Zentangle and the Orange Alpaca – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

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“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”
– Truman Capote

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

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Silly Little Orange Alpaca – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

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Mary Y. over at WetCanvas posted the cutest little Alpaca youngster on her WDE a couple weeks ago.  I painted this from her photo.  In fact, the Halloween Cat was also from her WDE.  Of course it was a white cat.  I’m sure Mary won’t mind her white critters becoming orange.  She knows what happens at Bethville. 

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About Truman Capote

The flamboyant American author Truman Capote is best known for his book In Cold Blood, the true story of the murder of a wealthy Kansas family. Written in a literary style, it spawned the creative nonfiction genre. Born in New Orleans in 1924 and raised by relatives in Alabama, Capote moved to New York when he was nine to live with his mother. He was a larger-than-life personality, known for his colorful attire, his lisping voice, and his outrageous statements. He died in 1984.

Hey... What is that cat up to?

“Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road.”
– Dag Hammarskjöld

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

What is that cat up to?
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I think he’s yawning, feigning boredom, to lure that mouse into a false sense of security.  Or maybe he’s an opera singing cat… serenading that mouse.  He is in Bethville, afterall. 
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About Dag Hammarskjöld
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Dag Hammarskjöld, a Noble Peace Prize winner, was a diplomat who strengthened the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission. Born in Sweden in 1905, he followed his father’s footsteps into national government, where he coined the term “planned economy” before becoming a delegate to the U.N. and a two-time secretary-general. He negotiated the release of Americans captured by the Chinese in the Korean War, worked to resolve the Suez Canal crisis, and was on a mission to the Congo when his plane crashed in 1961, killing all aboard.

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.

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.

A Paisley Horse! 6″ x 8″ Watercolor

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

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

It’s Really a Paisley Horse!  6″ x 8″ Watercolor and Black Staedtler Pigment Liner

Yes… I think we have already established that I’m a little bit wacko!  But, in case you weren’t sure… this should remove all doubt.  (Especially since I an considering a series.)

The border and background is inspired by Mexican Folk Art and the paisley?   Pure Bethville.   

The brown horse reference photo is by SkattyKat 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.

Another Cat Portrait

“The human mind thinks in pictures.  Having visual images of your dreams, goals and heart’s desire helps manifest them into your life.  Paint a picture in your mind.  Create a movie in your head.  Play that movie again and again.  You are the star in your own life.”

–B.J. Gallagher

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Another Cat Portrait – Panny 4″ x 4″

Panny belongs to Wildhorse Australia from WetCanvas.  This is an older painting, as I am still working on my commission.

I want to take a moment to be thankful for all the men and women in the Armed Forces, who have given  their lives so that we may be free.  Happy Memorial Day weekend!

BJ Gallagher is an inspirational author and speaker. She writes business books that educate and empower, women’s books that enlighten and entertain, gift books that inspire and inform, and kids’ books that charm and delight. Whether her audience is corporate executives, working women, or a group of giggling youngsters, her message is powerful, positive, and practical. She motivates and teaches with empathy, understanding, and more than a little humor.  More…

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 Rainbow Colored Cat in a Hat

“Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or by the handle.”
– James Russell Lowell

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Keetah – A Rainbow Colored Cat in a Hat

This is Keetah, Sharrm’s (from WetCanvas) cat.    It’s another old one, while I work on my commission.  Have a great day!

About James Russell Lowell

 

James Russell Lowell, the sometimes romantic, often ironic American poet, was also a diplomat, serving as ambassador to Spain and, later, Britain. He was born in 1819 in Massachusetts and became known as a New England poet. His satire The Bigelow Papers was his best-known work. While a professor at Harvard, he wrote critical studies of Dante, Shakespeare, and Chaucer, among others, and also served as the founding editor of the influential magazine The Atlantic Monthly. He died in 1891.

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

Shhhhh... It's a Cat Nap

“The be-all and end-all of life should not be to get rich, but to enrich the world.”
– Bertie Charles Forbes

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Lucy, the The Cat is Trying to take a nap!  Shhhhhh….

Okay, time for another cat.  This one is from the archives, also.  It’s Lucy and the photo of the cat in a plain old box came from Crispur at WetCanvas.  The embellishment came from….. you got it…. Bethville! 

About Bertie Charles Forbes

Bertie Charles Forbes, known as B.C. Forbes, is remembered as the founder of the long-running Forbes magazine, aimed at investors. He was born on May 14, 1880 in Scotland. He worked as a reporter for a Dundee newspaper until 1901, when he moved to South Africa and founded a newspaper there; but he stayed just three years before moving to the United States, where he became a financial editor and columnist. His sons Bruce and Malcolm succeeded him as editors-in-chief of Forbes. He died on May 6, 1954.

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.

Yes... the kitty is Pink - 4" x 6" Watercolor Postcard

“Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.”
– Jean Kerr

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Colorful Kitty – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor Postcard

I did this little painting last May, from a photo by Lotsofmoggies at WetCanvas.   I’m working on another Eufaula painting, but it won’t be done for a while, so I hope you don’t mind the older work.
I’m getting a bit of a late start this morning because my darling hubby took me to breakfast. 

About Jean Kerr

Comedic American author Jean Kerr is known for her wry take on married life in the suburbs in such books as How I Got to Be Perfect and Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, which was turned into both a movie and a TV series. She was born in Pennsylvania on July 10, 1922. She often collaborated on plays with her husband, drama critic Walter Kerr. She also wrote a number of plays by herself, including the extremely successful Mary, Mary, which ran for nearly 1,600 performances. She died on January 5, 2003.

Proof that I am a Little Weird – Acrylic on Canvas

“Make voyages! — Attempt them! — there’s nothing else…”
– Tennessee Williams

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Proof that I am a Little Weird – Acrylic on Canvas

It’s a cat in Bethville!  Oh My!   This is a little diversion, since I’m sure you’re a little tired of Kansas City paintings.  Do I see life a little differently from normal people?  You bet! 

About Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was the pen name of Thomas Lanier Williams, the multiple-award-winning Southern Gothic playwright best known for his plays Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie. He was born on March 26, 1911 in Mississippi, where he had a difficult childhood with an abusive father, a smothering mother, and a schizophrenic sister. His emotionally honest plays often feature sensitive souls who don’t fit into a confining culture. He spent most of his adult life in New York City. He died on February 25, 1983.

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.

Jasper is Trying to Tell Us Something – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

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


Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012


Jasper is Trying to Tell Us Something – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Ink

Mlou Jhu posted this photo on WetCanvas.  Actually, it was 2 photos… one of Jasper and one of the koi.  I merged them.     I may do a caption contest on Facebook.   Stay tuned.

Anna Quindlen is the author of five previous bestselling novels (Rise and Shine, Blessings, Object Lessons, One True Thing, Black and Blue), and seven nonfiction books (A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Good Dog. Stay., Being Perfect, Loud & Clear, Living Out Loud, Thinking Out Loud, and How Reading Changed My Life). Her New York Times column “Public and Private” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. From 2000-2009, She wrote the “Last Word” column for Newsweek.  More….

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.