Clearly I did not move on. I decided to work on the balloon some more. Here’s the revised version:
Hot air balloon over Albuquerque, New Mexico watercolor on Arches 300 lb, rough paper 12-2013
Hot air balloon over Albuquerque, New Mexico watercolor on Arches 300 lb, rough paper 11-2013
Spurred on by Rick Daddario I decided to give a hot air balloon painting a try. Once again, it was done with mostly painting without drawing except for the balloon which really needed to be drawn first. I wanted to get some of the beautiful Albuquerque landscape over the Rio Grande with the gorgeous yellow cottonwood trees, but I also didn’t want to over do it. I think I’ll just leave it alone and move on.
Moving on…it’s Thanksgiving week here in the U.S. and while I know I am truly blessed because, unlike many people all over the world who don’t have anything to eat, I have enough. But sadly enough is not enough. What? Well, we also are one of the most obese countries recently surpassed by Mexico (Viva la Mexico!). So what exactly should one eat to be healthy. Any quick log-on to Facebook and I’m hit with websites like the ones below. There’s the Paleo diet – eat meat all the time to the vegan – only eat plants, to the diet I’ve been on most of my life: Eat whatever you want especially if it’s salt, fat, carb and sugar laden. Now I must change my ways. But oh, which way to go? I’ll figure it out starting with cutting out processed foods and sugar. And I will be thankful that I have the ability to make that choice.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I am blessed and thankful for all of you who visit my blog, whose blogs I visit and get inspiration from and of course for the Husband, the dog, all my family and friends and you dear reader. Thank you.
http://foodbabe.com/2012/07/18/sabotaged-at-starbucks/
http://www.trueactivist.com/top-10-most-unhealthy-cancer-causing-foods-never-eat-these-again/
http://issuccessmakingyoufat.com/
http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/natural-vs-synthetic-vitamins/
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
18 comments
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November 24, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Padmaja
Looks like any moment it is going to go high and high, leaving the vast fields behind, the composition is so beautiful Carol! Have a great TG week!
November 24, 2013 at 6:52 pm
jimmyboi2
I remember the days when we used to exist on potato chips, ice cream, and cheese balls… topped off with butter-coated pasta. ABBONDANZA! As a result, we would NEVER be taken aloft in that beautiful balloon… !
November 24, 2013 at 8:24 pm
kk2n777
I will stick to my chocolate and ice cream diet.
Lovely painting by the way….
November 24, 2013 at 8:39 pm
cathy
Lovely sentiment. Happy Turkey day. Up up and away is terrific.
November 24, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Anna Cull
I really like your hot air balloon. The colours are lovely. I’ve just finished painting one too (I’ve even written the same title for my blog post!) although mine is ink with a watercolour sky. Funny. Must be something in the air ; )
November 24, 2013 at 11:27 pm
lesliepaints
What a colorful painting for your Thanksgiving post. I think you captured New Mexico just fine. …the food thing. I have thought about that a lot. How many work at getting the pounds off and others don’t have enough to keep the pounds on. So much of what we live and experience is a balancing act. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25, 2013 at 11:42 am
sefeniak
A happy painting to wish everyone happy thanksgiving! Don’t over indulge! 🙂
November 25, 2013 at 1:02 pm
cathyannburgess
Hi Carol ! Will be in NYC for the holiday…in Murray Hill to see the parade.
Love the balloon …happy TG to you and yours….wish I could meet you in town but I remember that you hate the crowds, so I will shout a hello to you from 34 th st.LOL!!!!
Best
November 25, 2013 at 1:44 pm
joantav
Love this!!! The colors are so eye catching. I can just imagine being above the Rio Grand and the view that you would have from up there. Super job!
Deciding on a new kind of diet that you can live with for any length of time is so hard to do. We are always bombarded by food choice, photos and ads for food, and constant talk about what is the healthiest way to eat…no wonder so many of us need therapy. lol
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!! I’m planning to eat everything…in moderation.
November 25, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Nuno
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Cindy D.
So pretty! Hot air balloons are such enchanting things. And the landscape below is so soft and magical.
Yikes, diets. I usually find small changes work best and last longest! Moderation in all things, especially dessert. 🙂
November 25, 2013 at 8:12 pm
hw (hallie) farber
A thoughtful post; we should be thankful and able to stop at enough. Your balloon is beautiful and seems peaceful for this hectic time of year; I’d like to be on board.
November 26, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Linda Halcomb
What a wonderful post! The painting is beautiful. The sky glows. And your thoughts about Thanksgiving are funny AND meaningful. I am glad you are one of my blogging friends. I hope to meet you face to face some day!
November 27, 2013 at 1:37 pm
northpenninegallery
Up, up and away. Beautiful.
November 28, 2013 at 7:17 pm
candy7
Carol, your balloon is pretty enough to make me almost brave enough to go up in one. As for the diet – I have to do something, too. What you say is true, we have so much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.
December 21, 2013 at 7:31 pm
violetski
I’ve missed many of your posts here!
Beautiful painting and brilliant colors Carol!
Love it ❤️
January 5, 2014 at 6:26 pm
A late Christmas present,the holidays and a new year | Carol King: Watercolors, Drawing, Urban Ennui
[…] like my hot air balloon painting that I was going to leave alone and then I didn’t which is here. My pooch looks a little sad because we were up at my sister’s house and that’s where […]
January 11, 2014 at 8:03 am
napabelle
You’ve made the final painting much more intense! Good for you! I love your colors, all these warms and vibrant shades! I admire you: I have a hard time going back to a painting and working on it…