Since my birthday is at the end of the year, (December 28th. I happily accept gifts.) I was younger than all the other kids when it was time to go to kindergarten. I cried everyday as my mother walked me to school. Actually, the real story goes that I was expelled from kindergarten. For spitting at the teacher. (Me?)
So, having been unceremoniously kicked out of kindergarten, I missed all the kindergarten fun of cutting, pasting and gluing. Which probably explains why I love to do that now.
The piece above was done by pasting images under a piece of glass with good old Elmer’s glue, then using some gold metallic powders (sparingly as I was told by the teacher) in some key spots, painting the back of the plate (I chose this ocher color), another layer of metallic and then varnish. It was unbelievably time intensive, but fun. The actual plate is a bit darker than this photo, but it was hard to photograph glass. The size is 5 and 7/8 square.
My Sunday art teacher also teaches this glass class during the week. I had been looking at all the spectacular pieces she has in her studio for years and finally I decided to try it. I was not disappointed. I was, however, rather heavy-handed with the metallic. The teacher had to constantly scratch off some of the metallic which I promptly put back on. I told her clearly she had no Latin blood. If it was up to me the whole back of the plate would have been gold metallic! Be on the lookout, I will be trying this again.
This week is Thanksgiving in the U.S. so I would like to take this opportunity to say how thankful I am for my beloved husband, my siblings, siblings-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. I have been truly blessed in the family & friends dept. I would also like to say how grateful I am to you, gentle blog-reader. Thank you for continuing to visit and comment. I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. This concludes the sappy portion of this post.
38 comments
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November 21, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Alex Zonis
LOL about kindergarten dropout :lol:! Too funny! I think you wrapped up the sappy portion too soon, I really liked that part.
Oh, I love the plate! I really love it. And as it really is a gift giving time, you can sent it to me. I am emailing you my address. But kidding aside, it is really nice, the colors and composition are inspired, festive and attractive. And it has French Provincial flair to it. I wonder if you’d set to make a set, like 4 or 6, would the time spent have a higher productivity coefficient.
November 21, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Carol King
OK, the fact that you used the word coefficient in a sentence earns you one decoupaged plate. Send me that address and this plate will be off to you in no time.
November 21, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Alice
The plate is even better in person! Carol, do more! And spitting? Expelled? Really? I always heard the drop-out story. Never the expelled story! And we (the family) are grateful for you too, dear sis!
November 21, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Carol King
Mommy told me I spit at the teacher and she had to take me out of kindergarten. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
November 21, 2010 at 9:13 pm
lesliepaints
Well, all spitting aside, this is a lovely plate. I would have sworn, had I not read the post, that you had watercolored these flowers. Can you do that with this project? Use your own watercolor flowers?…or is the paper too thick? Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Carol.
November 21, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Carol King
I WISH I had watercolored those flowers! You could use one of your watercolors for this project, but you would have to make a color copy. Watercolor paper is probably too thick and I think the glue would make the watercolors smear. I may have to try one with one of my own images. That would be cool.
November 21, 2010 at 9:55 pm
jimmyboi2
Beautiful !!!! Come and stay with us for a few weeks and make us a set of dishes. We need dishes!!!
REALLY beautiful !!! And I too am thankful for your friendship… going on almost 33 years!!! And our mothers never DID throw us that 25th. Friendship Anniversary partY !!!
November 21, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Carol King
OMG, you would LOVE to do this. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! We could send Kirk off to work and we could do this all day long.
Now that my mom’s gone, the onus is on Vel to throw us our 35th friend anniversary party. Tell her she’s got two years to plan. A lovely gold bracelet from Italy would be a LOVELY gift for me.
November 22, 2010 at 1:01 am
Cathyann Burgess
Spitting at the teacher in kindergarten? Really? She must have been a witch.
The plate is gorgeous, Carol. Thanks for telling us how to make them..always something to learn. I would love to try this. You really should make another or two with your own artwork.
November 22, 2010 at 9:25 am
Carol King
Hi Cathyann, glad you like the plate. I wasn’t going to put it on the blog since I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested, but I guess people are. If you do one you MUST show me. I will consider doing a plate or platter with my own artwork. That would be fo fun!
November 22, 2010 at 1:08 am
kk2n777
I LOVE this! At first glance I actually thought you took up Chinese watercolor. It reminds me of some beautiful Chinese paintings, especially those for the royal family. I guess royal Chinese blood is the same as Latin blood – gold, gold, and more gold!
I was the youngest in my class also. To push me out of the nest a year early, my mother even gave me a false birthday so I can beat the cut-off date by 1 day!
To quote from THE GOLDEN GIRLS, “Thank you for being a Friend.” I am lucky to have you in my life for over 10 years! Just think I was intimidated when I first met you…. 🙂
November 22, 2010 at 9:27 am
Carol King
I’ve noticed Chinese love gold. And red too. And so do I. Maybe I have some Chinese blood mixed in with the Latin….people DID say we looked alike when they saw our office ID photos!
November 22, 2010 at 3:45 am
Rick Daddario
bwahahahahaha – clearly you are a challenging student and always have been. of course you do make your teachers shine with your work. fun. way fun. and happy thanksgiving day on you too. aloha.
November 22, 2010 at 9:29 am
Carol King
After kindergarten I had 12 years of nuns! They scared the bejesus out of me! I was in no way challenging then. Just a-scared!
November 22, 2010 at 8:49 am
christine
My pick (for a plate with one of your water colors?): decoupage the three water towers or the street pipes – I’ll buy one of those! how about a flat matte background with the water towers – or do you have to use glitter and metallic paint? then again, maybe they’d be tres cool with metallic paint – oh, the things you could make!!!!
(thanks for the sappy stuff – it put me in a thankful state of mind which, presumably, is very good for the heart: hope it did you as much good as it did me, this Monday morning)
November 22, 2010 at 9:31 am
Carol King
Christine, I can’t wait for the day when I can leave this damn job and staying home to paint, cut, glue and paste.
Glad you enjoyed the sappy stuff. No extra charge.
November 22, 2010 at 10:16 am
joan
So you did this in Kaaren’s class? Awesome! really professional looking. Though the fact that you used to spit at your teachers gives me pause…
Hey, make some color xeroxes of your watercolors and see if those work on a plate. Happy Thanksgiving, hope 2 c u in class Tuesday!
November 22, 2010 at 10:59 am
Carol King
yep, Kaaren’s class. I’ve been fascinated by her glass pieces for years! Good idea about using my watercolors for the plates. Now, if I only had the time and money for all these projects! Sign.
November 22, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Joan T
This is gorgeous…and definitely not too much metallic paint! Did you use your own paintings of the flowers?
November 25, 2010 at 11:47 am
Carol King
I did not use my own paintings of flowers, but am considering some of my other watercolors I can use in the future.
November 22, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Bonnie Luria
Imagine my relief ( for I was about to retire my paintbrush
FOREVAH ) when I read that you didn’t paint those flowers.
But, BUT, that plate is nonetheless beautiful and must be even more so in person where the gold is more evident. This being the good gilt as opposed to the Catholic School kind.
I’m not surprised to learn that your irreverence began early on. It gave you a chance to properly hone it and prepare you for your art career and/or City job.
Thanks for you too.
November 25, 2010 at 11:48 am
Carol King
Bonalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, You are too funny. “Good gilt as opposed to the Catholic School kind!)
You won’t be putting your brushes away for a long time, not to worry!
November 22, 2010 at 9:12 pm
carrington
how are you???? a beautiful piece and I loved the sappy thanksgiving part of your blog. Happy thanksgiving,
C
November 25, 2010 at 11:49 am
Carol King
Are you coming to the city anytime soon? Would love to see you.
November 22, 2010 at 10:43 pm
AKLizzy
Gorgeous plate!! Wow!!
Thanksgiving hugs to you too!
November 25, 2010 at 11:49 am
Carol King
Glad you liked the plate. Love to Ryan and the girls. xoxo
November 23, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Keith Palmer
I just love reading your blog, the pictures are wonderful, but boy do you make me smile with your narrative 🙂 Happy TG
November 25, 2010 at 11:50 am
Carol King
Keith, I’m glad you like reading the blog and seeing the pictures. And thank you for continuing to visit and comment.
November 23, 2010 at 6:16 pm
francis
Wow..you have a hand for handy work. The glass plate is increadible. It’s priceless. I can’t really rememeber my kindi days, can just bearly remember there was lots of knocking of things and toys and very high ladder to climb to. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
November 25, 2010 at 11:51 am
Carol King
Hi Francis, I do like to make things, not just paint. I’m happy you like the plate. I hope to make more of them.
November 24, 2010 at 3:11 am
CathyG
A fabulous plate, I love all the gold, and love your kindi story too, I never knew one could be expelled at that age, respect! Happy Thanksgiving Carol to you and yours.
November 25, 2010 at 11:54 am
Carol King
I love all the gold too! Too bad it’s not real!
November 25, 2010 at 7:16 am
Artswebshow
lol. kindergarten dropout. ace.
You tell that teacher carol.
If only she had latin blood, she’d understand
November 25, 2010 at 11:54 am
Carol King
If the teacher had latin blood, we’d probably all be screaming at the same time! Laugh!
November 28, 2010 at 4:32 pm
lindahalcombfineart
Carol, My husband’s birthday is December 28! He is also a stubborn little noodle that would have been likely to spit at a teacher – must be that Capricorn personality. isn’t it a small world? Your plate is really beautiful. I can’t wait to see what you do next my blogging friend.
November 29, 2010 at 12:11 am
Stephen
Ha ha – always a laugh – Sappy indeed. But your story about crying on the way to school was a bit of a heart-wrench.
I love the plate – you have such a gift.
And I have another story – now can tell friends I know someone who was expelled from kindergarten.
Ah yes – a good smile to start the day.
Oh and by the way.
You colour my me everyday.
Whenever I see a water-tower I think of you.
So thank you for that.
One day I will find one worth painting.
Have a lekker Monday your side.
December 6, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Jala Pfaff
Expelled from kindergarten! Wow!! And for spitting at the teacher! What a ballsy kid. 🙂
March 20, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Abstraction « Carol King: Painting, Drawing, Complaining
[…] pet” the rest of the day. This was funny because since I was kicked out of kindergarten for (allegedly) spitting on the teacher and then spending the next 12 years hiding from and not […]