Snow, snow, snow! So far we have had the snowiest January EVER! With more on the way tomorrow. So, to cheer myself up I decided to do these hydrangeas. I really forced myself not to overdo them. And to use a limited palette. Yes, the urge is to go back and put more detail in the flowers, but no, I say, no. They will stay like this and I will move on.
This has been a difficult week. My mom passed away a year ago. I spent the weekend with family and friends and had a lot of laughs. Many of them at my mom’s expense which she would have loved.
Recently The Husband and I visited my mom’s grave to make sure the engraving had been completed. Knowing my mother didn’t like flowers we got her something she did like. It was The Husband’s idea. He is very thoughtful like that.
Here is a favorite story of how much my mom loved The Husband. One time when in the hospital she was being transferred from ICU to a regular room. The nurse transporting her was making small talk.
Nurse: How many kids do you have?
Mom: Three
Nurse: What are their names?
Mom: Carol, Alice and Robert
Nurse: Who is your favorite?
Mom: Matt
She was a lovely person.
On another note, if you want to know what The Husband does when he is not critiquing my work or reading my blog for typos, he’s busy being a NYC ESU Detective. You can see some of what he does on this documentary on the Nation Geographic channel:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/counterterror-nyc-5539/Overview
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
48 comments
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February 1, 2011 at 1:35 am
kk2n777
It’s a lovely painting and a lovely post. 🙂
February 3, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Carol King
Thank you Kung.
February 1, 2011 at 1:39 am
Cathyann Burgess
I love the soft treatment of the hydrangea, which is a flower my mom grew in Brooklyn. It was the only softness on our street as I recall. The post story reveals so much love, Carol, and a great memory.
I will go check out the documentary, thanks for the link~
Have fun making snow angels
🙂
again!
best
February 3, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Carol King
Hydrangeas always remind me of my grandma’s backyard. That and the smell of basil.
February 1, 2011 at 4:12 am
jimmyboi2
What nice thoughts, and flowers … Millie had LOTS to say, all of it memorable. We had hydrangeas on our street in Brooklyn, in the garden surrounding my great grandparents’ farmhouse in Old Bay Ridge… ! These reminded me of them. xoxox PS THey would have loved Reese’s peanut butter cups, too, except they had no teeth.
February 3, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Carol King
You know so many of Millie’s gems. We could write a book.
February 1, 2011 at 6:56 am
lindahalcombfineart
LOL! It is a very powerful form of healing to remember the laughter. Your mother sounds like a wonderful character. Your painting is beautiful and you did stop at just the right time. We are in the middle of ice and snow also! Has everything shut down this time.
February 3, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Carol King
My mother was a character, to say the least. Glad you liked the painting and agreed that I stopped at the right time.
February 1, 2011 at 7:58 am
Rhonda
Trust your instincts on this one – that painting doesn’t need another stroke on it. Perfect, as is and love the almost pointillist painting to get the bg and petals on the ground 🙂 Also, thanks for sharing that story and the photos of the chocolate (a woman after my own heart) on her grave. What a wonderful thing to do to honor her and not just tradition 🙂 Big (((HUG))) on the anniversary of her death. The loss can come hard and without warning at certain times.
February 3, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Carol King
Hi Rhonda, thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciated the comments about my mom and the painting. And I’m glad to hear you’re a chocolate person too.
February 1, 2011 at 8:40 am
CathyG
The hydrangeas are beautifully painted, and your mom sounded like a beautiful person. I know who inherited her sense of humour!
February 3, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Carol King
thanks Cathy.
February 1, 2011 at 10:57 am
aswirly
These hydrangas are just beautiful Carol. Its wonderful you have such good support to help strengthen you during this time. Love the story about your mom. I’m gonna click on the NatGeo link when I get home. I’m so curious now!
February 3, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Carol King
Hi Amber, I’m very lucky to have such a supportive husband and great siblings. Did you look at the link?
February 1, 2011 at 11:17 am
Debbie Adams
The flowers are beautiful just as they are. I agree with you, “don’t change a thing”. I love the colors you use as well.
I know it’s tough to loose mom, but trust she is still with you. You have a wonderful support system.
Nice Hubby!
February 3, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Carol King
I used a limited palette which I think worked well. I want to do that again in another piece.
February 1, 2011 at 1:58 pm
asmalltowndad
Beautiful Painting once again Carol.
It’s sounds like your mom was full of love and joy, and spread that to others. Sounds like someone else I know! God Bless Carol
February 3, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Carol King
Thank you very much Ryan. I appreciate your kind words.
February 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm
sam
Once upon a time, hydrangeas were in every backyard in America. Thanks for the memory. Congrats for knowing when to say when, nuff’s enuff. That takes real talent.
The Reesie’s on the headstone says a lot about your mom and how much you love her. Your humor is the best way to honor her every day. Which you do often and well.
February 3, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Carol King
There are still hydrangeas all over Brooklyn in the summer. I even have a plant growing in my 2’x4′ patch of dirt in front of my building.
February 1, 2011 at 7:31 pm
lesliepaints
AWESOME! Let me say this again. AWESOME HYDRANGEAS! Wet-in wet, beautiful brushstrokes and color and wonderful value pattern. I agree with you. Leave it alone. Your story about you, Mom and Husband brought tears……. I’ll bet your Mom smiled really big when those Reeses Pieces were left for her.
February 3, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Carol King
Leslie, thank you SO MUCH for your comments about my painting. And yes, I’m sure somewhere Mom laughed when we left her the Reese’s. One of her favorites. She was a candy junkie!
February 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm
jaybastian
Beautiful post, Carol.
February 3, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Carol King
Thank you very much Jay.
February 2, 2011 at 10:24 am
cathy
Ha ha hee hee, great post.First things firs, flower power,love it. Now for the snow hmmm don’t love it … not so much. Blizzard for us last night . Don’t get me wrong, i do love winter it’s just …. well you see my brother is in florida sitting on the beach and well, you know… can’t wait to join him when i retire.
One year aniversary is tough. My heart goes out to you. Celebrating with humor what could be better. I love the story about your mom and the reeses …. pricless. Hey does that husband of yours have a blog? His work souns prrretty interesting. Take care, i’m off to paint, no school for me,SNOW Day!( i guess i do love winter after all:))
February 3, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Carol King
Glad you like the flowers. We have tons of snow here too. It’s nice to look at hydrangeas and think perhaps soon they will be blooming again.
The Husband and a blog? Not at this time, it wouldn’t be a bad idea but he would probably have to write it anonymously.
February 2, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Joan T
I love it!!! What a breath of spring…which we definitely need right now!!!
I love the Reeses against the headstone! Anniversaries like this are tough…but the memories are always fun! Sounds like your mom was a special lady.
February 3, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Carol King
Hi Joan, Glad you like the flowers and the Reese’s. Every time I look at that picture it makes me smile. I know it makes my mom smile too.
February 2, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Keith Palmer
Wow! Carol, this is stunning, I love the way you’ve painted the Hydranges and the terracotta pot, simple but so effective. I too lost my mum this time last year, December 29. It’s been very difficult for me and my family,y so for once I can say I fully understand. Looking forward to spring. Great painting!
February 3, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Carol King
Hi Keith, My deepest condolences. No matter how old someone is, it’s never easy, is it. I hope this year becomes a little easier for you. Thanks for your comments on the painting.
February 3, 2011 at 2:53 pm
northpenninegallery
This painting is soooo good it deserves two comments! Brilliant!
February 3, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Carol King
Keith, you actually made me LOL! Thanks!!!!!!
February 3, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Alex Zonis
Love the painting! It makes me think of summer. At least I seem to remember seeing Hydrangeas in high summer, is that correct? Let’s have more flowers, Carol, you are so good with them, and summer is much needed here in Chicagoland after the Snowmageddon we just had. Maybe if we all concentrate very hard and paint flowers like crazy, the summer will come sooner :D.
Love the story about your mom and The Husband! That and Reese’s! He is one special dude, he is!
February 3, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Carol King
Alex, you guys got hit so hard with that blizzard. It made all the NYC news programs this morning. Yikes!
I really like flowers and I like painting them, so I will take your suggestion and do more.
The Husband is most certainly one special dude. And a character in his own right. Mom loved him like crazy!
February 3, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Artswebshow
Excellent painting Carol.
Te work around the pot with the leaves fading out around it brought a softness to the painting.
February 3, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Carol King
Thanks Richard. Like I said earlier, it was hard, but I forced myself to stop and I’m glad I did.
February 5, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Val Erde
The hydrangea painting is beautiful, Carol. I’m so sorry about your mom, but you’ve got some good memories of her.
February 11, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Carol King
Thanks Val, for the comment about the painting and my mom.
February 7, 2011 at 11:02 am
napabelle
I love the colors. And I love the contrast between washes and bold strokes ! This is very strong Carol ! WOW !
February 11, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Carol King
Thanks Isabelle, I was really trying to not over do it.
February 8, 2011 at 2:11 am
Stephen
Hey – Look at your work – wow – you are cruising.
What a sweet story –
you have inherited your mothers lovely too –
February 11, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Carol King
Thanks Stephen, How’s that show of yours going?
February 11, 2011 at 12:20 pm
timkeen40
Beautiful painting. I am glad you had a special relationship with your mom. That is often taken for granted, but so many don’t.
http://timkeen40.wordpress.com
February 12, 2011 at 6:31 am
Jane Moller
Even if i am not a grandma ( yet! ), I looove the Hydrangea, in fact it is one of my favorite shrubs. I have 5 big ones in my garden, with all kinds of tonality of blu. Lovely soft and loose painting.
February 12, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Beth Parker
What a great post, Carol! And I love the hydrangeas!! 🙂
February 14, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Barry Coombs
My late Mom would have said that those flowers ‘cried out for my brush’. Only she could get away with a remark like that. Nice watercolour! Love the big strokes in the background.
February 15, 2011 at 9:47 am
Sonya Chasey
I’m sorry about your mum – must be very difficult- glad you have a nice family to help you.
I like the blue of the hydrangeas & the loose, flat patterning, especially in the part at the top – I can imagine it as a texile print.
February 17, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Francis
A very touching post. May your mom soul rest in peace. Your hydrangeas is nothing but beautiful.