Up, Up and Away

“Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”
– Judy Garland

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Up, Up and Away – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

I was having a bit of fun with pink paint last weekend.  It will become more apparent as the week goes on.   
This was painted from a reference photo by Elainesq at WetCanvas.

About Judy Garland

Beloved American actress Judy Garland will always be associated with her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She was born Frances Gumm in Minnesota in 1922 to vaudevillian parents. She made her stage debut at age two and a half. She starred in 26 films over 13 years and became a huge star. In 1950, MGM ended her contract. Though she primarily gave concerts after that, she did star in a few more films, including her famed role in A Star Is Born. She died in 1969.

Thailand Balloon Ride I

“It’s not what you are, but what you don’t become that hurts.”
– Oscar Levant



Thailand Balloon Ride I
Gouache on 5″ x 7″  Black Photo Mount Card

To follow along with the quote… this little black photo mount card wasn’t satisfied to be just that.  It wanted to be the surface for a painting.    The photo reference came from Dewi at WetCanvas.  She took it from a hot air balloon.  The photo was rather dark, so it inspired me to play with my gouache.  I had a great time. 

Tomorrow, I’ll show you the other view from her balloon.

About Oscar Levant

Oscar Levant was a brilliant musician whose work was often overshadowed by his witty, neurotic persona. He was born in 1906 in Pittsburgh and moved with his mother to New York in 1922 to study music, gaining renown as a concert pianist before his twentieth birthday. He composed the scores for more than 20 movies in the years 1929 to 1948. He appeared in movies such as An American in Paris and hosted a TV talk show for two years; the show was taken off the air due to his risqué comments. He died in 1972.

Hot Air Balloon

Character, not circumstances, makes the man.
Booker T. Washington

 

That is such a true statement!

 

 

Hot Air Balloon

6″ x 9″ Watercolor

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I painted this Saturday, from a reference by Pencilz over at WetCanvas.  I absolutely loved the experience!  I painted purely for the joy of it.  Fun!

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Yesterday was a good day.  My flight instructor finally liked one of my landings!   (My old brain is not taking to landings as well as I had hoped.)

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When I came back into the Muskogee airport office after my lesson, I was writing checks and not really paying attention to the people that just arrived in a beautiful little turbo prop plane.  Then I hear… “Beth?”.  I stood there face to face with an old girlfriend who had moved to Alabama!   She was only there because their flight got diverted due to clouds in McAlester.    What are the chances of that happening?  She looked great and her boyfriend was the cute pilot of that nice plane.  I took a lot of pleasure in seeing her so happy.  She’s had a rough couple of years.

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It just made my day!  It also reminded me of my own blessings.  It really is a good life! 

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About Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington, the influential American educator, was the first African-American to be invited to the White House; he also had tea with Queen Victoria. He was born in slavery in Virginia in 1856. After emancipation, he worked in the salt mines. When he learned of a school that would accept former slaves, he walked much of the 400 miles to get there. He became an outspoken advocate of education and hard work for African-Americans and founded Tuskegee University. He died in 1915.