Kansas City Skyline – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor & Ink

“Man can only become what he is able to consciously imagine.”
– Dane Rudhyar

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Kansas City Skyline – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor & Ink

If you find it a little curious that I would switch from painting Eufaula, Oklahoma to painting Kansas City…  I have a reason.  I was asked to be part of a show in Kansas City in April.  They don’t even start jurying until later next month, but I’m in!   I am one of 30 artists who will be in the show.  I am excited!  My art has shown in different places around the country, but I didn’t go with it.  This is a wonderful opportunity and you can look forward to seeing more paintings like this over the next few months.

I’m having a great time painting these buildings!  I wonder what is in the fancier tops of some of the buildings.  I am imagining swanky penthouses.  The photo reference for this painting was contributed to the cause by my longtime friend, Jim “Botee” Meyer.  We have been friends since I was about 18 years old and I was living in Kansas City.  Don’t try to do the math… it’ll hurt your head! 

About Dane Rudhyar

Dane Rudhyar was a respected modernist composer as well as a pioneering modern psychological astrologer. He was born in Paris in 1895 as Daniel Chennevière and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900′s. His music utilizes dissonant harmony; he claimed to be inspired by the cadence of speech. His work influenced a group of composers known as the ultramodernists. He also wrote a number of astrology books, including the seminal Astrology of Personality. He died in 1985.

New Year's Eve - Party Frog Painting

“Man can only become what he is able to consciously imagine.”
– Dane Rudhyar

YES!



Party Frog
2.5″ x 3.5″ ATC

You had to know I’d have a party frog in my collection.  I cut this little watercolor frog out and glued him on to an ATC that I dabbled dimensional acrylic paint onto.

I hope everyone has a safe New Year’s Eve, followed by the most joyful 2011 that you can stand!

I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions.  I have spent the last 100 days working on my goals and putting everything in place for an amazing 2011.  It has been rewarding and eye opening.  I’m especially working on my focus.  I sometimes have so many things going on at once that I focus on nothing.  I plan to rotate tasks, rather than multi-task,  to give each day a better concentrated attention to the things that are important.

How about you?  Resolutions?

About Dane Rudhyar

Dane Rudhyar was a respected modernist composer as well as a pioneering modern psychological astrologer. He was born in Paris in 1895 as Daniel Chennevière and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900′s. His music utilizes dissonant harmony; he claimed to be inspired by the cadence of speech. His work influenced a group of composers known as the ultramodernists. He also wrote a number of astrology books, including the seminal Astrology of Personality. He died in 1985.

Shoebill Heron

“Man can only become what he is able to consciously imagine.”
– Dane Rudhyar

Shoebill Heron

5″ x 7″Inktense & Watercolor

I had the best time this weekend. Our WetCanvas All Media Art Events (AMAE) Weekend Drawing Event (WDE) was hosted by Just Chaos. Chaos is a truely gifted photographer. The set of photos we painted from can be found on her Flickr page. Unless otherwise noted, Chaos’ photos on Flickr are covered by creative commons. You can read more about that here.

This guy is a mean, three and a half foot Shoebill Heron. I made him a little less threatening and had a wonderful time. I started by drawing him with Derwent Inktense pencils. I used them because the colors are great and because once you wet them, they become very intense (if you lay it down thick) and once dry, they become permanent. Unlike typical watercolor or watercolor pencils, the paint cannot be lifted or blended, once it is dry. No danger of mud when you add other colors on top. The original layer stays put.

I used a little white watercolor on my brush when I wet the Inktense, so the colors became creamy and rich, but once dry, the color would not be disturbed. You can add color on top of it or around it, without disturbing the original blend. Does that make sense? Fun!

He was the first of six paintings I did from Chaos’ photos, and I have two more saved to paint.

About Dane Rudhyar

Dane Rudhyar was a respected modernist composer as well as a pioneering modern psychological astrologer. He was born in Paris in 1895 as Daniel Chennevière and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s. His music utilizes dissonant harmony; he claimed to be inspired by the cadence of speech. His work influenced a group of composers known as the ultramodernists. He also wrote a number of astrology books, including the seminal Astrology of Personality. He died in 1985.