Myth or Madness? – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Ink

“There is nothing more potent than thought. Deed follows word and word follows thought. And where the thought is mighty and pure, the result is mighty and pure.“
–Gandhi

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Myth or Madness? – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Ink

Myth is the word of the week for Illustration Friday.  I used that to inspire me when I painted this for my friend, Bobby Ott’s 70th birthday card.

Legend has it… there is a wonderful little place called Ott, where some tiny little magical people live.  It is thought that they are protected by a large, but affectionate creature who  has never been seen by humans…. until now.

Inside this Birthday card, I told Bobby that as he gets older and has an occasion to question his sanity, all he has to do is pull out this card to affirm that no matter how crazy he may seem…. there is at least one person crazier than him.  (me)  He giggled when I gave it to him.

Mohandas Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948)  was the last child of his father (Karamchand Gandhi) and his father’s fourth wife (Putlibai). During his youth, Mohandas Gandhi was shy, soft-spoken, and only a mediocre student at school. Although generally an obedient child, at one point Gandhi experimented with eating meat, smoking, and a small amount of stealing — all of which he later regretted. At age 13, Gandhi married Kasturba (also spelled Kasturbai) in an arranged marriage. Kasturba bore Gandhi four sons and supported Gandhi’s endeavors until her death in 1944.

Seattle Skyline in Technicolor

“You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Seattle Skyline – 6″ x 8″ Watercolor & Sharpie

Valri Ary posted a photo of Seattle’s skyline on WetCanvas.  Of course, I eliminated all the ships and barges docked up there.  And, okay…. I may have made the buildings a little more fun, but what’s the harm in that?  :)

I drew the buildings, then laid down all the windows with itty bitty dabs of white acrylic, tinted with yellow or aqua.  When it was dry, I went in with watercolor.  This is why everything looks so pastel.  There’s a lot of little windows repelling the watercolor.  My own resist.  I almost didn’t add the sharpie, but gave in at the end.  I think I like it.

Still no work computer, so I spent part of the day adding wires to the backs of paintings I am taking to the new gallery this morning.  I’m a little nervous.  I have been in our little arts council gallery for quite a while and my work is selling there, but this one will be quite a different beast.  I understand that each artist will have their own bar code.   Hmmmm…. should be a fun learning experience, to say the least.   

About Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi, known by the honorific title Mahatma (“great souled”), embodied the power of nonviolent protest to achieve great change. He was born in India in 1896 and awoke to discrimination while practicing law in South Africa. He brought the struggle for equality back to India, rousing the population to demand self-rule from the British. He was profoundly religious, spending one day a week in complete silence; he was also a devout vegetarian. He was assassinated in 1948.

Striped Leaf in Watercolor

“You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
– Mahatma Gandhi



Striped Leaf  in Watercolor

I had a friend who used to collect striped rocks.  Then he went through a phase where he collected rocks with holes in them.  There were more collections, but I can’t remember what they were.  The flower garden in front of his home had different sections with the various themed rocks.  It was actually pretty cool! 

About Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi, known by the honorific title Mahatma (“great souled”), embodied the power of nonviolent protest to achieve great change. He was born in India in 1896 and awoke to discrimination while practicing law in South Africa. He brought the struggle for equality back to India, rousing the population to demand self-rule from the British. He was profoundly religious, spending one day a week in complete silence; he was also a devout vegetarian. He was assassinated in 1948.