Showing posts with label portrait. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portrait. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Newborn & Three and a Half Year Old Feet

“Everything can be taken from a man but … the last of the human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
–Viktor Frankl
Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013
Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Hunter & Gage at Newborn & Three and a Half

Don’t you just love baby feet?  Here is the painted version of my great nephews’ feet.

Viktor Emil Frankl (March 26, 1905 – September 2, 1997) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. He was the founder of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis, the “Third Viennese School” of psychotherapy. His book, Man’s Search for Meaning, chronicled his experiences as a concentration camp inmate and describes his psychotherapeutic method of finding a reason to live. Frankl’s own survival, and his insights into what allows human beings to survive the most intolerable and inhumane conditions, have inspired people worldwide for decades. Finding his “will to meaning” gave Frankl the power to overcome the horrors of the death camp, and his writings express the key component of true human nature: Love.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Future – Hunter & Gage - My Sweet Great Nephews

“If we wait for the moment when everything is ready, we shall never begin.”
– Ivan Turgenev

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013
Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Future – Hunter & Gage

Hunter is a newborn and Gage is three and a half.  They are my great nephews.  These are their little feet.  The word for Illustration Friday this week is “future” and I can’t think of anything more perfect than these two little boys.

I am going to paint it, so this also a future painting.  :D

About Ivan Turgenev

 

Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev, celebrated for his dark, realistic novels about Russian life, is best known for the novel Fathers and Sons, about the conflicting ideologies between generations. He was born in 1818 to a wealthy Russian family. He and his brother were raised by an abusive mother who was rumored to have smothered one of her serfs. He rose to fame with A Sportsman’s Sketches, which may have influenced the Tsar to free the serfs. He died in France in 1883.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

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
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.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Tibetan Woman on a Walk – 2″ x 5″ Watercolor & Ink

“Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to do what they want to do.”
– Kathleen Winsor

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Tibetan Woman on a Walk – 2″ x 5″ Watercolor & Ink

This is another painting from one of Connie’s WetCanvas references.  I did stretch her a little taller for effect.  All that detail is really tiny, but it was fun to do.

I was the 8th person to vote at my polling place this morning.  Don’t forget to get out there and make your vote count.

About Kathleen Winsor

American author Kathleen Winsor is best known for the racy historical novel, Forever Amber, which made a huge splash when it was first published in 1944, selling 100,000 copies the first week. It was banned in 14 states for its sexual content. The ensuing debate contributed to the loosening of restrictions that allowed works by D. H. Lawrence and Henry Miller to be published in the US. Winsor wrote a number of other novels, none as successful. She was born in 1919 and died in 2003.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Shadow – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor

“Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.”
–Richard L. Evans

Shadow - 5" x 7" Watercolor

Shadow – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor

This was painted from a photo by JustJean at WetCanvas.  Jean’s Shadow has gone on to doggie heaven and it just felt right to do this painting for Jean.

If my computer survives the next hour without me putting a bullet through it, my day will have improved a lot.  I think it may be time to walk away for a moment and do something fun.   :D

Richard L. Evans is best known for his inspirational messages given in the long-running weekly radio program “Music and the Spoken Word” with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. As a General Authority of the Mormon Church, he was one of their most senior leaders.

Evans was the last child born to John A. Evans and Florence Neslen, for when he was only 10 weeks old his father died leaving a widow with nine children to rear. However, with determination and a scholarship, he sought higher education first at L.D.S. University and then at the University of Utah. Taking time away from university study, he served as a Mormon missionary in Great Britain from 1926 to 1929, where he acted as associate editor of the Mormon newspaper the “Millennial Star” under James E. Talmadge and Dr. John A. Widtsoe. In addition to gaining journalistic skills, he also polished his speaking talents through the experience of speaking in street meetings and even at the speaker’s corner in Hyde Park, London. Returning to the University of Utah after his mission, he received his BA degree in 1931 and MA degree in 1932.  Source:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1457644/bio

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Yogi Bear in Colored Pencil

“The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.”
– Norman Cousins



Yogi Bear – 4″ x 6″ Colored Pencil Postcard

Scary, huh!  I am not very good at colored pencils.   I did this postcard back in 2008.  It says on the back that it took me 30 minutes to do it, so I feel a little better.  I did this same reference (from my own photo) in watercolor and pastel.  I thought I’d share them on Thursday and Friday.  Sorry there is no new art to share.

I have been super busy at work.  I am very blessed to have a shop full of work and no free time to play, but I sure miss my art.  I am studying in all my free time at home.  I really must finish up and get my pilot’s license.  No more dilly-dallying.

I am not complete when I am not creating art.  This is really hard, being so disciplined.  When I get my license, I’m going to celebrate by painting for an entire weekend… then I’ll go fly!  :)

About Norman Cousins

American writer and editor Norman Cousins is best known for his book, Anatomy of an Illness, an account of how he used nutrition and positive visualizations, including laughter, to heal from an illness diagnosed as fatal. He was born in New Jersey in 1915. He served many years as editor-in-chief of the Saturday Review, a job he loved. Under his guidance, circulation increased from 20,000 to 650,000. He received the UN Peace Medal for his world activism. He died in 1990.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

I Don’t Wanna Wear This Doggy Sweater!

“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.  The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.
–Lin Yutang

Boy, isn’t that the truth!



I Don’t Wanna Wear This Doggy Sweater! – 4″ x 4″ Watercolor

This painting is a little portrait of Stacey’s dog Alex (WetCanvas).  I have created such a look on her face!  She looked worried in the photo, but I seem to have created something different, though I was really trying to capture the worry.    I seem to have something like… “I swear!  If you make me go outside in this sweater, I will never be able to show my face in this neighborhood again!  Pleeeeease take it off!!  I don’t want to be the laughing stock of the whole town!  Come on,  Mom!”  :)

Tune in tomorrow for Stacey’s cat, Panny.  Totally different approach and way fun!

Lin Yutang (October 10, 1895 – March 26, 1976) was a Chinese writer and inventor. His informal but polished style in both Chinese and English made him one of the most influential writers of his generation, and his compilations and translations of classic Chinese texts into English were bestsellers in the West.  more…

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Mother and Baby - Mixed Media Painting

“It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.”
– e. e. cummings

 My mother gave me a beautiful framed quote of this.  I have always loved that quote!

 

Mother and Child – 6″ x 8″ Mixed Media Painting

This was inspired by so many things.  First of all, the background paper was from my unused paper stash.  It was prepared by wetting the paper, dropping watercolor onto it and the covering it with crinkled up grocery sacks until it dried.  I did that months ago.



Then I found some transparent wrapping tissue paper with glitter on it, in another stash.  I attached it to the watercolor paper, using Mod Podge, and let it dry overnight.

This part was inspired by what I have seen Leslie White do with masa paper.

The next inspiration came from Elizabeth’s (edtree at WetCanvas) photo of her niece and child.  Elizabeth challenged us to do some negative painting, so that’s what I did.  I paid special attention to the interlocking fingers.



I was sure the mother did that before she fell asleep, to keep her baby safe.

I painted this with watercolor and a little white gouache for highlights on the skin.

I had a great time doing this while listening to some old Big Band music.  :D




Click on any photo to see it larger.

About e. e. cummings

The writer who became known as e. e. cummings was an experimental poet whose idiosyncratic typography complements the music of his poetry; he published more than 900 poems, two novels, and four plays. He was also an accomplished painter. He was born in Massachusetts in 1894 and entered the ambulance corps in World War I but ended up in a detention camp after expressing his pacifist views. He died in 1962. His most famous poem was “In Just-”.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Pilots - Quick Watercolor Sketch

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



Pilots – Quick 4″ x 6″ Watercolor Sketch

I loved the friendship that I saw in this reference photo.  I didn’t have much time, so I just did a quick sketch.  The photo was contributed to the WetCanvas RIL by yahooserious.

I am sure those Budweisers he has in his hand are for after the flight.  :)

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.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Plaid and Polka Dots

“Rate the task above the prize; will not the mind be raised? Fight thine own faults, not the faults of others; will not evil be mended?”
– Confucius



Plaid and Polka Dots – 4″ x 4″ Watercolor

I hosted the WDE over the weekend at WetCanvas.  I used photos from the Reference Image Library that started with P.  We had a lot of fun and I did eight paintings.  I threw studying and honey-dos to the wind and just played in my studio.  This photo was titled “Pretty Girl” (by me) and was contributed to the RIL by pencilnpen.  Of course, following the P theme, I added the Plaid and Polka dots.  If I had been thinking ahead, I’d have given her Pigtails.  :)

I think this is the first child I have painted that didn’t look like a 40 year old hooker.  ha ha ha

About Confucius

The ancient Chinese social philosopher Confucius founded the ethically based philosophical system which became known as Confucianism. Legend says that he was born in 551 B.C. to a 70-year-old father and a 15-year-old mother. At age 50, frustrated with politics, he left his job as Justice Minister and began a 12-year journey around China. Returning home, he taught a growing number of disciples “The Way” and wrote a set of books called the Five Classics. He died in 479 B.C.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Little Nurses - Watercolor

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

Love that!



Little Nurses – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor

This was done from a 20 year old photo provided by SkattyKat at WetCanvas.   I had fun doing it with very little real detail.    I could have done a better job with their little faces, but if I fiddled with them any more, they would only have gotten worse.

This is the only painting I had time for this weekend.  I worked on Saturday and went flying on Sunday.  I hadn’t been in the plane in 6 weeks, due to our crazy Oklahoma spring weather.  It was 109 degrees in the Muskogee Airport parking lot, according to my pickup.  I did learn (from my flight instructor in the right seat) that it cools approximately 3.5 degrees for every thousand feet you go up.  After doing a half a dozen touch and goes in Haskell, I was ready for 3500 feet!  :D

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.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Masters Study – Pablo Picasso – Portrait d’ Utrillo

“Luck is the by-product of busting your fanny.”
– Don Sutton

Happy Veteran’s Day! If you served, or are serving  -  which includes being a supportive family member – Thank You!!



Masters Study – Pablo Picasso – Portrait d’ Utrillo

2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor and Gouache ATC

This was amazing!  Here is a link to the original.  It looked so simple and easy and it wasn’t.  I worked and worked at it and had a ball!  I enjoyed the background, too.  I love Picasso!   I did his self portrait, too.  I’ll show you that tomorrow.  :)

About Don Sutton

American Major League baseball player Don Sutton, never a flashy player, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after an amazingly consistent winning career as a pitcher. He was born in Alabama in 1945, and broke into the big leagues at age 21. By the time he retired in 1988, he had won 324 games, recorded more than 3,500 strikeouts, racked up a record 21 consecutive 100-plus strikeout seasons, and never missed his turn in the pitching rotation. He is now a TV announcer for the Washington Nationals.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Father and Son

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.”
– Kurt Vonnegut



Father and Son
4″ x 6″ Watercolor Postcard

I never said I was a portrait artist.   (I’m not even pretending to be.)  This is actually pretty awful, but in the spirit of fun and family, I decided to post it.

My niece, Chelsi, is an amazing photographer.  She posted some wonderful photographs of her little family’s trip to a Washington pumpkin farm, on her Facebook wall.  I got her permission to paint anything I wanted from those photos.  I hope she’ll forgive me for what I did to her husband and son.  :D

I promise, Chelsi….. better paintings to come.  he he he

About Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut, the acerbic American author, rose to fame with the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, loosely based on his experiences as a prisoner of war during the World War II bombing of Dresden. He was born in 1922 in Indianapolis. His fiction, a blend of science fiction and satire, became hugely successful in the 1960′s. Three of his seven children are his sister’s, adopted after her husband died in a train wreck and she died of cancer a day later. He lived in New York until his death in 2007.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Computer Generated Clipart Collage

“Courage is the human virtue that counts most — courage to act on limited knowledge and insufficient evidence. That’s all any of us have.”
– Robert Frost




The Essence of Me
Computer Generated Clipart Collage

Linda Halcomb posted an End of Summer Self Portrait Challenge on her blog. Today is the day we are supposed to post our self portrait.


I tried to paint myself, three times.  I can’t capture the resemblance, so  I decided to do what I call a clipart collage.

Starting from the top….

1. The little business card  is a logo I use on a lot of paperwork, like quotes or letters.  It’s being held by a stock clipart lady from Printmaster Platinum 17.

2. Of course I have to add a lady at the computer.  So much of my work is done on a computer and then I do all the blogging, website, wetcanvas, etc. (stock clipart)

3. I need a boat in there, since I live on a lake. (stock clipart)

 4. The books are front and center.  They are my motivational books.  I made this part from boxes and text.

 5. Purple cow is there, because it makes me smile! (stock clipart)

6. We have to have the woman in the plane.  Wheeeeeeeee! (stock clipart)

 7. And of course, the painter-lady.  (stock clipart)

All of this is “welded” together, pixel by pixel, so that it could even be cut from vinyl, if I wanted to make a sign from it.  :D


For more self-portraits of various artists click here and go to the comments section. Other artists, who participated, have left their links there.

About Robert Frost

Robert Frost, the influential American poet known for his rural settings, uncluttered language, and meditative themes, wrote the poems, “A Road Not Taken” and “Mending Walls,” among many others. He was born in San Francisco in 1874 and moved to Massachusetts at age 11. He ran a farm for ten years, selling it to move to England and become a full-time poet. After achieving his goal, he moved back to New Hampshire. His ambition was to write “a few poems it will be hard to get rid of.” He died in 1963.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Lasting Love

“Laughter is the closest distance between two people.”
– Victor Borge

I LOVE that!!!




Lasting Love
4″ x 6″ Watercolor Postcard

This is the same couple that I made Mr. & Mrs. Claus from, that I posted yesterday.  The photo is from Katju at WetCanvas.    The man reminds me of my Dad a little bit, in his later years.  Everybody at WetCanvas loved this couple and a lot of people painted them.

I hope Katju does a gallery so I can see them all together.  A gallery is optional for each host and most don’t do it, because it is a lot of work.  It shows every painting done over the weekend, grouped by subject.  I always do the gallery when I host.  Here is the one I did last time.

About Victor Borge

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.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Whimsical Self Portrait

“Do your work; not just your work and no more, but a little more for the lavishing’s sake – that little more which is worth all the rest.”
Dean Briggs

 

Whimsical Self Portrait
9″ x 12″ Linocut Block Print

I was in a printmaking exchange back in March of 2009.  We all did a whimsical self portrait and traded them with each other.  I can’t say this looks like me, but it was fun to do since I had never done a self portrait.  Linda,  over at Linda Halcomb’s  Blog has presented us with our fall project.  We are all going to do a self portrait and post it to our blogs on September 21st, linking back to Linda’s blog.   I have been wanting to do a self portrait again…. that may even look kinda like me,  so I’m in.  Are you?



Part of the linocut process.  :)

About Dean Briggs

I enjoy craisins on my salad. I feed on thunderstorms. I see the world in watercolor. I write like a I paint. I compose on a Mac. I delight in my family. I have eight children and every one of them is special. I have a beautiful wife, a widow like myself, and I’m lucky to have her. I have simple tastes. Coffee is a gift. Laughter is even better. Once upon a time, I played basketball. As a wild act of faith, I installed a basketball goal at my new house, in hopes that I might again. A good late night snack is Raisin Bran. Loyalty and patience are admirable qualities in anyone. The Book of Names, and the additional titles to come in The Legends of Karac Tor series, are my gifts to my four boys after the death of their mother, as we have sought to live well in this strange, new world.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Who Scared the Cat? & Monday's Chalk Artist

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being.  Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.
–Albert Schweitzer


 

Who Scared the Cat?
6″ x 9″ Watercolor


I don’t know how I do this sometimes.  It was an ordinary little kitten.  I turned it into a freaked out kitten.  he he  It’s a good thing people don’t try to analyze me, based on the stuff I paint.  Hmmmm….. maybe they do?  :D


Albert Schweitzer


“Reverence for Life” says that the only thing we are really sure of is that we live and want to go on living. This is something that we share with everything else that lives, from elephants to blades of grass – and, of course, every human being. So we are brothers and sisters to all living things, and owe to all of them the same care and respect, that we wish for ourselves.

Schweitzer himself said that his hospital was “an improvisation”, and that the most important part of his legacy was his philosophy. Much of his thought has already spread throughout the world, in the form of ecological movements and the ethical considerations arising out of economic activity and scientific discovery. But the tough and realistic way in which he thought about life, and also lived his thought, is something that the world still sorely needs.

I was unable to post on Monday, due to the problems at blogger, so here is yesterday's post.

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

 

Chalk Artist
6″ x 9″ Watercolor

I have to say, that I am not a fan of masking fluid.  I had a plan, here, but some 2 year old masking fluid caused me a little grief.  When I tried to remove it, it turned to slime.  By the time I got it off, I had some soiling of the areas that I wanted to be white, so needless to say, there is no white.  I managed to add a little light blue and at least hide where it had some imperfections.

Here, it shows that I was trying to leave a white line, as  Leslie White demonstrated on her blog.  She has achieved such incredible results, leaving a white line meandering through her painting.  I am definitely going to try this again, but without the masking fluid.  :)



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.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Sweet Baby Boy

“Hold your child’s hand every chance you get.  The time will come all too soon when he or she won’t let you.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr.
from: The Complete – Life’s Little Instruction Book


 
Sweet Baby Boy
5″ x 7″ Watercolor

This is my attempt to paint my little grand-nephew, Gage.  I have never met this little sweetie, because he lives in Washington state.  He was born right after I was there last fall.  I messed his little hands up, so I kinda like this version….





Jackson Brown originally wrote Life’s Little Instruction book as a gift for his son who was leaving home to begin his freshman year in college. Brown says, “I read years ago that it was not the responsibility of parents to pave the road for their children but to provide a road map, and I wanted to provide him with what I had learned about living a happy and rewarding life.” Life’s Little Instruction Book is a guidebook that gently points the way to happiness and fulfillment. The observations are direct, simple, and as practical as an umbrella.

“Most of us already know how to live a successful and purposeful life,” says Brown. “We know we should be more understanding and thoughtful, more responsible, courageous and appreciative. It’s just that we sometimes need reminding.” Life’s Little Instruction Book is that reminder and the perfect gift for students, relatives, or a friend who needs encouragement at any time of the year. A New York Times #1 bestseller for 50 weeks, it is translated into 33 languages and continues to inspire readers throughout the world. This title is available in three separate volumes or in one book collection, The Complete Life’s Little Instruction Book.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Style & Grace

“When people succeed, I am as happy for them as I would be for my own success.  I congratulate others for putting their prosperity consciousness to work, and I am inspired by their success.”
Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
The Don’t Sweat Affirmations


 

Style & Grace
3″ x 8″ Watercolor

I really bit off a big one with this painting.  I have been amazed by this photo of my niece, Erin, since I first saw it.  Erin exudes style and grace and this photo flatters that aspect of her personality.  Of course, her face is way prettier than this.  I corrected it so much that I overworked the paper and couldn’t do anything else, so….. concentrate on the dress.  Isn’t that a great dress!  :D


Here is how I started the painting.



No black was used in this painting.  :)


Today’s quote is fitting, because Erin just graduated from High School.  I am so proud of her!

I quote a lot from Richard Carlson’s Don’t Sweat affirmations, so you have seen his bio many times.  His wife, Kristine, is keeping his legacy alive, since his passing in 2006.  You can read more about that here. I wish her the best of luck in her endeavors.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Mr. Hanna

“We must dare to think “unthinkable” thoughts. We must learn to explore all the options and possibilities that confront us in a complex and rapidly changing world.”
– James William Fulbright

 

Mr. Hanna
3″ x 5″ Watercolor

I am not a portrait artist, but every so often, I just have to give it a go.  This is another one of Li’s references and I loved the character on this man’s face.
Uncle Tom, as he is known to the locals, is 92 years old and he rides his scooter 14 miles into the market from his remote home, that he shares with his goats and dogs.  Li says that he never complains and is adored by his friends.  I love his face!    I only spent about a half hour on him.

About James William Fulbright

James William Fulbright, the US senator who represented Arkansas from 1945 to 1975, is memorialized in the Fulbright Prize, the international exchange program he created. He was born in 1905 in Missouri. As a congressman, he sponsored a resolution to form the peace-keeping organization that became the United Nations. As senator, he chaired the Foreign Relations Committee for 15 years. His book The Arrogance of Power critiques the government’s involvement in the Vietnam War. He died in 1995.