I woke up to this today:
I would have rather woken up to this:
This was the view from my room in St. Croix looking out onto the beach. I love how there are always bent trees in the Caribbean. I miss the warm weather and the beach. Especially when today’s wardrobe included a fleece pullover, coat, scarf, gloves and hat. Brrrrr!
Jim recently changed my tag on his blogroll. It used to just say Carol King. Now it says Carol King- artist, humorist, complainer.
Complainer indeed. I prefer to think of it as social commentary.
But “complainer” works.
This is what I am going to comment (complain) about today. The price of kids T-shirts in these small stores in Park Slope. I wanted a size 4T shirt for a friend’s kid. I thought I might get a nice little “Brooklyn” t-shirt. I found one. It was $24.00. SERIOUSLY. For a t-shirt that the kid will grow out of in a few months???? And end up in a stoop sale selling for 50 cents or a dollar. A size 4T shirt is about 6″ across. I’ve seen men’s handkerchiefs bigger than that.
I indignantly marched myself a few more blocks down the avenue to the next kid’s store only to discover that in this store the price of a kid’s t-shirt was $32.00 AND the collar was frayed. On purpose. WHAT? I’m now ready to buy a white t-shirt and write on it with a Sharpie. Are these people insane? Who are their customers? The stars that NAME their kids Brooklyn and Bronx? Cause it can’t be the people LIVING in Brooklyn and The Bronx.
Only in NYC can people making $180,000 a year be considered middle income. http://envisioningdevelopment.net/map.
Charlie’s wife Liz told me she wanted to have a nice old fashioned Christmas and have everyone give a home-made gift. Liz channels Martha Stewart and can make any dinner party elegant and wonderful. Her friend to whom she made this suggestion countered with “how about an ‘As Seen On TV’ Christmas?” Liz was outraged. Charlie and I didn’t think it was a bad idea. This did not go over well with Liz.
Ah, the holiday season is upon us and everyone is in a good mood.
Ho Ho Ho
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
33 comments
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December 7, 2009 at 5:13 am
jimmyboi2
I could listen to you complain (comment) all day … and I often have !!
I like the softness of your painting– I can smell the heat coming from the sand.
Liz sounds like a LOVELY person … send her to MY place !
December 9, 2009 at 2:35 pm
carolking
yes you have listened to me complain. for more years than I care to remember. thanks for listening.
December 7, 2009 at 9:35 am
InkSplodge!
You’re good at painting complicated detail and still maintaining a good feeling of depth. if I scroll down so that only the beach picture is visible, your painting almost heats up my room.
I don’t care what it’s called, social commentary or complaining – it makes me laugh out loud every time.
December 9, 2009 at 2:36 pm
carolking
Whew! Thanks June, Happy to make you laugh.
December 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm
lesliepaints
After Christmas those same shirts could very well be $12 and $16 respectively. I’m so into gift cards anymore….except for the little ones whose eyes bulge over the most miniscule treasure!
What I like the most about this painting is the difference in how you painted the palm tree’s foliage from the one next to it.Your brushstrokesdescribe the feeling of the leaves. The depth in this was captured very nicely.
December 9, 2009 at 2:39 pm
carolking
thanks for the comments on the painting Leslie. the two trees’ leaves were very different.
December 7, 2009 at 3:15 pm
cruthlarson
Great photo, great watercolor.
I don’t know lesliepants – I don’t think stores that sell $32 infant T-shirts have sales – the proprietors know those who buy such shirts don’t shop sales. Whoops, there I go feeding the season’s “good” mood.
But why not go with a variation on Liz’s martha stewart home-made Xmas: I’m sure any t-shirt you marked up with a Sharpie would be nothing to sneeze at (though possibly something to sneeze in if it’s the size of a handerchief).
So, on another note, I love the snow-graced tree… between that photo and your commentary on consumption, my day was brightened. Thanks, Carol
December 9, 2009 at 2:40 pm
carolking
my pleasure Christine.
December 7, 2009 at 4:47 pm
CathyG
We’ve got the warm weather here, but not the beach, sadly – yours looks particularly inviting and far away from seasonal craziness. On my one visit to USA 16+ years ago I could not get over the lengths everyone went to to make Christmas picture perfect – way too much pressure for me!
December 9, 2009 at 2:37 pm
carolking
Way too much pressure for me too. Which is why I stopped putting up a tree or decorations and giving gifts to everyone in existence. Now only the kids get gifts and it’s a much nicer holiday just spent with family and friends without all the other craziness.
December 7, 2009 at 7:38 pm
metaphase
Funny. I love the “As Seen on TV” Christmas. Nothing says “holiday” like a Ped Egg..
December 9, 2009 at 2:38 pm
carolking
hysterical comment. You’re so right. Ped Eggs for everyone!
December 7, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Cathyann Burgess
Try painting that photo! Great shot! I think those shirt prices are for sucker grandparents…..
Stay warm…think balmy as you look at that soothing image you made.
December 9, 2009 at 2:40 pm
carolking
I thought about painting that snowy tree Cathyann. It looks hard, but I may give it a shot. Any suggestions about approach?
December 8, 2009 at 1:16 am
kseverny
You’re not alone there.
i really like that picture though.
Overall snow = irritant.
And don’t know how it has any relevance to me.
i found that website really interesting. lol
December 9, 2009 at 2:41 pm
carolking
After the first day, snow is most definitely annoying in the city. it turns black and slushy and just piles up and then refreezes. since I know how much you like it, I’ll be happy to send some your way.
December 8, 2009 at 9:28 am
alina1985
I like your painting,my friend!!!I hope that in the future you will surprise us with nice paintings like this one 😉 I’m curious to admire others too 🙂
The winter was camed fast as every year and in this periode everyone want to sell the articles expensive that’s why in the shops we found nice gifts but with a high price.
After holidays everything will change it.
Anyway…today everything it’s a bussines.
Have a great day,Carol KIng!! 🙂
December 9, 2009 at 2:42 pm
carolking
So true Alina, everything’s a business. Hope you have a great day too!
December 8, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Stephen
No man – that snow is scary – I would also want to escape back to St Croix. Leslie has just done a fascinating painting of snow. I agree with June – this is such a warm painting – AND about the laughing – you bring a breath of fresh air. All the best that side – wrap up. S
December 9, 2009 at 2:44 pm
carolking
Hey Stephen, I know you’re heading into summer, so no worries for you about snow right now. Do you ever get snow when it’s winter?
December 8, 2009 at 4:04 pm
asmalltowndad
I’m ready to pack the crew up and join all on a sunny beach… WHO’S With ME!
Carol, a great gift from a great artist as yourself, you can buy long lasting ink jet transfers for t-shirts. Create some of your fabulous art, feed this transfer film thru a ink jet or laser, and then iron it on black, white or other color t’s. You can buy the paper at walmarts, office supply store, or hobby stores. Let me know if you try it, my kids love doing it.
December 9, 2009 at 2:46 pm
carolking
Ryan, re: the beach: I’m IN.
GREAT idea about the t-shirt transfer. Never knew about them. Will have to check them out. Maybe I can set up a stand and sell kids shirts for $32.00. Next time I’m in Staples I’ll check it out.
December 8, 2009 at 7:00 pm
rahinaqh
i always got my kids clothes which they could wear for at least a couple of years. they looked like beggers but they were too young to understand why people were throwing pennies at them. that snow actually looks so inviting Carol especially as winter here is just rain and wind and ice. and nice work with the trees and light:)
December 9, 2009 at 2:48 pm
carolking
LOL! I doubt people where throwing pennies at your kids. But you have the right idea about buying the clothes so they fit for a while. Those damn kids grow so fast!!!
That morning the snow was really beautiful and it was so quiet outside. The doggies loved running arund in it.
December 9, 2009 at 1:31 am
Silindile Ntuli
I’d love a little bit of snow just once, but I guess when you’re used to it you can get sick of it.. I’d like to eat it strange enough
December 9, 2009 at 3:01 pm
carolking
You get sick of it when there’s TONS of it! Luckily we don’t get TOO much snow since we are near the coast. Further north and inland gets much more. And it’s not strange, everyone likes to taste snow as it’s falling. You’d be surpirsed how some of the dry flat flakes taste vs. the wet ones.
December 12, 2009 at 1:40 pm
InkSplodge!
“You’d be surprised how some of the dry flat flakes taste vs. the wet ones.”
Bwahahaha! Carol, you are too much! “That was a cheeky little snowflake morsel…but I think I preferred the last one, it was slightly dryer” just picturing you outside with your tongue stuck out to catch them…ahaha! This made my day.
December 9, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Jack Simonetta
Oh, I miss snow! I want snow… for a day anyway. Then it can melt.
December 9, 2009 at 3:02 pm
carolking
Jack, you wish is granted! At one point this winter I will send you some snow. Be on the lookout!
December 9, 2009 at 7:49 pm
wrjones
You deserve that top tree after leaving me here in the cold. Those other trees are a nice memory of a great vacation!
Give the kid a handkerchief that’s what I got as kid. Just a wonderful Christmas surprise.
December 10, 2009 at 3:52 pm
carolking
Thanks Bill. you’re getting handkerchiefs for Christmas this year as well. Go stand by your mailbox. They should be arriving soon.
December 12, 2009 at 9:14 am
Francis Jong
Its the opposite here, wish we could have some snow. The heat is unbearable sometime and not to mention the rain, non stop for some part of the country. Sent us some snow please.
December 15, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Sonya Chasey
Hi Carol
I saw the first snow just on the roof tops in San Sebastian (Spain)when I got off the train & was walking to work this morning. (It’s suddenly turned cold here despite the fact that I have the first narcissus flowering in the garden!) It didn’t look as beautiful as it does in your tree photo though. I love it when snow lies on the branches & the beauty of the lines becomes very evident, picked out against the background.