Two Steeples. Looking east on Carroll Street. 12″ x 9″ on Arches paper – SOLD
Evening dog walks with Charlie usually end up with one of us having to look something up. It could be as varied as why the moon looks so much larger when it’s low in the sky to the lyrics to Petticoat Junction (don’t ask).
Last night was no different. I told him that The Husband had sent me a lovely bouquet of flowers for Valentine’s Day. This time, instead of the usual red roses, I got a beautiful bouquet of lilies. The Husband was concerned that I wouldn’t like them (I loved them) but I told Charlie I was going to look up the meaning of lilies. What? Charlie did not know anything about the language of flowers. This surprised me because Charlie (also secretly known as “mensa boy”) knows a lot about a lot of things. I explained that those pesky Victorians who covered piano legs with fabric to keep the menfolk from getting too excited (morons) also had meanings for all kinds of flowers. I said “imagine if you sent someone a bouquet of pretty flowers hoping to impress only later to find out the flowers you sent said, in today’s lingo, ‘you’re a jerk’.” Uh oh! There’d be trouble!
Brooklyn is known, among other things, as the Borough of Churches. But when I Google this, all I get is the page on Brooklyn. (Brooklyn, I was once told, is also known as the Borough of Bars. I will save that for another post.)
This painting is the view from the roof of my building, looking east. The sun was setting in the west and was shining on some of the buildings in the distance creating a beautiful light over the steeples, buildings and trees. It’s on arches 130 lb 9″ x 12″ cold press paper.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you all and Happy Year of the Tiger too!
38 comments
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February 14, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Stephen
Wow Carol – look at your lovely strong colours and shapes – all leading in to the base of the spire – well done – it is so good to see you working again.
I thought lilies were about funerals – is this right? But they are incredibly beautiful flowers. how about a painting of your bouquet?
All the best – Stephen
February 20, 2010 at 12:16 am
Carol King
Thanks for your comments about the painting.
As far as lilies for funerals, I never heard of that, only that they are for Easter. No matter what they are for, the ones I have now are beautiful.
February 14, 2010 at 4:49 pm
cruthlarson
So which kind of lillies did he give you?
Lily, Calla: Majestic Beauty
Lily, Day: Coquetry
Lily, Orange: Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride
Lily, White: Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Also (from teleflora):
Dating as far back as 1580 B.C., when images of lilies were discovered in a villa in Crete, these majestic flowers have long held a role in ancient mythology. Derived from the Greek word “leiron,” (generally assumed to refer to the white Madonna lily), the lily was so revered by the Greeks that they believed it sprouted from the milk of Hera, the queen of the gods. Lilies are known to be the May birth flower, and the 30th wedding anniversary flower.
While white lilies symbolize chastity and virtue – and were the symbol of the Virgin Mary’s purity and her role of Queen of the Angels – as other varieties became popular, they brought with them additional meanings and symbolism as well. Peruvian lilies, or alstroemeria, represent friendship and devotion, white stargazer lilies express sympathy and pink stargazer lilies represent wealth and prosperity.
Happy Year of the Tiger
February 20, 2010 at 12:20 am
Carol King
While neither having a birthday in May nor celebrating my 30th anniversary (at least not yet) I guess we have to go with some of the other meanings of lilies, specifically:
Action: I need a bouquet of flowers for my wife, but don’t want red roses since I always get her those.
Meaning: I really don’t know what kind of other flowers there are, but I’ll take those (pointing to lilies) cause they look pretty.
February 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm
cruthlarson
whoops – there’s this, also (I just couldn’t take teleflora’s meaning for “orange” lilies)
LILY: Majesty, wealth, pride, innocence, purity.
LILY, WHITE: Purity, modesty, virginity, majesty, it’s heavenly to be with you. The white lily is linked to Juno, the queen of the gods in Roman mythology, by the story that while nursing her son Hercules, some excess milk fell from the sky creating the group of stars we call the Milky Way, and lilies were created from what milk fell to the earth. The Easter lily is also known as the symbol of the Virgin Mary.
LILY, ORANGE: flame, I burn for you.
LILY, YELLOW: I’m walking on air, false, gay.
GREAT PAINTING
February 20, 2010 at 12:22 am
Carol King
I like this version of the orange Lily: “I burn for you” much better than the other version of hatred and disdain.
February 14, 2010 at 5:26 pm
nyalice
Great painting! If those churches were mountains, the effect of the setting sun reflected on the summits would be called “alpenglow.” I think you should call the light reflecting on the churches, “steepleglow.”
February 20, 2010 at 12:23 am
Carol King
Steepleglow it is!
February 14, 2010 at 8:59 pm
lindahalcombfineart
You very successfully captured the glow of the sunset of the steeples. Great view. You are very lucky.
February 20, 2010 at 12:24 am
Carol King
Thanks for your comments Linda. I only wish that was my view all the time. Unfortunately, I’m only allowed on the roof when the top floor invites us up.
February 14, 2010 at 9:23 pm
lesliepaints
I think your white lillies mean “it’s heavenly to be with you” just like your link defines.
Love this painting for the composition and the shapes. Very contemporary looking, Carol! My eye can’t help but see the spires, but also like the burst of yellow light on the left. I also like the open feel of your recent landscapes.
February 20, 2010 at 12:25 am
Carol King
Maybe these last few paintings meen I need to get out of the city and get to some wide open spaces!
I appreciate your comments. I wanted it to be a little abstract, but still wanted to capture the spires and the light.
February 15, 2010 at 4:22 am
jaybastian
Lovely watercolor Carol. The red buildings remind me of Van Gogh’s junipers jutting up into a calm sky. He liked to play with the reds and the greens too. In a way this painting is about opposites; serene and vibrant, red and green, blue and orange, crowded and sparse. There is a lot of feeling in this one. At first I thought it was evening light but as I look at it some more, I guess it could be morning light. Nice work.
February 20, 2010 at 12:30 am
Carol King
Yes, Jay. You were right the first time….it’s evening light. Or more accurately dusk. Loved your comment and I agree, it is about opposites in a way. Also, so crowded at the street level and then the open sky above.
February 15, 2010 at 3:44 pm
asmalltowndad
Wonderful watercolor my friend. The earthly tones and the composition gives it the effect of mounds and horizons of the west, but yet it’s a city. You nailed it again!
My wife enjoys getting tulips, she likes the looks and enjoys planting them in the yard for future beauty.
February 20, 2010 at 12:36 am
Carol King
Thanks for your comments! I, too, like tulips. They are beautiful flowers. If I had a garden I would plant them too.
February 15, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Richard McNaughton
You’ve captured the feeling of the sun just starting to go below the horizon.
I love the image.
February 23, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Carol King
Thank you so much Richard. It was a beautiful time of day.
February 15, 2010 at 9:04 pm
2a24
This new painting reminds me of a beautiful town from south of Spain.
I like the colors a lot and the view it makes me dream 🙂
Thank you,Carol!
Have a special day 😉
February 23, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Carol King
Aw, I wish it was the South of Spain. It is only South Brooklyn! Both are beautiful in their own way.
February 16, 2010 at 3:05 am
wrjones
Lovely saturated color.
It really is a scandal how they leave those piano legs exposed. Those pianos are asking to be assaulted.
February 23, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Carol King
Bill, I’m sure you’ve seen a naked piano leg or two in your day. I hope you were able to control yourself.
February 16, 2010 at 11:18 pm
kseverny
i like it. brilliant. the sky really gives this a good sense of space, if that makes any sense
February 23, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Carol King
yes, that makes sense. Too bad it wasn’t a scratch and sniff painting, then you would get to experience the scents of this landscape.
February 17, 2010 at 9:08 am
rahinaqh
Carol, i love the richness of the colours in this painting, and a lovely composition too. r.
February 23, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Carol King
Many thanks Rahina.
February 18, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Bonnie Luria
Oohh weeee I’m late to the game. And lame to the comments as they’ve all been said.
The glowing light in this one is just outstanding. You keep improving and maturing in your painting.
Love love love this one Carol.
One year I bought Casablanca lilies ( in NY ) and put them on the dining table in a vase. My terrace door was open, it was spring, and I noticed some ants on the table, thinking they came FROM the lilies.
I followed the trail which led to the table top, the table leg, the floor and finally out the terrace door. The ants didn’t come FROM the flowers, they followed the scent of the flowers from outside on the side of the building and climbed 5 floors TO the flowers.
Quite a lure.
Maybe M was saying something ………
February 23, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Carol King
The only thing M was saying was “these are pretty, I’ll buy these.”
Great story about the Casablanca lilies. I will have to look them up to see what they look like.
Thanks for your comments. Can’t wait to see you in the Spring.
February 19, 2010 at 6:54 am
napabelle
Wow ! I love this, almost abstract. simple lines and intense colors; Great !
February 23, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Carol King
Almost abstract. My brother-in-law has been pushing me to do more abstract work. Thanks for your comments.
February 19, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Sonya Chasey
I thought there was something familiar about this & then I got down to the comment by 2a24 & knew what it was – it’s those spires & the warm colours which bring to mind Spanish villages on a warm summer evening -I almost expect to see some storks!
February 23, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Carol King
No storks on Carroll Street. Unless they are the ones that deliver babies. Thank you so much for your comments.
February 19, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Cathyann Burgess
Nice heat/time of day on the buildings, Carol. Hmmm..Must read more on my borough…I got a potted peace lilly instead of roses. Is there something going around? and thanks for the trivia on Victorian prudish behavior…
February 23, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Carol King
Come visit your borough when you come to NYC in the Spring.
Were you fighting with your husband? Is that why he gave you a peace lily? : )
February 25, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Beth Parker
I love this painting, Carol! I love the intensity of the warm colors! Beautiful!!
March 10, 2010 at 12:48 am
Jala Pfaff
Hilarious, I must visit regularly for a dose of your humor. 🙂
Cat on the head…
Fruit-o-rama…Obama mama…Osama….
MY favorite of all fruits are -erries.
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