’t worry– I’ll sit there with a crucifix in case they get any ideas.
xoxo
January 14, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Padmaja
The depth in the duck painting is very obviously visible, great job Carol!
The red rocks are a pleasure to work on, can’t wait to see the finished piece!
January 14, 2013 at 10:47 pm
Barry Coombs
The duck looks great. Very well handled. I look forward to seeing the finished rocks. As for Utah, I’ve been there and it’s beautiful but I don’t like to guess as to whether or not I can get a drink with or without my meal. Also, 3.2% beer? What’s the point?
January 15, 2013 at 5:47 am
Nic
Modest! Omg, I actually snorted when I read that – I definitely can’t see that being an adjective used to describe any of the clothes I see teenagers wearing these days!! Am I right in thinking Utah is in the bible belt of America? A little more modesty wouldn’t go amiss in clothing nowadays (oh Dog, I’ve turned into my mother!) but as a selling point – hilarious!
The landscape however is wonderful and I can see why your husband would want to retire there – your work in progress is really good – I love those rich warm earthy colours – makes me long to do that whole road trip in a convertible thing a la Thelma and Louise.
Your duck painting is fab – I love the perspective.
January 15, 2013 at 2:24 pm
hannekekoop
Carol, I like those rocks in those colours and I agree with Leslie; there’s much to see in. What you did to the water looks great.
January 16, 2013 at 9:20 pm
joantav
I think the color of the rocks out there seep into your blood!
I had to laugh about the modest clothes. Modest seems like such an old-fashioned word in our world…I guess not in Utah. lol
January 17, 2013 at 1:35 am
napabelle
Wonderful shapes here!! And fabulous colors! That is really how they are! I feel the heat…
January 17, 2013 at 6:56 pm
cathy
I have heard that utah is beautiful but talk about extremes,forward thinking busy new york as compared to utah. Husband and i watched a few living in Hawaii and i think that gets my vote. Now to find the $
Actually just not working would be enough for me.Doing as i please all day suits me just fine. love the duck and Utah rocks. Happy dreaming.
January 18, 2013 at 11:55 am
Linda Halcomb
Nice start and I love the duck…loved it before and its even better now.
January 20, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Carole Baker
I think I have a photo of those same rocks. You’ve done a nice job painting them. This one looks finished to me.
January 23, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Alex Zonis
Beautiful colors on the rocks! What pigments are you using? I love the updated Duck painting – it shines now! The water looks real good. I would not retire to Utah… I have a FB friend who lives close one of the parks – she reports near Zero temps this winter and wind. This does not sound like a nice place for retirement to me…