A Salina, KS Church – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor & Ink

“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
–William Penn

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

A Salina, KS Church – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor & Ink

I painted this from a photo by Suzanne Wallick at Paint My Photo.  I showed you the ink drawing on my post here, while I was trying to decide if I was brave enough to do the bricks.  I actually painted the whole thing, then added the bricks after I looked at it for a few days.  I’m glad I did it, because the bricks really make the painting. 

William Penn (October 14, 1644–July 30, 1718) founded the Province of Pennsylvania, the British North American colony that became the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The democratic principles that he set forth served as an inspiration for the United States Constitution. Ahead of his time, Penn also published a plan for a United States of Europe, “European Dyet, Parliament or Estates.”  More here.

Alexander Campbell House, Salina, KS – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor and Ink

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

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Alexander Campbell House, Salina, KS – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor and Ink

I painted this from a wonderful photograph by Suzanne Wallick over at Paint My Photo.  It was really challenging, but I love the way it turned out.   This will be going with me to the show in Kansas City. 

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.

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.

Eilean Donan Castle 5 in Fall Colors – 5″ x 9″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Pen

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
– Epictetus

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Eilean Donan Castle 5  in Fall Colors – 5″ x 9″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Pen

I painted this from a photo taken in summer by Rick Brind.  The October challenge at paintmyphoto.com was to turn the summer photo to fall colors.  It was really fun!  I also submitted this painting to the fall art contest at Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff.

There are so many artists that will undoubtedly surpass me there, but for a $500 gift certificate at Cheap Joe’s, I’m willing to try.

Epictetus,  (born ad 55, probably at Hierapolis, Phrygia [now Pamukkale, Turkey]—died c. 135, Nicopolis, Epirus [Greece]), Greek philosopher associated with the Stoics, remembered for the religious tone of his teachings, which commended him to numerous early Christian thinkers.

His original name is not known; epiktētos is the Greek word meaning “acquired.” As a boy he was a slave but managed to attend lectures by the Stoic Musonius Rufus. He later became a freedman and lived his life lame and in ill health. In ad 90 he was expelled from Rome with other philosophers by the emperor Domitian, who was irritated by the favourable reception given by Stoics to opponents of his tyranny. The rest of his life Epictetus spent at Nicopolis.  More…

Kiss, Please – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.”
– Anna Freud

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Kiss, Please – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

I painted this from a terrific photo by Robyn Lovelock at Paint My Photo.  I had such a good time with this. 

About Anna Freud

Austrian psychoanalyst Anna Freud was a pioneer in the field of child psychiatry; she also worked closely with her father, Sigmund Freud, in developing his theories. She was born in Vienna in 1895 and fled to London with her parents in 1938, escaping the Nazi regime. When her father became sick with cancer, she took over his studies, becoming his intellectual heir. She founded the Hampstead Clinic to work with children. She died in 1982.

Peaceful Little Setting – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

“Calm self-confidence is as far from conceit as the desire to earn a decent living is remote from greed.”
– Channing Pollock

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Peaceful Little Setting – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

I painted this one from a photo by Robyn Lovelock at PaintMyPhoto.com.  It reminds me of some of the scenery from southeastern Idaho.  Very calming and serene. 

About Channing Pollock

American playwright Channing Pollock is best remembered for his work massively redesigning the plot of the film Metropolis after it was shot. He was born in 1880. He worked in every aspect of New York theater, first as publicist for the Shubert family of theater owners, then as a drama critic who was banned from every Shubert theater, and finally as a playwright whose work included the morality play, The Enemy, as well as Clothes and The Fool. He died in 1946.

Stormy Sky for Illustration Friday – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

“What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers.”
– Matina Horner

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Stormy Sky for Illustration Friday – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

Sky is the word this week for Illustration Friday.  I discovered an amazing photographer at PaintMyPhoto…. PixelBloke took the photo I painted this from.  It was so fun to bring it to Bethville. 

Sunday, I worked on a couple more historic Eufaula buildings.  One of them is the Armory, which was built in 1936 by the WPA program.  The other on is the Foley Mansion, which was built in 1901 and burned in 1962.   I need to go to the library and find some better photos of it.  It’s amazing!

About Matina Horner
American psychologist Matina Horner is best known for her groundbreaking research in the late 1960′s on smart women’s fear of success, which became known as the Horner Effect. She was born in 1939 in Massachusetts. During her 17-year tenure as president of Radcliffe College, she helped integrate the women’s college into a mainstream presence for women on the Harvard University campus. She has received several awards and serves on the boards of many institutions.

Water For Everybody! – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Ink

Discover your magnetism!

 ”Plant the seed of desire in your mind and it forms a nucleus with power to attract to itself everything needed for it’s fulfillment.”
– Robert Collier

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Water For Everybody! – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Ink

This is for Illustration Friday and the word “Water”.  I had so much fun doing this painting!   The background is loosely based on a photo by Theclosetpainter on Paint My Photo.  The birds are painted from a photo by Robin Lovelock at the same site.   Don’t you just love those birds? 

Robert Collier

Robert Collier’s inspirational books have changed the lives of thousands. He was a prolific writer and progressive publisher who strongly believed that happiness and abundance were within easy reach.

Robert “Bob” Collier was born April 19, 1885, in St. Louis, son of Mary Ferguson and John Collier. His mother died when he and his older brother were not yet teenagers. His father traveled widely as a foreign correspondent for Collier’s Magazine (founded and published by his uncle, Peter F. Collier). Robert was educated in a church seminar school and was expected to become a priest, but before taking his vows, he decided against the life of a clergyman and headed for West Virginia to seek his fortune.  More about Mr. Collier here.

Elsie the Locust from Paint My Photo

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Elsie the Locust – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor and Sharpie

I didn’t name this locust.   ESP from Paint My Photo named it.  Believe it or not, these colors really are the colors on that bug.  I swear!  Even the pink.    My friend Leslie White shared this site (Paint My Photo) on her blog recently.  So of course I had to go see.   If you click on the ESP link above, you can see the locust photo.

About Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was a powerful political figure in her own right, crusading tirelessly for humanist causes. She was born in New York in 1884 and was orphaned young. After Franklin was struck by polio, she acted as his eyes and ears. She was central to the creation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which she considered her crowning achievement, and wrote numerous essays, including a long-running column called “My Day.” She died in 1962.

I just finished a book by Ms. Roosevelt where she talked about the years immediately following the President’s death.  She was a remarkable woman.  I’m sure I’ll be reading more of her books.  –Beth