Two Steeples, part deux approx 19″ x 22″ on 140# Arches cold press
I have been suffering from a touch of ennui which, as Merriam-Webster defines, is a feeling of weariness or dissatisfaction. Synonyms include: blahs, doldrums, boredom, listlessness, restlessness, tedium, weariness. When I get ennui I also usual get malaise, which is defined as a generalized feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being. And now I also have a cold.
Party girl in the house!
I find that ennui and malaise are excellent words, but I think my favorite is schadenfreude defined as “taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.” It’s a German word. Hmmmmm.
I like vocabulary. I do not like math. Doesn’t matter much as I can no longer remember what I was just going to say anyway.
Haven’t been painting lately…a quick trip to LA, then I helped my brother who does not read my blog act as a tour guide for some friends visiting NYC (those lovely lasses from Leeds) then I was in a “decoupage under glass” frenzy to get pieces ready for the arts council holiday show (forgot to take pictures of them) and now here we are. Whew!
The above painting is a watercolor I did using a reference photo taken from the roof of my building. I painted it here too. I like sections of both. In this one, however, I wonder what natural disaster caused the apartment building in the right side background to merge through the building of the 2nd steeple. It looks like the apartment building intersected the church, the church grew wings and now it’s about to take off. It’s not. Sigh.
I know it’s a bit early, but just in case I don’t post again until after Thanksgiving, I hope everyone has a good one. Thanks for visiting.
51 comments
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November 17, 2011 at 7:41 pm
sam
Ennui and malaise are both caused by Schadenfreude which is German for November. Good news! The end is near.
November 18, 2011 at 11:34 am
Carol King
November comes from Old French which previously came from the Latin meaning “ha ha, your toga fell off”, which ultimately brings it back around to “taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.” The end is always near.
November 17, 2011 at 7:43 pm
sam
P.S. I would like to apologize for that sucky layout where the near was so far way.
November 18, 2011 at 11:34 am
Carol King
Sam, no apologies necessary.
November 17, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Jim Crescitelli
I am gazing at my painting of “Two Steeples.” I love this latest rendition too– the architectural detail is wonderful. This is REALLY good.
November 18, 2011 at 11:41 am
Carol King
I wish you would come HOME and see the view yourself. I’m happy you like Two steeples part one!
November 17, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Jim Crescitelli
… and I am using it as my Desktop : )
November 18, 2011 at 11:41 am
Carol King
Really? i’m honored.
November 17, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Valerie
I think there is an ennui epidemic 😦
November 18, 2011 at 11:50 am
Carol King
I think so too Val. Drink a cosmo and have a nap. 🙂
November 17, 2011 at 10:50 pm
kk2n777
I like your landscapes, including this one as well. Hope you fell better tomorrow when I get to see you…. Cheer up, your birthday month is coming up!
November 18, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Carol King
yes, my birthday month is coming making me another year older. Which I guess is ok.
Glad you like the painting. And I’m still sick. I hope I don’t cough during the whole play.
November 18, 2011 at 2:31 am
AKLizzy
Ennui strikes here too!! Or maybe it’s the -11 temps that have been our norm the last few days. (Sans wind chill – it’s just that cold!!) I am looking forward to some NY love to cure my ennui. 🙂
November 18, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Carol King
NEGATIVE eleven degrees????? That’s crazy! You need to move to a warmer climate.
I will send my love along with the NY contingent. Have a good time and can’t wait to see pictures of everyone. Maybe we could skype? I have to figure out how to do it. Let me see if I can find a teenager to help me.
November 18, 2011 at 6:18 am
Judith wolfe
There’s a new film out called ‘Melancholia’ perhaps ‘we’ should take it in.
November 18, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Carol King
Judalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, I would love to see melancholia. I can add it to the list of things that’s wrong with me.
November 18, 2011 at 9:58 am
lesliepaints
Well, I like this painting alot! I do not see the apartment building as part of the steeple. The texture and fullness of the trees and how they carry the viewer’s eye to the steeples is really a nice compositional touch. I think the roofline in the foreground is spot on. The background building “pinged” with light finishes this painting with a flourish. Beautiful, Carol.
I’ve read quite a few blog posts on this topic of ennui, malaise and just overall doldrums. However, Carol, you make it sound like a fun adventure! 🙂 Must remember this post come February, which is when I usually get in a pickle with these words.
November 23, 2011 at 10:31 am
Carol King
Leslie, Thanks for noticing the building “pinged” with light as you call it. The sun was starting to set and one building really glowed. I tried to capture that here, but couldn’t get it the way I wanted it. Oh well, I will try again.
I have had a bronchial infection for two weeks now. The thought of February makes me seriously depressed. Why can’t I be rich enough to have a home in the Caribbean that I can go to in the winter? Now that would be awesome.
November 18, 2011 at 10:53 am
Joan T
I’ve been missing your work! Glad you finally posted something new. I love the city scene!!!! Nobody would know the difference if the skyline is a bit off. It works well! City scenes are fun. I was in Manhattan yesterday and captured a bit of it on paper. Come see!
November 18, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Carol King
Aw, thanks Joan, that’s so kind of you to say that you missed my work. I hope soon to have more paintings as other things have slowed down and I can get back to the business of painting.
I am running right over to your place to see your city scenes. Thanks for visiting.
November 19, 2011 at 8:32 am
carringtonp
this is really wonderful!
November 23, 2011 at 10:24 am
Carol King
Thanks Carrington, Nice to see you here. Loved your newest pieces.
November 19, 2011 at 9:57 am
Cathyann Burgess
Ennui…malaise….I am not alone! praise whatever!!! All I can handle about now is a 8×8 panel and that is because I bought a handy dandy holder for the wee canvases. I am also angry cause my camellias are in shock from my rough handling to try and save them from the tree eaters company that finally cleared out the Irene debris. Hmmm…just got an idea for my blog. Thanks Carol.
I do like this image and even if you had not mentioned the fauz pas, it would not detract from the painting.
Hope you cheer up and get rid of the nasty cold.
Happy Thanksgiving.
from frigidly cold for the south, Richmond.:-)
November 23, 2011 at 10:27 am
Carol King
Hi Cathyann, I think we are all currently suffering from a bit of ennui and malaise. So sorry to hear about your camellias. They always feature prominently in many of your paintings. I’m happy to hear you like the painting. Does it make you miss Brooklyn?
November 30, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Cathyann Burgess
YES!!!! I want to come home and take a look around.
November 19, 2011 at 10:27 am
Debbie
You paintings just keep getting better and better, Carol! I love it!
Deb xx
November 23, 2011 at 10:27 am
Carol King
Hi Deb, Thanks!
November 19, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Alex Zonis
We had a Cafe Ennui here in Chicago. It was there since before Starbucks epidemic. You had to go three steps down from the ground level to get in. It had rickety tables, unmatched chairs and chipped mugs. They served misshapen pastries, goulash and soup. Their coffee was excellent, you could have it two ways – with milk and without. You get the picture. We loved the place. It was there, in Cafe Ennui, back in 1993 Lou and I decided to move in together.
Cafe Ennui closed last year. Starbucks on the opposite corner and the economy killed it. Talk about malaise…
I’ve been missing your work and posts. Glad to see the new painting! I don’t see the building and the steeple merging. I especially like the different planes and atmospheric perspective. Lovely view!
November 23, 2011 at 10:33 am
Carol King
Starbucks gives me ennui. I hate their coffee. But what a lovely story about Cafe Ennui and you and Lou. 🙂 Happy it all worked out.
November 21, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Sonya Chasey
Hi Carol- I’ve not looked here for ages – never seem to have time to look at many blogs. I think this works well & I can relate to it a bit because I’m actually doing a painting of buildings at the moment – so I say well done with your steeples as they aren’t easy! Do you find it tricky getting the verticles as you want them ? I seerm to be forever readjusting them! I like the sky in this too.
November 23, 2011 at 10:46 am
Carol King
Sonya, yes, I always have trouble with the verticals. So much so that sometimes it looks like the buildings are curved or tilted. I don’t mind though. All of the buildings in my neighborhood are out of kilter. I don’t think there is a plumb line anywhere in my apartment. So it goes….
Thanks for stopping by.
November 22, 2011 at 3:33 am
pointypix
those feelings of ennui sound very familiar- i experience similar ones from 9 through 5 every week day! did not know that word though so thanks for that-i love learning new words.
i like this painting- would’ve had no idea it was in New York as it looks quite English- might be the steeples and trees throwing me of the scent.
happy thanksgiving.
November 23, 2011 at 10:48 am
Carol King
Nicola, I know exactly what you mean about feeling ennui every weekday from 9-5! There are other parts of NY besides the big skyscrapers. And yes, we even have some trees. 🙂
November 22, 2011 at 9:20 am
Alison
I think I must have been suffering from a bit of post-holiday ennui, but all is now well, as I got a mention on The Blog!!!
November 23, 2011 at 10:48 am
Carol King
yes! Alison got a mention on the blog! YAY. And Robert won’t ever know cause he doesn’t read my blog.
November 22, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Camilla
Hi Carol!
I’m glad you’re still posting, despite of your ennui. 🙂 I like the painting! I keep wondering how you can post a new one so often, and still they look very good…? In norwegian the word schadenfreude is skadefro, and of course is stolen from the german language, as so many other norwegian words. I like it, but I thinkg I like ennui better. I love french 😀
November 23, 2011 at 10:50 am
Carol King
So nice to see you Camilla. Hope you are well. I was surprised that you mentioned that I can post new paintings often. I was thinking I hadn’t posted a new painting in ages! Hope all is well in your part of the world. I will have to stop by your place and visit.
November 29, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Camilla
Yeah, well, it’s all relative, right? 😉 I don’t know how to paint, but whenever I try to, just for fun, it takes ages. I would have spent several months on a painting like the ones you make (only I can’t paint, but never mind that :p ) and I probably would have posted like twice a year, or something!
November 22, 2011 at 5:41 pm
northpenninegallery
Those lovely lasses from Leeds, was that Leeds in Yorkshire?, if so, close to me 🙂 I think your painting is lovely, reminds me of one of those views you see through the cameras on the top of tall buildings. I could ramble here as it’s late in merry old. Not that we’re merry, just old. My blog is never read by anyone who knows me 🙂
Best
Keith
November 23, 2011 at 10:51 am
Carol King
yes, Leeds in Yorkshire. One of these days I will visit them and get to see the North Pennines too….I hope.
November 23, 2011 at 10:08 am
Beth Parker
Thanks for the diagnosis, Carol. I’ve been unable to concentrate on anything. Just a little blah. This is always temporary, so I’m looking forward to perking back up. This is a cool painting! I would love to see your view from the roof in person. I still have never been to New York. One day, perhaps. 🙂
November 23, 2011 at 10:53 am
Carol King
No problem about the diagnosis. That will be $10 please. 🙂
Yes, ennui is always temporary for me as well. Just waiting for it to pass. As far as New York goes, I think you need to come and visit. One of these days you could probably fly yourself here. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
November 23, 2011 at 11:53 am
asmalltowndad
Hey Carol, just wanted to stop in and say Thanks for being a blog buddy, and a constant laugh and creative motivation. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be safe for the holidays!
November 23, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Carol King
Thanks Ryan, Same to you! Happy Thanksgiving.
November 24, 2011 at 3:12 pm
wrjones
I like it flying church and all. Every time I visit you have gotten better. Keep painting and enjoying the misfortune of others. My recent life would have you ecstatic. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Carol King
Oh Bill…I like the word schadenfraude, I would never like feeling it about you.
Thanks for your comments on the painting. I hope you are safely ensconced in your new home in AZ by now.
November 27, 2011 at 6:25 am
lindahalcombfineart
Carol, I like this painting very much. I didn’t notice the flying cathedral until you pointed it out but a cathedral on angels wings – what is more appropriate? I am impressed with the complexity – you did a GREAT job!
November 27, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Carol King
Linda, thanks for your comments. I suppose you’re right. What IS more appropriate than a cathedral with wings.
November 27, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Stephen
Ah yes – again I have a good laugh.
I love your postings and your story.
I think this is a great piece of work and I particularly like the foreground wall and tiles.
Nice bold greens that put zip into the red brick – yes very cool work.
You do make ennui sound like fun as Leslie suggested – schadenfraude – I don’t know from schadenfraude
And it is really good to have you posting work again – good for you – and thanks for the lift
November 27, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Carol King
Hi Stephen, good to see you here. Thanks for your comments. There is a lot of brick in my neighborhood. And churches.
November 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm
aswirly
Schadenfreude! haha… What a nice view from your roof, and a lovely painting. You can go onto your roof? Wish I could go on mine!