Another KC House – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
– Helen Keller

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Another KC House – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

This is my step-sister’s house.  She lives in the Kansas City metropolitan area, as does my step-mom.    I am really looking forward to seeing Joan (step-mom) when I am in KC.  I drove up to visit her a couple years ago and we had a nice time.

I woke up this morning in a panic.  I realized I only have 2 weeks until I have to submit my inventory list for the KC show.  I am going to set a doable goal of framing 3 paintings a day, minimum, so I can take a little of the pressure off.  April may see me going back to painting Eufaula again.  I already have one painting commissioned that I really need to get to.  All of this when the sign shop is the busiest ever!  I am woman… hear me roar!

About Helen Keller

American author and activist Helen Keller was born in Alabama on June 27, 1880; she became blind and deaf after a childhood fever. When she was 7, Ann Sullivan famously coaxed her out of her sullen, angry shell and taught her to communicate. From then on, Keller took on the world. She graduated from Radcliffe, traveled the world visiting sweatshops and speaking out for the powerless, helped found the ACLU, and wrote eleven books. She died on June 1, 1968.

Cross Livestock Auction Design

“Security is a superstition–it does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.”
– Helen Keller

 Copyright Signs by Beth, LLC 2012

Cross Livestock Auction Logo

I thought I’d do something a little different today.  I have been working on this logo for 2 weeks.  It was hard for the client to settle on the right critter.  The rest of it I had on day 1.  Funny how logo design goes.  This is going to be a great account and is starting with a bang.  Their first auction is Tuesday and they need several signs by then.  So much for my weekend off.  

About Helen Keller

American author and activist Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880; she became blind and deaf after a childhood fever. When she was 7, Ann Sullivan famously coaxed her out of her sullen, angry shell and taught her to communicate. From then on, Keller took on the world. She graduated from Radcliffe, traveled the world visiting sweatshops and speaking out for the powerless, helped found the ACLU, and wrote eleven books. She died in 1968.

Eufaula 2011 Art Walk Poster

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.”
– Helen Keller

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Eufaula 2011 Art Walk Poster – 11″ x 14 Watercolor

This is the painting that started the sock monkey craze we have going in Eufaula.  See the red building on the far corner, next to the aqua awning?  That’s Steel Daffodils.  I am currently working on the kinda orangy colored building with no awning.  Now it’s gray with black awnings and it’s Our Favorite Place, the new gallery in town.   If you turn left at Steel Daffodils, the next one I’m doing is State Farm, on the right side of the street.   If you turn right at Steel Daffodils, you’ll see my sign shop on the right.  Yes, there will also be a Signs by Beth painting and who knows who else will jump on the bandwagon.    Fun!

About Helen Keller

American author and activist Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880; she became blind and deaf after a childhood fever. When Helen was seven, her teacher, Annie Sullivan, coaxed her out of her sullen, angry shell and taught her to communicate. From then on, Keller took on the world. She graduated from Radcliffe, traveled the world visiting sweatshops and speaking out for the powerless, helped to found the ACLU, and wrote 11 books. She died in 1968.

Illustration Friday – Yield – 2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor & Sharpie ATC

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
– Helen Keller

 ”An optimist is the human personification of spring.”
– Fortune Cookie



Illustration Friday – Yield – 2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor & Sharpie ATC

I have had my eye on a weekly blog project called Illustration Friday.  This is my first entry.   A blogger friend, Cindy at The Slumbering Herd, enters her beautiful artwork into it every week, I think.    Here is a link to her yield.   They put up a word on Friday and many people do their illustrations based on the word.  I am doing Yield and this is my tomato crop. 

Yield -verb (used with object)
1.  to give forth or produce by a natural process or in return for cultivation: This farm yields enough fruit to meet all our needs.

I painted it from a reference photo by KreativeKay at WetCanvas.

About Helen Keller

American author and activist Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880; she became blind and deaf after a childhood fever. When she was 7, Ann Sullivan famously coaxed her out of her sullen, angry shell and taught her to communicate. From then on, Keller took on the world. She graduated from Radcliffe, traveled the world visiting sweatshops and speaking out for the powerless, helped found the ACLU, and wrote eleven books. She died in 1968.

Patio Bathed in Yellow

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.”
– Helen Keller



Patio Bathed in Yellow – 4″ x 7″ Watercolor

Yes, another “P” painting.  I had a great time doing this painting!  I manipulated the photo a bit in Photoshop to bring out the shadows and exaggerated them somewhat.  So fun!  The photo was contributed to the WetCanvas RIL by Marie d.

About Helen Keller

American author and activist Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880; she became blind and deaf after a childhood fever. When Helen was seven, her teacher, Annie Sullivan, coaxed her out of her sullen, angry shell and taught her to communicate. From then on, Keller took on the world. She graduated from Radcliffe, traveled the world visiting sweatshops and speaking out for the powerless, helped to found the ACLU, and wrote 11 books. She died in 1968.

Merry Christmas - Frog Paintinf

“I long to accomplish great and noble tasks,
but it is my chief duty to accomplish
small tasks as if they were great and noble.”
–Helen Keller



Merry Christmas!

I  want to thanks all of you who have been following my little blog.  I feel so good about the growing friendships we are making.

Have a very safe and wonderful holiday!

Beth

Bubbles – Frog Painting

“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, sailed to an uncharted land, or opened up a new heaven to the inner spirit.”
–Helen Keller



Bubbles – Frog Painting
2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor ATC

Here is another frog painting for you.  I am recovering today, after eating an entire box of chocolates yesterday.  **argggh*  I have no self control! 

Helen Keller

Helen Adams Keller was born a healthy child on June 27, 1880, to Captain Arthur H. and Kate Adams Keller of Tuscumbia. At the tender age of 19 months, she was stricken with a severe illness which left her blind and deaf.

At the age of six, the half-wild, deaf and blind girl was taken by her parents to see Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. Because of her visit, Helen was united with her teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan on March 3, 1887. After Helen’s miraculous break-through at the simple well-pump, she proved so gifted that she soon learned the fingertip alphabet and shortly afterward to write. By the end of August, in six short months, she knew 625 words.  More….

Blue Eyed Cat

“When one door of happiness closes, another door opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
–Helen Keller

 

Blue Eyed Cat
4″ x 6″ Watercolor Postcard

This was painted from the same reference photo as yesterday’s cat.  In fact, I painted it the same day.  I do seem to enjoy distorting animals.  Notice I did NOT say torturing animals.  Just wanted to be clear on that point. 

I am a real animal lover.  I think they have the most expressive eyes, even before I get to them.  To be able to paint expression is something that makes me happy.

The story of Helen Keller is the story of a child who, at the age of 19 months, suddenly lost her hearing and vision, and who, against overwhelming odds and with a great deal of persistence, grew into a highly intelligent and sensitive woman who wrote, spoke, and labored incessantly for the betterment of others. So powerful a symbol of triumph over adversity did she become that she has a definite place in the history of our time and of times to come.

More of her biography here.

In his eulogy, Senator Lister Hill of Alabama expressed the feelings of the whole world when he said of Helen Keller, “She will live on, one of the few, the immortal names not born to die. Her spirit will endure as long as man can read and stories can be told of the woman who showed the world there are no boundaries to courage and faith.”

A House Dress Day

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
– Helen Keller

 

A House Dress Day
2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor

This is the first card in a series of window ATCs.  I am naming each window for how I think it describes a particular mood or condition of a woman.    The drapes in this one are somewhat comforting, like an old house dress and the way they are pulled closed reminds me of wanting to just pull the curtains and stay in my comfies all day.  There’s nothing sad or hostile about this window…. I just see comfort.

About Helen Keller

American author and activist Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880; she became blind and deaf after a childhood fever. When she was 7, Ann Sullivan famously coaxed her out of her sullen, angry shell and taught her to communicate. From then on, Keller took on the world. She graduated from Radcliffe, traveled the world visiting sweatshops and speaking out for the powerless, helped found the ACLU, and wrote eleven books. She died in 1968.