Merry Christmas from Lake Eufaula

“A man can do only what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day.”
– Albert Schweitzer

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Merry Christmas from Lake Eufaula - 4″ x 6″ Watercolor Postcard

Have a very Merry Christmas!

About Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer, the German medical missionary, won the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work at a hospital in French Equatorial Africa, where he treated and operated on thousands of people, including hundreds of people afflicted with leprosy. He was also an organist, famous for his interpretation of J.S. Bach’s music. Late in life, he worked with Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell against nuclear proliferation. He was born in 1875 in Kaysersberg and died in 1965.

My Watercolor Christmas Postcard This Year

“It is the heart always that sees before the head can see.”
– Thomas Carlyle

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

My Christmas Postcard This Year

I painted this little card to send out this year.  I love the idea of Santa having a nice break at his vacation home after delivering all those presents.  And of course, he takes the elves along.  Mrs Claus is probably inside making the margaritas.

Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas!

About Thomas Carlyle

Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle is best known for his biographies of Frederick the Great and the German playwright Schiller. He was born in 1795. The first draft of his acclaimed two-volume work, The French Revolution, was accidentally burned by his friend John Stuart Mill’s maid; he rewrote it from scratch and imbued the rewrite with more passion and immediacy than was common at the time. This made his writing very popular in Victorian England. He died in 1881.

Teal Christmas Egret

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”
– Carl Jung

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

A Christmas Egret – Watercolor

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Okay…. hardly traditional, but he did come from Bethville, after all. 

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About Carl Jung

Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who originated such well-known psychological concepts as the archetype and the collective unconscious, has provided inspiration to people ranging from Joseph Campbell to Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was born in 1875 in a small town; he studied with Sigmund Freud before parting ways due to the radical difference in their views of human nature. Jung is considered second only to Freud in his influence on modern psychology, particularly in the area of dream analysis. He died in 1961.

Lake Eufaula Bed & Breakfast – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Ink

“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided, but for the feeling that you cherished them.”
–Richard L. Evans

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Lake Eufaula Bed & Breakfast – 5″ x 7″  Watercolor & Ink

Last night was our annual “Girls Night Out” Christmas party at Reba & Wayne Thompson’s  Lake Eufaula Bed & Breakfast.  This is a painting of the back of their B&B, facing the beach.  It is so beautiful and Reba decorates it to the hilt for Christmas.  We always have a great time there.  Last night there were 20 of us ladies and we ate and laughed and did the Secret Santa gift thing, which is always a hoot.  Thanks, Reba & Wayne!  (Wayne has the difficult task of helping us all park and then get out, after someone always blocks someone in.)  This little painting was my hostess gift to Reba.

Richard L. Evans (1906-1971)  is best known for his inspirational messages given in the long-running weekly radio program “Music and the Spoken Word” with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. As a General Authority of the Mormon Church, he was one of their most senior leaders.  More…

Moory Christmas – 4.5″ x 6.5″ Watercolor & Ink

“Your life becomes the thing you have decided it shall be.”
– Raymond Charles Barker

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Moory Christmas – 4.5″ x 6.5″ Watercolor & Ink

I know!  They don’t even look like cows.  Maybe it’s the sheepish grins I gave them. 

I painted this from a photo supplied by ScattyKat at WetCanvas.  They are french cows, but they really weren’t wearing hats or boots.  There were no signs of Christmas in the photo.  All of that is pure Bethville weirdness.

About Raymond Charles Barker

Raymond Charles Barker was an influential American minister and author in the mid-twentieth century. He wrote such books as The Power of Decision and Treat Yourself to Life, on ways to change subconscious patterns. He became president of the International New Thought Alliance in 1943, a group practicing the religious philosophy developed in the late 1800′s by Phineas Quimby, with early proponents including Ralph Waldo Emerson. Unity Church and Divine Science are among its later offshoots. He founded the First Church of Religious Science in Manhattan in 1946 and served as its minister until 1979. He died in 1988 at the age of 77.

Camel Donning a Wreath in Watercolor

“No one can really pull you up very high — you lose your grip on the rope. But on your own two feet you can climb mountains.”
– Louis Brandeis

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Camel Donning a Wreath -  Why Not?

Painting this wreath was the November challenge over at Paint My Photo.  I had a great time jazzing this camel up for the holidays.  The wreath photo was contributed by Donna Sommer.

About Louis Brandeis

American judge Louis Brandeis was the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, and one of the most influential Justices in the history of the Court. He was born in Kentucky in 1856 to Czech-born parents. He graduated from high school at age 14 and later became head of his class at Harvard Law School. As a Justice, many of his decisions created greater protections for individual rights of privacy and free speech. He died in 1941. Brandeis University was named in his honor.

Christmas Sock Monkeys

“Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life will reduce themselves.”
–Edwin Way Teale

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Christmas Sock Monkeys

I have been painting  little Christmas things I can add to the building paintings, so that clients can make Christmas cards.  I just stuck these two little toy soldiers on this to show you how fun it can be.  They sorta blend into this building, but it’s just for an example.  I’m making wreaths and swags and trees, for example, to jazz up any card.  Fun!

Edwin Way Teale

Edwin Way Teale, (1899-1980), was a naturalist, writer, and photographer who captured the imaginations and hearts of Americans in his many books about nature. He is ranked with John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, and John Burroughs as one of the best and most influential nature writers in America.  More here…

Horse Quilt

“Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak… because in your life you will have been all of these.”
– Mac Anderson

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2011

Horse Quilt – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Sharpie

It’s been a while since  I have sewn any critters.  I enjoyed doing this horse, who’s photo was  provided by Lisilk at WetCanvas.

The tree is up in the sign shop lobby, the ornaments are finished for my handmade ornament exchange and the packages going to people far away are wrapped, packed in boxes and ready to go.   I just need to fill out the insides of my Christmas cards and get them in the mail,  since the envelopes are already addressed.   I wonder what it is that husbands do during the holidays.  Hmmmm… he’s not baking… no, not wrapping… nope, not putting up any trees or hanging any lights…. shopping?… definitely not…  Oh, I forgot…. he went to the liquor store.  That’s it!  Now if I only drank liquor.   No matter what, my hubby is my hero, my calming influence and my best friend, so he does do a lot.  Can you imagine being my calming influence?  That’s a pretty big job.  

MAC ANDERSON is the founder of Simple Truths and Successories, Inc., the leader in designing and marketing products for motivation and recognition. These companies, however, are not the first success stories for Mac. He was also the founder and CEO of McCord Travel, the largest travel company in the Midwest, and part owner/VP of sales and marketing for Orval Kent Food Company, the country’s largest manufacturer of prepared salads.

His accomplishments in these unrelated industries provide some insight into his passion and leadership skills. He also brings the same passion to his speaking where he speaks to many corporate audiences on a variety of topics, including leadership, motivation and team building.

Mac has authored or co-authored twelve books, which have sold more than 3 million copies published by

Simple Truths. They include:
212°…The Extra Degree
Charging the Human Battery
Customer Love
The Nature of Success
Change is Good…You Go First
The Power of Attitude
What’s the Big Idea?
The Essence of Leadership
You Can’t Send a Duck to Eagle School
The Best of Success
Learning to Dance in the Rain
Motivational Quotes

For more information about Simple Truths, visit www.simpletruths.com.
I own about 20 Simple Truths books.  Many of the quotes I share with you each day come from those wonderful books!
– Beth 

Christmas Egret

“The Golden Rule works for men as written, but for women it should go the other way around.  We need to do unto ourselves as we do unto others.”
– Gloria Steinem



Christmas Egret
Watercolor & Ink

It’s weird to think about Christmas, but we are waiting for the mother of all storms to hit our area (and many of yours) tonight.  I have been running around this morning gathering provisions and getting prepared.  Then, I discovered I had a flat tire, so my truck is now at the tire shop.  It has been a crazy morning.

My flight on Saturday was wonderful!  I flew from Muskogee to Fort Smith, then to McAlester and back to Muskogee.  I had my CFI with me, but it was still good.  I now have an endorsement in my log book that allows me to fly solo in Muskogee or McAlester, and points in between!  YAY!!!

I hope that wherever you are during the coming storm,  you are safe and warm.

Gloria Steinem

Social activist, writer, editor, and lecturer. Born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. Since the late 1960s, Gloria Steinem has been an outspoken champion of women’s rights. She had an unusual upbringing, spending part of the year in Michigan and the winters in Florida or California. With all this traveling, Steinem did not attend school on a regular basis until she was 11.  More….

Christmas Turkey

“Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make a doozey, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball.”
– Billie Jean King



Christmas Turkey
5″ x 7″ Watercolor

Have a very Merry Christmas!

About Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King, the American tennis champion, is best known for “The Battle of the Sexes,” her 1973 match against men’s champion Bobby Riggs. Her win gave women’s tennis a new legitimacy. She was born in California in 1943. She won her first Wimbledon title at age 17, was ranked number one in the world for five years, and is considered one of the world’s greatest tennis players. She was also the first American athlete to reveal publicly that she is homosexual. King launched the initiative GreenSlam in 2007 to encourage the sports world to be more environmentally conscious. She lives in New York and Chicago.

Patchwork Christmas Collection 1 – Plate

“If you’re going through a tough time during this holiday season, and you’re finding it difficult not to be sad, reach out and do something kind for someone in need.  It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel!”
–Beth Parker



Patchwork Christmas Collection 1 – Plate

Woo Hoo! Now you can see a little sample of what I have been up to for the last month or so.  I painted a bunch of little Patchwork Christmas Icons, then put them all, individually into Photoshop CS5.  They each become layers and then patterns.  It takes a lot of work to get to this point and I have a whole bunch of different images to work with.  I have everything from fish to dogs in my little portfolio, just waiting for me to turn them into patterns.

I really think my art is meant to be licensed and I won’t stop until it’s a reality!    Weeeee! I’m in for an exciting new ride! 

Santa's Errands

“To play it safe is not to play.”


– Robert Altman

Santa’s Errands

7.5″ x 10.5″ Watercolor

This painting was done from a photo of a statue in the London Bus Depot by Artastic at WDE. Of course, I had my way with him and he became Santa, running his pre-holiday errands. It was fun to do. I have been playing with Santa stuff, trying to come up with this year’s Christmas cards.

I am still having problems with WordPress, Blogger and Firefox. I am unable to use the uploader or the tags. I’m over in Internet Explorer, trying to get a blog post done. I’m crossing my fingers that it’ll work.



About Robert Altman

Robert Altman, the iconoclastic American filmmaker known for his naturalistic, multi-character dramas, has directed many acclaimed feature films, including M*A*S*H, Nashville, and The Player. He was born in 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri, to a socially prominent family. Alfred Hitchcock gave Altman his big break when he hired him to direct on the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Actors say they love to work with Altman because he gives them freedom to improvise. He died in 2006.