NYC rooftops, WIP – oil painting value study. Approx 8″ x 11″
Green tulips – watercolor practice on Strathmore paper
The Husband and I are taking beginner Spanish classes. Again. We’ve tried this once or twice but don’t keep up with it and forget everything. This time we say we will stick with it. We’ll see.
Last week a student in class asked the teacher what the difference was between “usted” which is formal, singular “you”, and “ustedes” which is formal, plural “you”.
The teacher explained it this way: “Usted” is “you”. “Ustedes” is “Y’all”.
Only in the South…. 🙂
I’m still struggling with oil painting so I’m staying with using only one color and white and doing value studies. One of these days I’ll graduate to color. The above oil is of some of the rooftops and water towers in NYC. The next is a fun little watercolor of some tulips for #worldwatercolormonth.
Hasta luego, Y’all. Thanks for visiting.
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
32 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 23, 2016 at 10:04 am
jotsfromasmallapt
Happy to see, Ustedes, you are keeping on with keeping on…..
July 24, 2016 at 10:10 am
Carol King
Hey Raye, How are you? Thanks for stopping by. Yes,, I just keep on keeping on…
July 23, 2016 at 10:24 am
Jodi
look at you rocking both oil and water! Wow!
July 24, 2016 at 10:11 am
Carol King
Whew, It’s work switching from one mindset to another. But fun. Thanks for your visit.
July 23, 2016 at 10:55 am
Barry Coombs
Dónde está el baño is the most common question on my annual workshop in SM de Allende, Mexico. You’re all set!
July 24, 2016 at 10:11 am
Carol King
Yay! I’m ready.
July 23, 2016 at 11:17 am
Cathe
I love both of your paintings but very intrigued with your oils. Very inspiring. Good luck with your Spanish lessons (y’all).
July 24, 2016 at 10:12 am
Carol King
Glad you like the oils Cathe, And thanks for the good wishes with Spanish. Gracias!
July 23, 2016 at 11:52 am
memadtwo
The oil is appropriately ominous, while the flower is fresh and happy. You are liking Asheville?
I tried and failed at Spanish many times. My daughter took a few years in high school, and while she doesn’t speak well, can understand what the people around us are talking about, at least in essence. Some people have the gift! good luck! (K)
July 24, 2016 at 10:13 am
Carol King
Hey K. the oil is probably more ominous than it should be because I only used burnt umber. I’m liking Asheville, but really miss NY. I plan to be back in a few months.
July 23, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Mary
Happy to see your art again Carol. Best wishes to you and your husband on Spanish studies!
July 24, 2016 at 10:17 am
Carol King
thanks so much Mary.
July 23, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Laura (Createarteveryday)
I love the explanation your teacher gave you! Very funny. Just love your watercolor here. I’d be squeaking with joy if my “practice” pieces looked like this! Wow! And looking forward to seeing more of your oils as well. 💜
July 24, 2016 at 10:18 am
Carol King
Yes Laura, I laughed at that explanation of you vs y’all. LOL! thanks for your comments and visit.
July 23, 2016 at 2:22 pm
Nicola
I have a bag full of acrylic paints that I hide away because I’m too scared to try them! Well done for venturing out ☺
July 24, 2016 at 10:21 am
Carol King
Hey Nicola, It’s scary to switch it up, but the acrylic paints aren’t doing any good hidden away. Give ’em a try. 🙂
July 23, 2016 at 7:39 pm
kk2n777
LOVE your oil painting. You dealt with the spatial relationship really well. There is nothing wrong with monochromatic value studies. In fact I wish more artists would master color theory before jumping into the full color spectrum. 🙂
July 24, 2016 at 10:21 am
Carol King
thanks KK.
July 24, 2016 at 3:34 am
Padmaja Madhu
Both are lovely, you are good with oils as well.
Learning languages really help us to keep our brains younger, I tried Arabic but kept forgetting!
July 24, 2016 at 10:22 am
Carol King
It’s the remembering the words in another language that helps to learn it. 😉
Thanks for liking the oil as I know you are a pro in this medium.
July 24, 2016 at 8:25 am
June Malone
Never heard of ‘green’ tulips before. This watercolour is wonderful – love the muted colour palette – it’s just a joy to look at. Well done with the value study – initially I found them very boring but now I usually usually begin my paintings with the values in pale monochrome, before painting a layer of colour on top – much easier to do with oil paints. Best of luck with the Spanish.
July 24, 2016 at 10:23 am
Carol King
June, the green tulips were really cream but I went a little overboard. LOL. I like the muted color palette too.
July 25, 2016 at 2:28 am
outsideauthority
love them both
July 25, 2016 at 2:58 pm
dani8080
Muy bueno!!! ❤
July 25, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Joan Tavolott
Hola, Tina! Good to see NYC hasn’t left you…nice! Super job on the green tulips in that attractive vase. Hope you practice your Spanish. I took it for 4 years and remember so little. Hasta la vista!
July 27, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Judy
I love the watercolor! And the oil looks promising. Good luck with the lessons!
July 30, 2016 at 11:56 am
ruthsartwork
I love the tulip painting. It would look look lovely somewhere as an accent color painting.
As for language classes, I have trouble enough with English. Half the time I can’t remember the English word, much less one in another language. LOL
July 30, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Sketchuniverse
Oh Carol, perhaps you don’t remember I’m spanish. ¡Buenas tardes!
August 4, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Lifesastitch
LOL Bano won’t get you what you need in the north of Spain. It was aseo in some parts and servicio in others.
I’m not brave enough for oils, but I will enjoy them vicariously through you 😉
September 7, 2016 at 11:12 am
lesliepaints
I really like the built up drama of the city scene in oil, Carol. The movement and built up heaviness of the clouds really contrast with the still man made shapes of the buildings. Very cool. You are so good at retaining the juicy look of a watercolor. Those tulips are rendered with such a soft look.
September 12, 2016 at 10:41 am
elenacaravela
¡Buen trabajo!
October 3, 2016 at 2:17 pm
lindahalcombfineart
I have always enjoyed your posts! I like the monochromatic oil sketch. very nice!