Chicago Fire Truck

“We are, each of us, angels with only one wing, and we can only fly embracing each other.”
– Luciano Decrescenzo

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Chicago Fire Truck -  4″ x 6″ Watercolor

I painted this from a photo by Savatage at WetCanvas.  I had a great time with it.

I bought a new vinyl cutter yesterday and it is supposed to be here today, so I can get back to making signs.  At home, in the mornings, I’ve been working on more bookmarks.  I think I have 8 of them inked.  It’s a great project to take my mind off of computers.  I’ll share later. 

About Luciano Decrescenzo

 

Luciano Decrescenzo, the Italian writer, filmmaker, and intellectual, has published 28 books on subjects ranging from Greek philosophy to his own childhood in Naples. He was born in 1928 and worked as an engineer for IBM for several years before turning to philosophy and writing. He has also directed, written, and starred in a number of Italian language films and received honorary Athenian citizenship in 1994.

Wonderful Old Fire Truck – 4″ x4″ Watercolor & Sharpie

“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.”
– William James

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Wonderful Old Fire Truck – 4″ x4″ Watercolor & Sharpie

Monday, my work computer crawled off into a corner and died.  My computer guru thinks it needs a new motherboard and processor.  Since he built it custom for me, he knows it well…  like his own baby.  So he took custody of it and hopes to have it back under my roof on Monday.

This basically puts my sign shop on stand-by mode.  So, rather than cry or throw something… I painted this little dude.  Art calms me and gives me time to think and sort stuff out.  At 5:00, I usually lock the door and get down to some serious, uninterrupted work until about 6:30.  Yesterday at 5:00, I went next door to the nail salon and got a pedicure.  This is only the second one I’ve ever had and the massage chair is incredible!

I am practicing what I preach, so I can still be happy and have good days until my computer comes home to start making signs again.  I choose to be happy and that’s exactly what I’m going to do today.  :)

I painted this from a photo from WetCanvas.   I just can’t remember who’s it was.  (that’s on my work computer)

About William James

American psychologist and philosopher William James, brother to author Henry James, wrote voluminously during his life, exploring a range of issues from a theory of emotion to a philosophy of history. He was born in New York in 1842 and wanted to be an artist, but his father disapproved. He obtained a medical degree but felt unsatisfied and depressed, leading to a crisis that he called his soul sickness. After this turning point, he began his fulfilling second career. He died in 1910.

Texanna Rural Fire Department

“Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.”
– George Sheehan




Texanna Rural Fire Truck
16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

Do you remember this painting?  I originally posted it here.  I changed the sky, so that it would match the rest of the painting better and called it done.

Yesterday, it was donated to the Texanna Rural Fire Department.  They were thrilled to have it, as it is a portrait of their old International truck.  It’s new to them and it’s still in use.

Here is Phillip Nichols with his new painting.  It will be hanging in their community center.  Cool!

About George Sheehan

American doctor George Sheehan changed course midway through his life. He was born in Brooklyn in 1918 to a cardiologist father and grew up to follow in his footsteps. At age 45, bored with his life, he began reading philosophy and took up running. Within five years he ran a 4:47 mile, the fastest ever clocked by a 50 year old. He started a weekly column and became medical editor for Runner’s World. He wrote eight books. Bill Clinton dubbed him the philosopher-king of running. He died in 1993.

Rural Fire Truck

“Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.”
– Louis L’Amour

 

Rural Fire Truck
16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

I have really been struggling with this painting.  I am not used to painting so large and when I mess up, I mess up BIG!  It’s the sky.  I have repainted it 3 times and I’m not sure about it this time either.  I would love to hear your thoughts on it.  No really… I can take it! 


I set it into a frame to see if it would help.  It’s not actually framed or even signed yet.

About Louis L’Amour

Louis L’Amour, the author known for his pulp westerns, wrote more than 100 novels in his lifetime. Born in North Dakota in 1908 as Louis LaMoore, he worked across the southwestern U.S. on a string of backbreaking jobs including longshoreman, elephant handler, and cattle skinner. He saw his writing as akin to telling tales by a campfire and wanted to be remembered simply as a good storyteller. He won the Medal of Freedom in 1984 and died in 1988.