Late afternoon on the Carroll Street Bridge – watercolor on 140# Arches
I completed the Carroll Street Bridge painting and taking the advice of some of my blogger acquaintances I was careful not to overdo it and muddy it up. There are, at most, two to three washes of any color in this painting. I’m pleased with it and may try it again. I accidentally bought some Arches hot press paper. Never having used hot press, I have no idea how it takes watercolor. I am looking forward to trying something new.
Lest you think I’m just laying about eating bon-bons I also started a new painting of the Guggenheim museum. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright it’s interesting both inside and out.
Also, I posted a portrait of my brother-in-law’s kitty, Flossie. She’s a beauty. She’s not Siamese, but something like that. I did her portrait when she was a young kitten. As you can see her face got a little darker. I guess she’s out in the sun not using 50 SPF sunscreen. I have no idea who is holding her up next to her picture, but Flossie doesn’t look that happy.
I’m off to the gym. I don’t want to go, I’d rather nap. But I just read yet another article on how the best thing for an aging brain is exercise. I thought the best thing for an aging brain is chocolate. I’m also reading “Drop Dead Healthy” by A. J. Jacobs. I’m only up to Chapter 5, The immune System. I can tell you I’m already stressed by reading this book. I do none of the things that are supposed to make me healthy. And high stress levels can make you sick or cause you to gain more belly fat. (I already knew about belly fat since that seems to be every other ad on Facebook or Gmail or yahoo, or, you get the idea.) But Mr. Jacobs does make me laugh and that’s good for you. I particularly liked the section where he talked about getting some raw cacao which was “certified organic, raw, low fermentation, non-fumigated, fair traded, strict farming standards, training and equipment provided, fair wages, profit reinvestment plan, purity tested, cruelty free, free range cacao. Ok, the last two I made up. But still.
Mr. Jacobs also has a treadmill desk where he wrote his book while walking. Apparently sitting is bad for us. Since I sit at a desk all day I’m clearly doomed. I wonder if the City will pay for a treadmill desk so I can walk and fill out paperwork at the same time. I’m gonna go with no.
Finally, I would like to say that if you see an ad on my blog, I did not approve it. I guess WordPress needs to make money so they are putting ads on blogs on their own. I could, of course PAY for the ads not to be there. Ugh.
22 comments
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September 15, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Cathyann Burgess
I am the first to comment!!! what a first.
Anyway…perfect finish, Carol. Love it. You can feel the afternoon. And the sky is delicately done!
Kitty is cute.
I also heard that choclate is good , too.LOL I may read the book, especially if it makes you laugh.
Better get back to my birds.
Looking forward to the Guggenheim…now that is a challenge IMHO.
Best…
September 15, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Carol King
Hi Cathyann, the first to comment! Woohoo! Thanks so much for your kind comments. I’m a little nervous about doing the Guggenheim myself. We’ll see how it goes. Stay tuned.
September 15, 2013 at 8:12 pm
candy7
Carol, I think you did a great job on the Carroll Street Bridge. I also love Flossie. I, too, would rather nap than go to the gym… I never heard of “Drop Dead Healthy” before. I’ll have to check it out. What do you do at the gym? Lift weights? Use the treadmill? Take a class?
Happy Sunday!
September 15, 2013 at 10:05 pm
Carol King
Hi Candy, I’m so glad you like the painting. And Flossie is an adorable kitty. Drop Dead Healthy, is very enjoyable so far. My sister read it and loved it. Ah, the gym. I do all sorts of stuff. Treadmill, elliptical, zumba classes. You would think I would be buff. Sadly, I’m not.
September 15, 2013 at 9:11 pm
artscottnet
awesome work on the painting, I love it, and kudos to intended health improvements… I saw an article some time ago about the sitting thing… not sure if plant based diet is too radical for you, but i’ve lost tons, no longer need diabetes meds, a lot of aspergers symptoms have all but disappeared, it works for me, but I know is radical for most in the US…I don’t miss anything, found subs for anything I love, including cacao 😉 flossie is a beautiful cat!
September 15, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Carol King
Thank you so much Scott. I appreciate your comments on the painting. I’ve been thinking about a plant based diet a lot and would try it, but sometimes I feel like I’m just too lazy. I guess I need to really think about it. Did you follow a specific diet? Do you miss anything specific?
September 15, 2013 at 11:51 pm
artscottnet
my goals were to lose some weight and prevent heart disease, most males in my family have heart issues… the book ‘prevent and reverse heart disease’ by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr… essentially a fat-free plant based diet, no added oils, very limited seeds and nuts, no avocados… the hardest things to give up were burgers, Jif peanut butter and pizza… but now I just make my own veggie burgers, use pb2 sparingly (powdered peanut butter) and make nearly fat-free pizza 😉 I have a sweet tooth, but I still eat cakes and cookies and stuff, just without all the sugar and fat…It takes a little prep and getting used to, but now I spend less time cooking than before… now my chlor. are well below what docs consider safe, no more meds for sugar control and i feel great…
September 15, 2013 at 11:42 pm
jimmyboi2
I don’t see any ads- just beautiful artwork. Brava! The cat is gorgeous, and- of course- my favorites of yours are the urbanscapes. ❤
September 16, 2013 at 1:29 am
Jana Bouc
The finished painting is really incredible! Fantastic work. I read that article about exercise and the brain too–in the same magazine that had a feature on “movie theaters for grownups” with a cheery picture of a man with a great big belly and woman sitting in recliner-type seats in a fancy movie theater, each holding a quart size soda with three giant cheese burgers lined up on the little table between them. A bit of a mixed message in that issue!
September 16, 2013 at 7:37 am
simagallery
Hi , I invite you to visit my blog and say your comments on my painting .thank you.
September 16, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Nuno
Carol, I love the final version of Carroll Street Bridge, particularly the light in the building: it looks like a summer dusk.
And exercise is good 🙂
September 16, 2013 at 11:39 pm
lesliepaints
Love, love, love the Carroll Street Bridge painting. I am faascinated with the white light blinking off the windows in the building, the water tower and the sky! Way to show off a bridge! Great start on the Guggenheim building, Carol and the kitty I remember. I am definitely failing on the exercise bit. Have not had to mow the lawn in weeks and have not substituted walking. Yes. My belly’s fatter. Guess I’d better do something about that……tomorrow. 🙂
September 17, 2013 at 9:08 am
Deb
Your painting is awesome, Carol!…Great job!
September 17, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Padmaja
This will remain as one of my most favorites of all your works Carol, it is a perfect job!
September 18, 2013 at 9:20 pm
joantav
Carol, the bridge came out super. The colors just glow!!! Very nice shadows in that. Yeah that you are doing the Guggenheim. I love the shape of that building and always wanted to roll from the top down to the bottom…don’t think they would let me. Nice portrait of the cat…funny how his face got darker.
Luckily I do get up and exercise, but now that the pool in my development is closed I don’t do as much. I think the treadmill desk sounds interesting. Maybe the public schools can get them so we don’t have as many obese kids. lol Fat chance of that! Ha-ha!
September 19, 2013 at 2:44 am
nicsearth
Fistly that painting of Carroll Street is brilliant. I love how you’ve got the sun reflecting off the windows. Flossie is gorgeous. Great portrait although I don’t think she appreciates being held up against it!
I’m somehow glad to hear it isn’t just me that every single social media site is targeting with those belly fat ads, all the more annoying when they make them animated before and after shots! I love the idea of a treadmill desk. I too spend a lot of time sitting, either at work or painting or just watching tv. I’m intrigued by that book but laughed at your description of all the checks you have to make to ensure tge cacao
September 19, 2013 at 2:48 am
nicsearth
My tablet just did something weird and made me post my comment mid sentence. As I was saying, the checks you have to go through to ensure the cacao hasn’t offended anyone or anything during its existence-that sounds like every shopping trip for me! It’s vegan but oh no it contains palm oil, was it ethically sourced or by eating it am I contributing to the orangutans’ habitat destruction! I finally understand the expression ‘ignorance is bliss’!
September 20, 2013 at 9:04 am
northpenninegallery
I’ve tried on several occasions with the gym, but feel we were never meant to get on. I’m planning on jogging again-oh the thought! Love the water tower and your urban subjects.
September 27, 2013 at 12:04 pm
hw (hallie) farber
I see no ads, just beautiful paintings. At 71, I recently joined the Y to walk on their treadmills and use the machines. I joined not for my aging brain or weight but so I can keep eating everything and smoking. I think we worry too much–age will find most of us, no matter what.
September 27, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Lauren
Very dangerous to post pet portraits – then everyone will be asking you to do theirs! So, since you asked for it, you may use my feline princess for practice any time you so desire. She would give Flossie a run for her money (or catnip).
-Lauren
October 1, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Irina
Great to see your art work again.
I subscribed to youtube sport channels and love to watch them while sitting and drinking tea with cookies. Also treadmill could be a stress for my body, I have enough stresses already around me, no need for extra..
Look forward to read about your gym adventures. I finished my gym attempt in belly dance class. Slow music, no men, and girls with true bellies.
October 6, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Floral Wicker, the Guggenheim, and fall(ing) leaves | Carol King: Watercolors, Drawing, Urban Ennui
[…] finally finished the Guggenheim which I started here. It didn’t come out the way I thought it would. Insert sad emoticon […]