Kansas City Skyline in a 5" x 7" Size - Watercolor & Ink

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."
– Plutarch

Kansas City Skyline in a 5" x 7" Size - Watercolor & Ink

This little 5" x 7" painting was so much fun.  By the way... the only ink used in these paintings is black.  All of the color is watercolor painted in with the tiniest little brushes.   

About Plutarch

 

Plutarch, the Greek historian who penned more than 46 anecdote-laced biographies of famous Greek and Roman figures in his Parallel Lives series of books, was more interested in exploring the influence of character on a man's personal destiny than in writing dry histories. He was born in Greece during Roman rule, most likely in the year 45. He traveled extensively through the Roman Empire, finally returning home to become a priest of Apollo at the Oracle of Delphi. He died in the year 120.

Ralph Faded Into the Forest

“I celebrate all of me today!
Weaknesses and strengths alike!
I celebrate every part of me
And
I
feel
JOY!

-Ruth Fishel

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Ralph Faded Into the Forest – Illustration Friday – 5.5″ x 5″ Watercolor and Prismacolor .01 fine artist pen

Ralph, in his infinite frog wisdom, discovered that if he climbed into the tree and held perfectly still, he faded perfectly into the background, keeping him safe from 5 year old boys.  We all know little boys love taking frogs home and putting them in the bathtub.  Ralph liked the forest better than any bathtub.

Faded is the Illustration Friday topic.

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I had a whole 3 days off!  I am rested, relaxed and happy. 

Ruth Fishel, is a therapist, retreat and workshop leader, and author of several books, including “Precious Solitude,” “The Journey Within, A Spiritual Path to Recovery,” a pioneer book on meditation, spirituality, and recovery, and the best-selling “Time for Joy.” She also teaches “Stop! Do You Know You’re Breathing?” a program she developed for teachers and health care workers. She now co-directs Spirithaven, Inc., which she co-founded in 1989.

Spirit Haven, Inc can be found here… http://ruthfishel.com/Home_Page.html

Paddle Boat Painting

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
– Alexander Graham Bell

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Paddle Boat 6″ x 8″ Watercolor and Prismacolor Pen

I painted this from a photo by mbeckett at WetCanvas.  I used a .01 Prismacolor Fine Liner to do the lines.  It was way too small to use a sharpie.

I worked on this the last couple mornings before work.  Coffee and art.  Ahhhhhhh!  Nothing better to start my day!

About Alexander Graham Bell
Scottish-Canadian inventor Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone; he also invented the metal detector, which he created hurriedly in an attempt to find the bullet that killed President James Garfield. He was born in 1847 in Edinburgh. He began as an elocutionist but began learning about acoustics to find a way to help his deaf mother. Other inventions include the telegraph and the phonograph. He also developed techniques to teach speech to the deaf. He died in 1922.

Finish Line is In Sight! – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Sharpie

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.”
– John Lubbock

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Finish Line is In Sight! – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Sharpie

Once the girls had the finish line in sight, there was no stopping them!  Flying is clearly against the rules, so they were hoofing it around the track as fast as they could.  The instant replay tapes are still being viewed, to see who actually won by a beak.  I did this for http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ where the word is “sight”.

The photo I painted this from was by Mike Beckett at WetCanvas.

My WordPress blog is still not operating correctly.  The visual editor seems to be missing.  I can’t add tags or categories.  What a pain.

About John Lubbock

John Lubbock, the multifaceted British banker, statesman, and scientist, was responsible for the institution of England’s monthly Bank Holidays, sometimes referred to as St. Lubbock Days. He was born in 1834 in England. Growing up, he learned science from his father’s friend Charles Darwin. He coined the terms Paleolithic and Neolithic to denote the different Stone Ages, and he wrote the well-regarded books Prehistoric Times and Ants, Bees, and Wasps. He died in 1913.

Swirly Worms in Sight - 6" x 6" Watercolor

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
– St. Francis of Assisi

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Swirly Worms in Sight - 6" x 6" Watercolor

I painted this from a photo by mbeckett at WetCanvas.  The word for Illustration Friday is "sight" and with this big ol' fish eye, it seemed to fit the bill.  He looks startled because he has never seen all the worms swirling like that before.  What a sight!  :)

I have another "sight" painting for tomorrow. 

Wordpress editing is all messed up this morning, so I can't imbed the link or make any other edits, like adding tags.  It won't even let me publish today's post.  hmmmmm.

I worked both Saturday and Sunday, so the only time I had to paint was early in the morning, before getting ready.  That means we'll be looking at more bookmarks later in the week.  :)

Have a great day!

About St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology in Catholicism, was born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone into a wealthy Italian merchant family in 1181. As a youth, he was known for carousing. After a series of illnesses, one of which occurred while a prisoner of war, he had a spiritual awakening. God came to him in a vision and told him to build up his crumbling church. Taking the dream literally, he began rebuilding a local chapel. He took a vow of poverty and began traveling, preaching, and working to help the sick and the poor. A group formed around him, becoming the Franciscan order. He died in 1226.

Felt, Idaho Landscape

“Laughter is the closest distance between two people.”
– Victor Borge



Felt, Idaho Landscape – 4″ x 6″ Plein Air Watercolor

When I was in Driggs, I visited a cute little shop called Magpie Beads.   The owner of the shop told me about a wonderful spot to do plein air paintings.  I followed her directions through Tetonia, then north to Felt.  Felt is just a dot on the map, but the views surrounding it were breath taking!!  I pulled over on a hill and was lucky enough to be there while a tractor was motoring about the landscape.  It was really wonderful!    I believe this painting is going to be the inspiration for a larger acrylic painting.  I’m thinking 24″ x 48″, since I have a blank canvas that size.  Weeeee! 

About Victor Borge

Danish pianist Victor Borge was affectionately known as the Clown Prince of Denmark. Born as Børge Rosenbaum in 1909 to musician parents, he began playing piano at age three. After a stint as a classical pianist, he began combining music and jokes. His anti-Nazi jokes landed him on Hitler’s enemies list. In 1942, he was named Best New Radio Performer by the American press. His Comedy in Music show on Broadway was the longest running one-man show in the 1950′s. He died in 2000.

Texas Longhorn

"Character contributes to beauty.  It fortifies a woman as her youth fades."
--Jacqueline Bisset

Texas Longhorn
3.75" x 3.75" Watercolor

I enjoyed doing this.  The reference is by KreativeK at WetCanvas.   I am now working on a 6" x 12" acrylic painting of this little critter in Bethville.  I hope to have it ready soon, but I can't decide what color the longhorn should be.  **giggle**



Jacqueline Bisset (born 13 September 1944) is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt (1968), Airport (1970), The Deep (1977), Class (1983), and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006. She has also appeared in several French productions and was nominated for a César Award for La cérémonie (1995). She was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 2010.

 More....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Bisset

Puma on Alert

“Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have, or sleep all you want.”
#693 in The Complete – Life’s Little Instruction Book
– H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

 

Puma on Alert
5″ x 7″ Watercolor

I had a great time studying the form of this critter.    When I got this far, I couldn’t bring myself to put a background in, as nothing seemed quite right.  So I will call it a study and forget the rest, for now.
Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to teach a one hour class as a volunteer artist for the Eufaula Area Art’s Council.  I had 5 students (ages 5-12) and we did vinyl collage, using materials from my sign company.  I gave them each a couple little pieces of coroplast (corrugated plastic) and plenty of vinyl in different colors.   They made some wonderful collages!  I took a picture with my phone, but I have not figured out how to get the pictures from my phone to my computer.  (I am NOT a big cell phone girl) 


Here are mine, which I scanned in when I returned to the sign shop.  We put sticks on the back and made them into fans.

 

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. 

Jackson Brown was born and still lives in Middle Tennessee. His numerous books are in 35 languages and read throughout the world claiming 158 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. It is sometimes noted that he graduated from a prestigious university and is the recipient of one of their most distinguished awards but, who knows? If you were to phone the administration office, they would probably deny that he ever attended. It seems hard feelings still linger regarding Mr. Brown’s insistence that the campus clock tower he pledged to help fund be in the shape of a 300-foot ukulele.

Currently, Mr. Brown writes in a remote log cabin high on Hatchet’s Ridge in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. There he retreats to observe, ponder, resharpen No. 2 pencils and train his parrot to squawk, “One more step and I’ll shoot.” Should you want to visit, get an early start. Take the gravel road east out of Crowell Corners to the end. There it becomes a dirt road switch-backing up the ridges. A hand-lettered sign nailed to a hickory tree teasingly identifies these last fifteen miles as Broken Axle Trail. The cabin is not the first or second on this dusty corkscrew but the third. You’ll think you’re almost there, but you’re not. And count the creeks. You’ll cross two. The first on a tricky two-plank bridge. The second, unfortunately, offers no bridge at all. Now look for the weathered tin roof and the trellised front gate crowned with honeysuckle.  Pay no attention to the dogs Dan, Hoover and Hot Ticket asleep on the front porch couch; Hoover hasn’t bitten anyone in years. But be careful where you step. The copperheads, rattlesnakes, and wild hogs love this bit of heaven as much as Mr. Brown does.

P . S .   As Mr. Brown instructs in one of his books, “Don’t believe everything you read.”

What a bio!