Little Cedar House

“The power of imagination makes us infinite.”
– John Muir

Yeah!  I like that!

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Little Cedar House - 2" x 3.5"

I painted this little house in my hotel room, too.  It just came out of my head.  It is actually the top of a bookmark.  I just haven’t decided how I want to finish it.

This morning, I started on my first commission from the KC show.  I went to Ellen’s house and took the reference photos.  On the other 3 commissions, they wanted their flowers to bloom first and they are sending hi res photos.  Ellen didn’t have to wait.  She just told me to make everything bloom.  I can do that! 

About John Muir

American naturalist John Muir is remembered as a passionate champion of the natural wonder of Yosemite; he was instrumental in turning the land into a national park. Born in Scotland in 1838, he immigrated with his family to Wisconsin in 1849. He dropped out of college to walk 1,000 miles from Indiana to Florida. After falling in love with Yosemite, he took a job herding sheep nearby. He developed the theory that the valley was created by glaciers, which is now accepted as fact. He died in 1914.

Peeking Peacock

“The power of imagination makes us infinite.”
– John Muir



Peeking Peacock – 2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor ATC

This has always been one of my favorites.  I used it for my avatar for a while.  If you look close, you can see the jewels on her beak. 

Have a great weekend and if you’re a Mom, Happy Mother’s Day!

Here’s a link to a photo of my wonderful Mom on facebook.

About John Muir

American naturalist John Muir is remembered as a passionate champion of the natural wonder of Yosemite; he was instrumental in turning the land into a national park. Born in Scotland in 1838, he immigrated with his family to Wisconsin in 1849. He dropped out of college to walk 1,000 miles from Indiana to Florida. After falling in love with Yosemite, he took a job herding sheep nearby. He developed the theory that the valley was created by glaciers, which is now accepted as fact. He died in 1914.

Teacher

“The power of imagination makes us infinite.”
– John Muir

 

Teacher
2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor ATC

I call this one teacher, because it has strong, firm lines, yet it’s cheerful and welcoming.  Teachers are so wonderful in a way that is so often under-appreciated.   They help us to see our own uniqueness and potential, while coaxing along our sense of accomplishment and self worth.    Now days, they are sometimes the only ones who do that, as the home front just keeps getting busier and busier.  Okay…. stepping off my soap box now. 

About John Muir

American naturalist John Muir is remembered as a passionate champion of the natural wonder of Yosemite; he was instrumental in turning the land into a national park. Born in Scotland in 1838, he immigrated with his family to Wisconsin in 1849. He dropped out of college to walk 1,000 miles from Indiana to Florida. After falling in love with Yosemite, he took a job herding sheep nearby. He developed the theory that the valley was created by glaciers, which is now accepted as fact. He died in 1914.

Autumn Jungle - October 2, 2009

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul." John Muir

Autumn Jungle
5" x 7" Watercolor

John Muir (1838-1914) was a Scottish-born naturalist, author, and early advocate of the preservation of wilderness. His essays and books were fresh with the spell of wilderness, particularly of the Sierra Nevada in California. Muir popularized the idea of nature as healer. Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, the Sierra Club and the modern environmental movement, are direct results of his gentle insight.

With the influence of a rigid, biblically-minded father, Muir, by age 11, could recite most of the bible by heart. Words and turn-of-phrase did him well, and while he escaped orthodox beliefs with little apology, he wrote well and often of a universal view of the power of deity through attention to nature.