Blood Hound Zentangle

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

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Zentangled Blood Hound

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I love that quote!  My sister and I were applying Linseed Oil to our mom’s new fence, while we were in Idaho.  It was hard work… horrible work… yet my sister and I laughed the whole time.  We were getting as much oil on us as we were on the fence.  Laughing non-stop!!!  We laughed our hearts out.  It was fun and it was like we hadn’t been apart at all.  I love her so much and that is a memory we will always have.

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Another strange zentangle painting.  A little odd, but fun for me none the less.

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About Victor Borge
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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.

White Puppy

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
– Steve Jobs

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Little White Puppy

 

What a face!  Don’t you just love puppies?  They smell and feel so wonderful when you cuddle them.   I’m getting such a late start today.  I’ve already had several people in here and the time just flew!  How did it get to be 10:00 already?

About Steve Jobs

 

Steve Jobs, the American computer pioneer who cofounded Apple, was known for his intensity, his brashness, and his focus on elegant design. He was born in 1955 in San Francisco. At age 21, he and Steve Wozniac built the first Apple computer in his garage. Its successor, the Macintosh, introduced the mouse. After Jobs was ousted from Apple, he bought Pixar Animation, creator of Toy Story and Finding Nemo. On his return to Apple, he introduced the iMac and iPod, restoring the company’s luster, then went on to introduce the widely successful iPhone and iPad product lines. He died in 2011 due to complications from pancreatic cancer.

Love You Dog – Watercolor

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”
– Anatole France

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

I Love You Dog – Watercolor
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It’s love!  Of course, he looks like he’d much rather keep the chocolate.  I love you… I love chocolate… I love you… I love chocolate.  Of course, we know chocolate is bad for dogs. 
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About Anatole France

Anatole France was the pen name of Nobel Prize–winning French author Jacques Anatole François Thibault. He was born in 1844 in Paris. His father was a book dealer, and France spent his life among books, including 14 years as assistant librarian to the French Senate. His novels, including the Contemporary History series and The Gods Are Athirst, often use allegory and religious symbolism as vehicles for moral questions. He died in 1924.

Wooden Puzzle - Pink Dog

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”
– James Bryant Conant

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Pink Dog – Wooden Puzzle

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I did a few of these puzzles as my donation to an animal welfare fundraiser.  They were fun and I’d like to do some again one day! 

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About James Bryant Conant

James Bryant Conant, the American chemist and educator, is known both for his role in the Manhattan Project — which developed the first nuclear weapons — and for his innovative tenure as president of Harvard University. Harvard had been a finishing school for the rich; Conant turned it into a world-class research university and created aptitude tests to choose students by ability. These tests became the basis for the SAT. He was born in Massachusetts in 1893 and died in New Hampshire in 1978.

Little Beagle Puppy

“The Noah rule: Predicting rain doesn’t count; building arks does.”
– Warren Buffett

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Sweet Little Beagle Puppy

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I’m digging into the dog archive, since we finished with the birds.  I am working on some other projects right now, so no new art to share.  I hope you enjoy the dogs.  This one looks guilty.  Maybe she just ate your shoe. 

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About Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett, the legendary American financier known as the Oracle of Omaha, is the world’s richest man. He was born in Nebraska in 1930. As a youngster, he sold six-packs of Coke for a profit and first invested in the stock market at age 11. His first limited partnership reaped dividends up to 30 percent. He follows the simple but powerful principle that you should learn about the intrinsic value of a company before you invest. He is now the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a diversified holding company.

It’s a Watercolor Puppy on Masa

“One of the common ways we block success is by refusing to take action on a project or opportunity until we can see the entire pathway from start to finish. We are afraid to start because the outcome is uncertain. While we plan, think, research, and analyze, the opportunity slips away.

Highly successful people take a different approach. They just lean into it—they open themselves to opportunities and become willing to do what it takes to pursue opportunities further, without any expectations. They say “yes” to opportunities, take the first step, and then find out along the way if they want to keep going.”

–Jack Canfield

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

It’s a Puppy!  Watercolor on Masa 6″ x 8″

Okay… I painted this one a while back, but I thought something heartwarming was called for, in light of all the tragedy surrounding us in Oklahoma.  It’s 90 miles away, but still grips every one of us.

What is more fun than a puppy?  Can you smell her breath from here?

The photo is of Cleo, by OldRockChick at WetCanvas.

Jack Canfield

As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre – and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of more than 123 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise (and over 500 million copies in print worldwide), Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success.

Behind the empire Time Magazine called the “publishing phenomenon of the decade” is America’s leading expert in creating peak performance for entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, managers, sales professionals, corporate employees, and educators. Over the last 30 years, his compelling message, empowering energy and personable coaching style has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals achieve their dreams.  More…

A Laundry Day Painting

“The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”
– Lady Dorothy Nevill

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Laundry Day – Watercolor on Masa

I did this little 3″ x 7″ Painting last spring.  The photographer was Lisilk at WetCanvas.  I like the dog.   

About Lady Dorothy Nevill

 

Lady Dorothy Nevill, the noted British gardener, was one of the most celebrated society hostesses of her day; her salons attracted leading writers, artists, and statesmen. She was born Dorothy Walpole in 1826 in England. She married a wealthy cousin with a 23-acre estate, where she pursued her interest in plants. She built 13 greenhouses and carried on an extensive correspondence with Charles Darwin. Her memoir, Leaves From the Note-Books of Lady Dorothy Nevill, was published in 1906. She died in 1913.

The Tattooed (with paint) Puppy

“If you must begin then go all the way, because if you begin and quit, the unfinished business you have left behind begins to haunt you all the time.”
– Chögyam Trungpa

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

The Tattooed Puppy… not in real life!!

Of course you know I did the tattooing with my paint brush… on the paper.  Just checkin’.    No puppy (or cow) was subjected to a real tattoo making contraption.  Can you imagine a critter sitting still for all that?  Not any I have ever known.  I don’t even have tattoos.   You couldn’t make me do that!

This is an older painting because I haven’t had time to get much done of the cows.  Maybe over the weekend.  I’m working at the sign shop Saturday, but I’ll be off on Sunday.

About Chögyam Trungpa

 

Tibetan Buddhist leader Chögyam Trungpa was instrumental in bringing Buddhism to the West. He was born on February 28, 1939 in Tibet and was recognized as the reincarnation of a Rinpoche (enlightened teacher) at 13 months old. After moving to England, he abandoned his monk garb: He wanted his Western students to perceive the Buddhist teachings without becoming distracted by exotic trappings. He founded Naropa University in Colorado and wrote several books. He died on April 4, 1987.

Another Purple Dachshund Watercolor

“The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.”
– William Connor Magee

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Little Purple Doxie – 4″ x 5″ Watercolor

I did this little quickie this morning, because I had a little extra time on my hands.  I have one of those atomic alarm clocks that is over 15 years old.  It changed to daylight savings automatically…. at the time of year it used to change.  So when I thought I was getting up at 5:00 am, it was actually only 4:00.  Mercy!
I don’t really even like this painting, but I know a few dachshund lovers that may look past the flaws. 

About William Connor Magee

 

British prelate William Connor Magee was known as the Militant Bishop for his forceful speaking style, though he always worked for peace. He was born in 1821 in Ireland. Extremely bright, he enrolled in Trinity College at age 13. Ordained to a curacy at St. Thomas’s, Dublin, his fame as a speaker took him all the way to the powerful Archbishop of York. He spoke several times in the House of Lords, arguing against the dissolution of the Irish Church and against national temperance laws. He died on May 5, 1891.

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“Talk doesn’t cook rice.” –Chinese proverb

“Some of us are crazy about self-help books, inspirational tapes, and personal improvement seminars. We’ll buy or sign up for anything, whatever the price, if it promises revolutionary insights or a foolproof new system. We want relief in a day and deliverance in a weekend. And we want the expert of the hour to do it for us. There’s nothing wrong with wishing, of course. But there’s a lot wrong with kidding ourselves as a way of life.
Think about it: If progress could be bought, we wouldn’t need to be meditating. If personal transformation resulted from collecting new ideas, we’d have been transformed long ago. Exploring is great. And looking for all the inspiration and wisdom we can find is necessary for growth. But changing is doing. All the plans and schemes for improvement put together won’t change a thing if we don’t put the principles into daily practice. Even catchy words are just words.”

 –Earnie Larsen & Carol Larsen Hegarty

Purple Dachshund and Copyright Ethics

“I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”
– Leo Rosten

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Purple Dachshund

I painted this a couple years ago for a neighbor.  She was giving it to her friend to put in her cubicle at work.  I recently received a message about this little painting that I really appreciated.

“Hi there! I was searching the web for pictures of purple dachshunds for a graduate video class I am currently taking and found some of your art work. I was wondering if I could use a clip of your purple dachshund art at the end of my video. My video group is called Purple Doxie Productions. It would only be shown for a 6 second clip. I wanted to be kind and ask permission, rather than just steal your image. I think that it is wrong to use someone’s creative work without asking. I would also put your information in the credits. Would this be ok? Ali Kelly”

I love that she was concerned about creative copyright.  Of course, I not only gave her permission, but sent her a higher res photo.  Neat, huh! 

About Leo Rosten

 

Leo Rosten, the Polish-American academic and author, is best known for his seminal The Joys of Yiddish, an amusing look at Yiddish words that have entered the American vernacular. Born in Lodz, Poland, on April 11, 1908, he immigrated to Chicago as a child. He wrote dozens of books, including a set of extremely popular humorous stories about Hyman Kaplan, a night-school student struggling with English. Under the pseudonym Leonard Q. Ross, he wrote mysteries and film noir screenplays. He died on February 19, 1997.

Puppy Love Painting for Valentines Day

“Discontent is the first step in progress. No one knows what is in him till he tries, and many would never try if they were not forced to.”
– Basil Maturin

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Puppy Love for Valentines Day 

Have a very Happy Valentines Day!  My hubby got the short end of the stick this year.  I’ve been so busy that time got away from me.  He got a box of Girl Scout Cookies.  *sigh*  He actually loved them!! 

About Basil Maturin

British cleric Basil Maturin, renowned for his oratory skill, was ordained as an Anglican but later converted to Catholicism. He was born on February 15, 1847 in Ireland. He ministered in Philadelphia before returning to England in 1888 to resolve his conflict about his religious identity. He died on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915. He was observed giving last rites as the ship sank, looking pale but calm.

Purple Weanie Dog in a Purple Jungle

“In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes.”
– John Ruskin

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

It’s Another Purple Weanie Dog

I promise… nothing stronger than coffee was imbibed during the painting of this little purple critter. 
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving and if you’re traveling, please be safe.

About John Ruskin

John Ruskin was an English art critic who influenced the attitude of a whole generation toward art and architecture. He was born in 1819 in London. His career began with an essay defending his friend, artist J.M.W. Turner, from critics. His book Modern Painters made Turner popular and gave stature to the Pre-Raphaelite movement. He founded the Cambridge Scool of Art in 1858, now known as the Anglia Ruskin University. Leo Tolstoy called him one of those rare men who think with their heart. When Ruskin inherited wealth, he gave most of the money away. He died in 1900.

Good Greif! It's a purple Weanie Dog!

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
–Buddha

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

It’s a Purple Weanie Dog!

This is one of two paintings I did for my neighbor.  She was giving them to her best friend, who just happens to love these dogs.  I worked on commissions all weekend, so I don’t have anything brand new to show you for the next couple days, so I’m exploring the archives. 

Who is Buddha?

Buddha can refer to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni or to anyone who has attained full enlightenment. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains in Introduction to Buddhism:

Awakened One.  A Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions.
In general, ‘Buddha’ means ‘Awakened One’, someone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. A Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions. There are many people who have become Buddhas in the past, and many people will become Buddhas in the future….There is nothing that Buddha does not know. Because he has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and has removed all obstructions from his mind, he knows everything of the past, present, and future, directly and simultaneously. Moreover, Buddha has great compassion which is completely impartial, embracing all living beings without discrimination.

He benefits all living beings without exception by emanating various forms throughout the universe, and by bestowing his blessings on their minds. Through receiving Buddha’s blessings, all being, even the lowliest animals, sometimes develop peaceful and virtuous states of mind. Eventually, through meeting an emanation of Buddha in the form of a Spiritual Guide, everyone will have the opportunity to enter the path to liberation and enlightenment. As the great Indian Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna said, there is no one who has not received help from Buddha.

This Doggie Looks Possessed! – 4″ x 5″ Watercolor

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

This Doggie Looks Possessed! – 4″ x 5″ Watercolor

I painted this from a photo reference by JustJean at WetCanvas.  This is her friend’s dog, Gigit.  She kinda scares me! 

About Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the multitalented and prolific German author and scientist, is best known for the play Faust, which has been adapted into operas, films, and novels. He was born in 1749 in Frankfurt. An unhappy love affair inspired his first play; his similarly themed novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, created the prototype of the romantic hero. He also invented the color wheel concept of light and made important discoveries in plant and human biology. He died in 1832.

Chocolate Lab on a White Couch – HA! – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Ink

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”
– Anna Quindlen

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Chocolate Lab on a White Couch – HA! – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Ink

Surely you knew that probably wouldn’t happen.  In the photo from Surob at WetCanvas, he was on a brown couch draped with a white sheet.   Not for me, you see.  I really struggled with “to ink or not to ink” since I was painting on that cheap watercolor paper.  I finally settled on a little ink…  for now. 

About Anna Quindlen

Anna Quindlen was only the third woman to become an Op-Ed writer for the New York Times. She was born in 1952 near Philadelphia. As a columnist, she blended the personal with the political, drawing parallels between the two. She left the Times to write fiction. Her novel, One True Thing, became a film starring Meryl Streep. She is the first writer with books on the fiction, nonfiction, and self-help New York Times bestseller lists. She lives with her husband and children in New York.

Obi the Ceramic Dog and Little Bit of Mexico

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.”
– Colette

How fun is that?  My hubby would say… just look cool doing it.   

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Obi the Ceramic Dog – 7″ x 10″ Inktense and Sharpie

This is a portrait of our dog Obi, who just happens to be ceramic.  We named him Obi because he obediently sits at the window and watches the lake all day.   He is around 3 feet tall and we got him at our favorite little store in Van Buren, Arkansas, Little Bit of Mexico.  We have bought a lot of ceramic pots and metal art there.  It’s just a wonderful place to shop and the proprietors, Dave and Barb Little, are terrific, too.

The last time we went there, we were in my hubby’s little retro T-Bird.  Nothing we bought would fit in the car so Barb and Dave delivered it to us in Eufaula the next day.  Seriously, if you want a great little road trip, head to Van Buren and tell Barb and Dave we sent you.

Derwent Inktense pencils are so fun to do art with.  Check out that link.  They can be purchased anywhere you buy your fine art supplies.  (I am not being compensated for this, I just love the pencils.)

About Colette

Colette was the pen name of Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, the French author acclaimed for her intimate, lyrical novels, including Chéri and The Vagabond. Born in Burgundy in 1873, she moved to Paris in 1893 when she married Henri “Willy” Gauthier-Villars, who locked her in a room and demanded that she write. After their divorce, she became a music-hall performer and continued to write. During World War I, she converted her second husband’s estate into a hospital for the wounded. She died in 1954.

Hurry Home – 6″ x 6″ Watercolor and a wee bit of Sharpie

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
– T.S. Eliot


Hurry Home – 6″ x 6″ Watercolor and a wee bit of Sharpie

This is my contribution to Illustration Friday, where the word is Hurry.  If you have pets, you know this could be:

“Hurry home, Mom. I miss you when you’re gone!”
“Hurry!  I gotta peeeeeeee!”
“Hurry with that food, please.  I’m hungry!”
“Hurry!  Throw the ball!  Throw the ball!”
“Hurry and get situated.  I neeeeed to sit on your lap.”
“Hurry!  Get the leash already!  I wanna go for a walk!”
“Hurry!  I need a doggie biscuit…  right now!”
“Hurry, would you?  You walk too slow!”

I could go on.  Everything seems to have a sense of urgency when they have to communicate with their expressions.    I painted it from a photo by Valri Ary at WetCanvas.

About T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot, the Nobel Prize–winning poet, is perhaps best known today for a light book of rhymes that became the Broadway hit Cats. He penned such weightier poems as “The Waste Land,” “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” and “Four Quartets.” His work is rich with deeply felt religious meditations, but he never wanted to be perceived as a religious poet. He was born in 1888 in St. Louis and made his adult home in England, where he worked as an editor at the publisher Faber & Faber. He died in 1965.

I Love Puppy Breath

“Every day, think as you wake up:
Today I am fortunate to have woken up.
I am alive. I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all
my energies to develop myself to expand
my heart out to others for the
benefit of all beings.”
–His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

I Love Puppy Breath – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Sharpie

Don’t you just love puppy breath?  Annie’s puppy was just 4 months old in the photo I painted this from, but I made her look much older.  I do the same thing with children.  Why is innocence so hard to capture?

I have friends who have a new Saint Bernard puppy.  When George brought Lady to see me at 6 weeks old, she was the sweetest, cuddliest little thing.  She is now a 90 pound, 5 month old ball of fire.   George and Carla are in their 70′s!  I hope she learns gentleness. 

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.  The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet.  Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.
More here.

Shadow – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor

“Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.”
–Richard L. Evans



Shadow – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor

This was painted from a photo by JustJean at WetCanvas.  Jean’s Shadow has gone on to doggie heaven and it just felt right to do this painting for Jean.

If my computer survives the next hour without me putting a bullet through it, my day will have improved a lot.  I think it may be time to walk away for a moment and do something fun.  

Richard L. Evans 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.

Evans was the last child born to John A. Evans and Florence Neslen, for when he was only 10 weeks old his father died leaving a widow with nine children to rear. However, with determination and a scholarship, he sought higher education first at L.D.S. University and then at the University of Utah. Taking time away from university study, he served as a Mormon missionary in Great Britain from 1926 to 1929, where he acted as associate editor of the Mormon newspaper the “Millennial Star” under James E. Talmadge and Dr. John A. Widtsoe. In addition to gaining journalistic skills, he also polished his speaking talents through the experience of speaking in street meetings and even at the speaker’s corner in Hyde Park, London. Returning to the University of Utah after his mission, he received his BA degree in 1931 and MA degree in 1932.  Source:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1457644/bio

Guard Duty – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Sharpie on Indian Village Handmade Paper Postcard

“When the Japanese mend broken objects,
they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks
with gold. They believe that when something’s
suffered damage and has a history it
becomes more beautiful.”
–Barbara Bloom

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Guard Duty – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Sharpie on Indian Village Handmade Paper Postcard


This painting was done by combining two images that jlloren posted at WetCanvas.  This is what Joel said about the Church… “The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years until the end of the 19th century when the Americans took over. Their biggest influence is Catholicism. You will find old churches like this all over the country. This one is Paete Church in Laguna.”  The dog was napping in the warm sand in it’s photo.  This way, the dog doesn’t have to have a bath when he gets home. 

Barbara Bloom is an American writer and TV programming executive. She earned a bachelor of science degree in theater from Skidmore College.

She joined ABC Daytime in 1992 and was Vice President, Director, Daytime Programming, West Coast from 1994-2000 where she worked closely with Mary Burch and Rebecca Lane.

Bloom joined CBS Daytime in 2003, replacing Lucy Johnson. When Bloom left CBS in February, 2011, she held the position of Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS Entertainment and worked under Nina Tassler. During her eight years at CBS, Bloom oversaw Drew Carey’s assumption of the role of host on The Price is Right as well as the resurrection of Let’s Make a Deal. She also oversaw the introduction of CBS’ first daytime talk show, The Talk.

On January 18, 2011, it was announced that announced Bloom would leave CBS Daytime when her contract expired in at the end of the month.   Nina Tassler, the President of CBS Entertainment, released the following statement: “Barbara artfully led CBS through several key transitions in her eight years here. All of these efforts have positioned CBS very well for the future.”  Source:  Wikipedia