Pines
What a horrible week at work. Was it the full moon? The extreme sunspot activity that even affected radio broadcasts in China? Who knows. I’m just glad this week is over.
Today a co-worker shared this article from TIME. The headline? “Woman dies in her cubicle but nobody notices until the next day.” I then sent it around to other co-workers asking if this would be my fate. They all assured me that I was too loud to die in my cubicle. After a certain amount of silence they all said someone would come and check. Hmmm. I guess that’s a good thing? What? I SAID I GUESS THAT’S A GOOD THING.
I was still trying to stay loose with my watercolor. Not wanting to overdo it, I forced myself to stop way earlier than I normally would have. I thought about Stephen’s beautiful rocks here and wanted to try something similar. I also wanted to NOT overdo the mountains in the distance. And lastly, I wanted something that reminded me that spring would be here soon.
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
42 comments
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February 19, 2011 at 2:54 am
kk2n777
YOU ARE NOT TOO LOUD, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK. OTHERWISE I WOULD NEVER HEAR YOU.
February 19, 2011 at 9:36 am
Carol King
SO TRUE!
February 19, 2011 at 7:36 am
christine
I NEVER said you were too loud – I more or less said that EVERYONE LOVES YOU – EVERYONE stops by your cube to chat because they ENJOY your vivacity, humor, fundamental human generousity, cleverness and snarkiness (not to mention your use of yiddish) that spices up daily drudgery and makes it easier for all of the rest of us to make it through our days. (Now, you may also be LOUD – but that’s not why this couldn’t happen to you.)
February 19, 2011 at 9:37 am
Carol King
Oy vey! or Aw shucks! Thanks Christine, this damn job may kill me yet, but at least I know I won’t die in my cubicle unnoticed.
February 19, 2011 at 8:05 am
Stephen
Bless your dear heart my friend
I am having a day like one of those – hey – maybe it all those things you suggest – Anyway – the last thing I expected to be doing today was laughing – and there it is – Thank you for that.
and…
As soon as your painting appeared I felt as though someone had opened a window onto a calm cool scene – with pine scents and crisp air – so thank you for that too
you are a tonic
And thanks for the connection – we are going to Kogelbaai this evening to see the phosphorescence from the algal bloom in False Bay – maybe there is a painting in it somewhere.
OK – enough of the slushy stuff – (o:
February 19, 2011 at 9:39 am
Carol King
I am a tonic? Or a gin and tonic? 🙂 Glad I was able to make you smile and I’m glad that you are there to inspire me. This week was exceptionally rough. Let’s hope things get better for all of us.
February 19, 2011 at 8:39 am
Alice
You stopped at EXACTLY the right time. This painting is serene and beautiful and doesn’t need a single brushstroke more of work. Can you teach me to stop before I overwork everything? This is truly the secret of gorgeous watercolor!
February 19, 2011 at 9:41 am
Carol King
Thank Alice! I will hang over your shoulder while your working and scream STOP as soon as you get to the “just right” point in your work.
February 19, 2011 at 8:57 am
lesliepaints
I like the peacefulness this composition passes on to the viewer. Actually this is a rather beautiful composition. The simplicity of the scene (I do not! mean it was simple to paint but rather the artist only included what was important to pass on to the viewer) captures my attention as well as the strong verticals of the trees. Love it! I imagine you sitting there on the rocks taking this scene in, far away from YOUR CUBICLE! 🙂
February 19, 2011 at 9:42 am
Carol King
I knew what you meant, Leslie and thank you. I’m very glad you like the composition. I worked hard to keep it simple, yet interesting. Your comments always mean a lot to me.
February 19, 2011 at 9:06 am
cathy
Double HA HA. Ah that cubicle life,wonderful isn’t it. Work sleep,work sleep….The painting is terrific. the color of the rocks are great and i think it is loose. Isn’t that difficult? I always tend to overwork paintings.
February 19, 2011 at 9:44 am
Carol King
Yes Cathy, cubicle life is a world all it’s own. I don’t think you overwork paintings. I find your paintings to be so vivid and saturated with pure color which brings me joy. They are never muddy. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
February 19, 2011 at 10:06 am
The Husband
Loud?
I wouldn’t say LOUD!
I would say you challenge various levels of peace and quiet.
But none of us could ever live without your great, hearty laugh, among other things that are wonderful about you.
I would eventually check on you after leaving about 3 or 4 voice mails on your cell phone.
February 21, 2011 at 12:22 am
Carol King
Oh Dear Husband. You are too kind. And when I’m loud at home it’s only because I need to be heard above your snoring.
February 19, 2011 at 10:19 am
Joan T
Lovely view of the pines, the water, and the rocks!!! Good job…reminds me of trips to Maine. I had to laugh (although for that poor woman it isn’t funny) about being found dead in your cubicle. What a way to go!
February 21, 2011 at 12:26 am
Carol King
Thanks Joan, The pines seems so stately and relaxing. Yes, that poor woman!
February 19, 2011 at 11:33 am
Debbie Adams
Living in New York I don’t see how you could be anything but loud, just to sound as a whisper. I doubt your loud, more like, “very expressive.”
Love the painting, you’ve done an excellent job! It is so softly spoken. Hmmm, interesting, you think your loud, but your artwork says otherwise.
February 21, 2011 at 12:33 am
Carol King
I like you’re description of this as “soft spoken”. I think you are right. And I don’t think I am that loud. I do have a strong voice and am in no way a “low talker”
Thanks for your comment.
February 19, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Alex Zonis
I don’t think you are loud. I can’t hear you here in Chicago. Like for example, my next door neighbors talk to their family in India as if they want to be heard without the help of the telephone – that’s LOUD! In your case it’s the presence. When you are present it’s noticeable. As it is when you are absent. I clearly noticed your absence online last week and missed you.
I love the painting – it’s like sigh of contentment.
February 20, 2011 at 5:19 am
jimmyboi2
In a store today, a man was YELPING into his phone, clearly ignorant of the fact that one does NOT make or take cell phone calls in public places anymore. I could hear every word, and I’m frigging deaf. THAT WAS LOUD !!
February 21, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Carol King
You can’t hear me in Chicago! LOVED your description of your neighbors! I know many people like that as well.
Aw, thanks for missing me last week. 🙂 And thanks for your comment.
February 20, 2011 at 5:17 am
jimmyboi2
Matt… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!
And Carol, you are a tonic! I love that ! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I love the painting, too. I can smell those trees.
We are having some of your work framed soon, now that we are (almost) finished painting the house… and it’s 18 months since we’ve had baseboards… I guess I should put them back ! But that’s a boring job, so I am avoiding it.
You are a chronic tonic… how about that?
xoxoxoxoxoxox
February 21, 2011 at 12:35 am
Carol King
A chronic tonic indeed! 🙂
February 20, 2011 at 3:11 pm
short poems
Beautiful painting…liked it very much!
February 21, 2011 at 12:38 am
Carol King
Glad you like the painting and thank you for stopping by.
February 20, 2011 at 4:44 pm
napabelle
This is very nice! It looks just like some of the Sierra Lakes we go canoeing on… rocks are hard and yours are so real!!
February 21, 2011 at 12:38 am
Carol King
I’ve tried rocks a few times with great difficulty. This time I was pleased with them. Thanks Isabelle.
February 20, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Artswebshow
Working in a cubicle WOULD kill me.
I said WOULD KILL ME.
Oh btw, THIS IS A REALLY COOL PAINTING, oh sorry, no need to shout eh?
lol
Light, airy, serene, put it up in you cubicle, it might just keep you alive.
February 21, 2011 at 12:40 am
Carol King
Richard, I’m getting very close to not being able to last much longer in that damn cubicle. Thanks for your comment and your suggestion about hanging it in my cube. I will have you to thank if I survive. 🙂
February 21, 2011 at 4:26 am
Jan
Lovely painting, Carol!
I hope this week at work is much better.
And make some noise in your cubicle!!……
And have a great week.
February 21, 2011 at 3:18 pm
lindahalcombfineart
Your painting is the essence of calm. I can feel the cool, crisp air and …yes…the silence. Lovely.
February 21, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Carol King
Calm, yes. Everything I’m not lately. Wouldn’t it be cool if I could just jump into this painting?
February 21, 2011 at 5:11 pm
asmalltowndad
Oh crap, not at the office! That’s the last place I want to spend my last moments. It was full moon last week and let me tell you after working as a bar manager for a few years, the full moon has an effect on minds of animals and humans.
Beautiful painting and if I have to go, let my last few minutes be at a place like this, with my family around… well at least some of my family!
February 21, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Carol King
The office is the last place I want to spend any of my moments lately. And the full moon had everyone howling at work this week!
Aww, thanks for your comment about the painting. As I commented to Linda Halcomb, I wish I could jump inside that painting and calm down for a while.
February 23, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Pointypix
What a terrible story but what a funny way you have of telling it in relation to you!! I often suspect that as there is only hubs and me that if he goes before me, when my time comes I could be there for weeks before the smell alerts the neighbours!!
February 27, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Carol King
Hey Nicola, It’s only the Hubs and me too. If he goes before me I will force my nieces and nephews to check in on me every day. I will do this by telling explaining the definition of beneficiary. Which I’m sure they all know, but just in case! 🙂
February 23, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Barry Coombs
Lovely watercolour. I like the pinks you use in your rocks and the sunny yellow in the boughs. I’m going to risk my life with all of your loyal friends and followers by making a suggestion. Try not to drop a ‘plumb line’ down the sides of those pine trees. Some of those wild, wind-swept limbs and branches will stretch out much farther than others.
February 27, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Carol King
Hi Barry, don’t worry, you’re safe here. 🙂 And your comments are much appreciated. Thank you. I will consider this next time I do a painting with pines.
February 25, 2011 at 12:10 am
Francis
I feel so calm and quite by just looking at this painting. Feel like the husle and busle of the city is miles aways. Thanks for sharing this serene wilderness.
February 27, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Carol King
Thank you Francis. I’m glad you like the painting. I really wanted that feeling of serenity.
Hope you are well. Will stop by your blog shortly.
March 21, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Yousei Hime
Enjoyed both the personal sharing and the art. Glad you’re someone who will be noticed, if not missed. 🙂
May 18, 2011 at 6:03 am
sartenada
Very beautiful painting. I love all the elements in this painting, lake, pines, rocks and sweet colors.
It is calming one’s mind when looking at it.