Grace Church Spires, NYC – Watercolor on Arches 300# cold press. Approximately 18″ x 22″
A number have people have asked where I have been and expressed that they have missed my posts. And when I say a “number” of people I mean two people.
Hey, two is a number. 🙂
I’m posting today and that is miracle #1. Miracle #2 is what happened last week…
…when my dog bolted after a bear in our backyard. She got swatted across the face and sheepishly came back to us. We were screaming her name, but she was in full protect mode. The bear whacked her and then turned away. Luckily poochie came back with only a small cut under one eye, another over the other eye and a cut on her shoulder. We checked her carefully and cleaned the cuts. Other than being a bit dazed, she was ok. It could have been so much worse. She is one lucky dog! After we took care of her we went on the deck in the backyard to see not only mama bear, but 3 small cubs up our tree. Turns out, Mama bear was in full protect mode too. Normally when dogs chase bears out of yards, the bears just run away. No matter what, I’m happy my dog wasn’t hurt badly and I hope she has learned not to chase bears.
Here are two of the three cubs. Aren’t they cute! And here’s mama after she and the cubs moved down the mountain from our house to a neighbors house:
I’ve been working on the above Grace Church painting for the past few weeks. Again, I started with a grisaille in Paynes Gray to get the values and then added local color, ending with some splashing of paint.
I’m still taking the botanical drawing class. Here’s a peony drawing from last week.
Thanks for visiting.
35 comments
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May 15, 2017 at 11:38 pm
Jodi
Beautiful! So lovely to see your work here – may I be #3 who has missed you?! 🙂 glad poochie survived that crazy bear nonsense!!!
May 15, 2017 at 11:44 pm
jotsfromasmallapt
Make that FOUR!!! Missing your smile….and every thing else that goes with you being you. Xoxo Raye
May 15, 2017 at 11:59 pm
kk2n777
Miss your post but not the bears. They were too close for comfort.
May 16, 2017 at 12:04 am
Carol King
Thanks Jodi and Raye. K, don’t worry. I will protect you from the bears.
May 16, 2017 at 12:38 am
zuzala
Missed you #4. Even thogh im a new subscriber
May 16, 2017 at 1:23 am
AKLizzy
So glad K is mostly unharmed!!! She and Watson can share wildlife stories – his was a mama moose! =)
LOVE the church painting!!!
May 16, 2017 at 1:54 am
Padmaja Madhu
Definitely missed your humour, this post lighted up my day! And that is a masterpiece you came up with!
May 16, 2017 at 4:06 am
northpenninegallery
Incredible!
May 16, 2017 at 5:44 am
derrickjknight
Glad to see you back. Marvellous painting and entertaining story
May 16, 2017 at 5:54 am
memadtwo
Good to see you, seconding everyone above. And, as always, wonderful geometry in your work.
Lucky dog! (K)
May 16, 2017 at 7:14 am
carringtonpbrown
Wow Gorgeous watercolor!!! You are so talented
Live the best story too!
May 16, 2017 at 7:15 am
carringtonpbrown
Oops. Love the BEAR story
May 16, 2017 at 8:27 am
Cathyann
yikes! I mean YIKES!!!!
Absolutely gorgeous watercolor. When are you going to have a show????
May 16, 2017 at 8:54 am
tank
Thanks for posting – agree with the comments – gorgeous marvelous beautiful watercolor masterpiece etc – and of course the tale of four bears and a much loved dog
May 16, 2017 at 9:27 am
anne farmer
Count me in! I love the Grisaille – what a gorgeous word.’Greyish’ doesn’t cover the beauty of the picture.
What an exciting spot you live in. We has three squirrels and a rabbit yesterday. Only saying…
May 16, 2017 at 10:46 am
designsweet
Make me #15 or 16 or whatever! This painting is fabulous!
I see a squirrel most days – and a couple of robins… Live dangerously!
May 16, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Susan Feniak
Happy to see and hear from you Carol. You do have one lucky dog. Beautiful art, thank you for sharing.
May 16, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Pat H.
Oh my! My heart is racing. That is some scary stuff. Glad everyone is OK. And, make me #17; I miss your blogs.
May 16, 2017 at 8:55 pm
joantav
Your dog is really lucky the bear didn’t do much damage. Does it make you nervous to have the bears un a tree so close to your deck? The painting of the church is beautiful. I love the colors and shading on the building and the wonderful detail to the stained glass window. Great job!!! I’m always glad to see a post from you.
May 16, 2017 at 9:58 pm
tomsimard
Beautiful work.
Glad to hear your dog’s okay!
May 17, 2017 at 8:06 am
Rebecca
That is a smashing painting! Fabulous textures, stonework, light and perspective, it’s got it all. Wow. Very glad to hear your dog’s ok – must be quite something to get that kind of encounter in your back garden… 🙂
May 17, 2017 at 10:08 am
Jana Bouc
I’ve missed you. Wow! From NYC to backyard bears. And your painting is spectacular and the drawing is lovely too. Glad to see you’re still painting!
May 19, 2017 at 3:20 pm
davidglick
CAROL! I love this update. Please keep it up so I can live vicariously through you. Your paintings and drawings look amazing. Hope all is well
May 20, 2017 at 5:54 am
luizamogosanu
Delighted to have found your blog on a sunny-lazy Saturday! 🙂 What a brave dog and thank God he´s okay. Mama bear with cubs in my own yard – it would just freeze my blood… Have a lovely and inspired weekend!
Luiza
May 21, 2017 at 4:30 am
June Malone
Carol this painting of Grace Church Spires is magnificent! Truly! Architecture and steel structures are definitely your forte. I’m in awe of the careful attention to detail depicting the neo-Gothic style decoration and exquisite stained glass windows fading into to the blue sky backdrop. I can’t stop looking at it. Great pencil study of the peony too. Thank goodness K is alright – imagine it must have been a heart-stopping few moments for you all but at least now she respects the might of wild animals – phew! Good to see you painting again…I’m having a lengthy break break from my art but you’ve made me consider getting going again.
May 21, 2017 at 9:21 pm
candy7
So now your baby knows never to approach a mama bear. Yikes!
Your watercolor is gorgeous! Glad to have you back!
May 21, 2017 at 11:51 pm
Sadami
Carol, your painting is wonderful!!! So gorgeous. Thank you for sharing the interesting story. Yes, please tell your doggy not to chase a cub. All and any moms on the earth will protect kids with their souls and bodies. Best wishes, Sadami
May 22, 2017 at 9:35 pm
RHCarpenter
Life just gets too busy and I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were AWOL but sure glad you didn’t tangle with that Mama bear – she looks as big as an elephant! What a thing, to have bears in one’s backyard. I love this top painting – the perspective!!! – and the delicacy of the drawing, too 🙂 I was actually talking about you to another artist just last week, telling her about your relocation and adjustments and bears!
May 22, 2017 at 10:36 pm
jimmyboi2
SHEEPISHLY!! One of our favorite words (and concepts). I’m glad the pup is okay too … sheesh! BUT THE ART … I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE your painting of Grace church, especially how it SOARS to heaven and takes on that unearthly light… incredible. I LOVE THIS. LOVE!!! xoxoxox
June 20, 2017 at 8:27 pm
ruthsartwork
I love the church architectural! The unusual perspective drew me right in. And I so glad your dog is safe. Mama bears are nothing to mess with. I am quite glad we have no bears here in Indiana. I am picking wild black raspberries right now and I would hate to have to duke it out with one over possession of MY fruit. LOL
November 3, 2017 at 8:00 am
lindahalcombfineart
I love the story and the painting is amazing. It is probably one of your best (IMO).
December 15, 2018 at 3:01 pm
kutukamus
Glad everything’s OK. But really, some bears in the backyard? Wow, I can only imagine! 🙂
April 16, 2019 at 2:34 pm
krcc
love the church’s colors! and your blog title!
September 27, 2019 at 12:57 pm
wholelottarosie
Wonderful post! I love your sketch and the descriptions !
Greetings from the beautiful Rhine-Highlands / Germany…
Rosie
September 14, 2020 at 10:09 am
Miriam Costa
I love your drawing! That flower is beautiful