The Husband and I were both at or near the World Trade Center on 9/11. He was there as an NYPD officer and a first responder. I was there because I worked two blocks away. I am convinced that many of my bronchial issues are from breathing in the burning air for the 100 days the fire burned. But this post is not about 9/11 per se, but more about remembrances.
Yesterday The Husband and I were talking about my bronchitis/asthma/whateverthehellthisis. He was nagging asking me to see a pulmonologist. (I finally made an appt.) As we were talking we remembered the time shortly after 9/11 when he came to visit me in uniform in the building I had been relocated to. There was a new receptionist. The Husband came to the 36th floor and asked for me. The receptionist called me and when there was no answer she left her desk and started to look for me. With panic in her eyes, she told everyone she saw “THE POLICE ARE HERE FOR CAROL!”. I think she thought I was about to get locked up.
The pansy got its name from the French word pensée “thought”. I’ve always liked pansies and their beautiful faces. In the language of flowers pansy is a symbol for “loving thoughts”, remembrance” and “free thought”.
One day while perusing the internet, I found a video of an artist Karlyn Holman using an “Elegant Writer” Calligraphy Marker for watercolors. I thought it was interesting and wanted to give it a try. I did the above two small paintings using the Elegant Writer marker and then watercolors. I think I need to practice, but the technique was fun.
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June 12, 2015 at 5:26 pm
kk2n777
I remember that! 🙂
June 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
Carol King
I was probably with you!
June 12, 2015 at 5:35 pm
neihtn2012
Those pansies look good as you painted them. I also agree with your husband: go see a pulmonologist!
June 12, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Carol King
Thanks for your comment…as for the doctor, I’m going, I’m going! 🙂
June 12, 2015 at 5:46 pm
tank
love these.
June 12, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Carol King
Thanks!
June 12, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Lauren
Love the marker! By the way, Shakespeare had this quote from Hamlet, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember; and there is pansies, that’s for thoughts…”
June 12, 2015 at 10:40 pm
Carol King
I did not know that Shakespeare quote. Thanks for sharing Lauren.
June 12, 2015 at 8:57 pm
joantav
Love how the receptionist reacted. lol You definitely should be checked…who knows what you breathed in down there. Love these pansies done with the Elegant Writer. I’ve watched her video several times and want to try a larger sketch using that pen. I need to find a fine mister to set the ink after I’m done letting some of it bleed. I saw you had another post that I missed. I’m heading there next.
June 12, 2015 at 10:46 pm
Carol King
Hi Joan, I just went to your blog and saw what you did with the elegant writer. It is a fun technique. I want to do something larger too, but I think I will draw it first in pencil and then redraw on top of that with the marker.
June 13, 2015 at 2:56 am
Rebecca
Carol, I really love these!
June 19, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Carol King
Thanks Rebecca, they were fun to do.
June 13, 2015 at 3:23 am
tomsimard
Lovely.
June 19, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Carol King
Thanks Tom.
June 13, 2015 at 5:26 am
padmaja
As elegant and soft as the real ones, beautiful!
June 19, 2015 at 8:48 pm
Carol King
Thanks Padmaja.
June 13, 2015 at 6:47 am
Jodi
Love pansies and love the free ness of these. Hope you get your issue figured out. 😕. Great sad but funny story
June 19, 2015 at 8:48 pm
Carol King
Hi Jodi, Thanks for your comment on the pansies. Finally going to the dr. on Monday.
June 13, 2015 at 7:44 am
memadtwo
Beautiful paintings. I love pansys too, always have. I didn’t know the relationship to pensee, but it’s perfect.
And none of us who were in the NYC area will ever forget our 9/11 day(s).
June 19, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Carol King
Yes, we will never forget that day. thanks for your comments on the pansies.
June 13, 2015 at 7:58 am
judylobo
I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Any laughs we could garner in those days were much appreciated.
June 19, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Carol King
I remember it as if it was yesterday too.
June 13, 2015 at 8:07 am
elenacaravela
A great post, Carol. My gosh, a powerful memory indeed. Great to remember a little humor with all of the rest. Love the paintings, sensitive and quite beautiful.
June 19, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Carol King
There was really nothing to find humorous on 9/11 and the aftermath. But that one story always makes me smile.
June 13, 2015 at 11:03 am
RHCarpenter
These are beautiful! Glad you are going to see the pulmonary specialist and hope it’s an easy fix. You must have a reputation if she thought the police were there to arrest you!! ha ha Oh, a new girl…got it, she didn’t know (yet) about your reputation! ha ha
June 19, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Carol King
Oh Rhonda! How did you know they didn’t know about my reputation? 🙂
June 13, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Lifesastitch
You were up close and personal on that day of infamy, very sad time. 3000 miles from home, we were still in shock. Can’t imagine being there. Love KH’s videos. I have her first set, so encouraging. Good luck with the dr.
June 19, 2015 at 9:11 pm
Carol King
Thanks, I can’t wait to try more paintings with the elegant writer. I may even use it to try writing calligraphy.
June 14, 2015 at 9:42 am
Sadami
Dear Carol, what a wonderful post that consists of a humour spiced up by irony, deep thoughts and a so lovely painting! Please put your health first and enjoy your life. Me, too, love pansies and violets from the same reason you have. I hope one day, we can catch up and sketch together sush as pansies! Best wishes, Sadami
June 19, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Carol King
Ah, that would be wonderful to sketch together.
June 14, 2015 at 3:49 pm
ssgt leslie
Beautiful pansies and thanks for sharing your thoughts about 9/11.
June 19, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Carol King
Thanks ssgt leslie.
June 14, 2015 at 4:23 pm
lesliepaints
I am hooked! I love this and after the ink has been activated, once, it stops running, she said? Phenomenal! Thank you for this! I think you did awesome on your pansies. They are so delicate and fragile looking. Oh no! I never gave a thought to your exposure to 9/11 fire. I will definitely be wishing you well or allergic or something other than that.
June 19, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Carol King
I knew you’d love this. I can’t wait to see what you do with the elegant writer.
June 14, 2015 at 4:55 pm
CitraSolv and a Bearded Vulture | Leslie White
[…] just read a really creative post on Carol King’s blog here. She used an elegant writer pen to design her composition and then painted into it to cause the ink […]
June 14, 2015 at 10:21 pm
candy7
Carol, I’m glad you listened to your husband and made the appointment.
I didn’t know about pansies being for remembrance. I’ve always loved them for their faces. You did a nice job on these. The Elegant Writer gives an interesting effect.
Thank you for posting your remembrance of 9/11.
Thank you also for changing my mood from sadness to laughter with your story about the new receptionist.
June 19, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Carol King
That was one of the few laughs we had at that time. But it was a funny situation.
June 15, 2015 at 11:29 am
Sand Salt Moon
Yasutomo is the brand of the metallics.
June 19, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Carol King
Great. Thanks for the info.
June 15, 2015 at 1:14 pm
outsideauthority
Delicate but strong at the same time. nice.
June 19, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Carol King
Thanks very much.
June 16, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Irina
Beautiful painting, interesting experience with marker. Though I still think we are more bricks and walls girls than pansies and geraniums ones.
I am so sorry you have these memories, I hope so much your visit to the doctor will bring calmness and relax.
June 19, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Carol King
Bricks and walls girls! I think you are exactly right! 🙂
June 17, 2015 at 4:47 am
June Malone
As usual, your posts are a great combination of art, humour and education.
You may be right about the air pollution from 9/11 adversely affecting your bronchial tract – probably easily managed with the correct inhibitor inhaler. I felt so moved reading this but should have realised you’d still manage to leave us grinning.
Really appreciate you sharing that fun instructional video – has made me determined to give it a try. Great job on the pretty pansies.
June 19, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Carol King
Hi June, thanks for your comments. I can’t wait to see what you do with the writer.
June 17, 2015 at 9:21 pm
ruthsartwork
I like pansies too. You have captured their delicate colors nicely.
June 19, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Carol King
Thanks Ruth.
June 18, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Cathy
The pansies are delightful. I’m assuming its a type of ink pen- I guess I should watch the video !?
June 19, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Carol King
LOL! You don’t have to watch the video. The elegant writer is a calligraphy marker. The artist is the video figured out a way to use it for watercolors.
July 9, 2015 at 5:37 am
nicsearth
Carol, these are beautiful. I love the delicate effect if the watercolor with the black pen. I didn’t know the meaning behind the name but it’s the perfect tribute to remembrance.
July 18, 2015 at 11:58 pm
Watercolor and the “Elegant Writer” | Leslie White
[…] created by my Granddaughter and me this past week. I first learned about this technique by reading Carol King’s post about a new technique she had tried after viewing a video by Karlyn […]