Church in Switzerland - 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Purple Prismacolor Chisel Marker

“The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.”
– Chinese Proverb

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Church in Switzerland -  4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Purple Prismacolor Chisel Marker

“A street and church in Fabian’s home village.” is what Wendy (Sundiver) at WetCanvas said about the photo when she posted it for us to paint from.    She also said… “For those of you who wish a challenge, here’s one: Take any aspect, such as colour, shape, value, rhythm, contrast, etc (or any combination of these) and push them farther into abstraction than you usually do.  Some of the mountain scenes I saw made me think of the work of Stephen Quiller , for example.”

So… I painted it in a manner similar to Stephen Quiller, who’s work I love. 

I think I like black outlines better than purple though.

Napa Auto Parts Building Portrait – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Fine Art Pens

“If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain; if I can ease one life
from aching, or cool one pain, or help one
fainting robin unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.”
–Emily Dickenson

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Napa Auto Parts Building Portrait – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Fine Art Pens

This is another fun little building portrait.  I am having such a great time doing these portraits and the business owners are having a great time, too.    I am encouraging them to use them to market their businesses.  They will be using the digital images for their Christmas cards and stuff like that.  I’m working on Auntie Faye’s Fudge Shop now and that building is colorful and fun.  I can’t wait to show you. 

Emily Dickinson

In 1830, Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. She attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, but severe homesickness led her to return home after one year. Throughout her life, she seldom left her house and visitors were scarce. The people with whom she did come in contact, however, had an enormous impact on her thoughts and poetry. She was particularly stirred by the Reverend Charles Wadsworth, whom she met on a trip to Philadelphia. He left for the West Coast shortly after a visit to her home in 1860, and some critics believe his departure gave rise to the heartsick flow of verse from Dickinson in the years that followed. While it is certain that he was an important figure in her life, it is not certain that this was in the capacity of romantic love—she called him “my closest earthly friend.” Other possibilities for the unrequited love in Dickinson’s poems include Otis P. Lord, a Massachusetts Supreme Court Judge, and Samuel Bowles, editor of the Springfield Republican.  More….

New Annan - Lovely in the Wind

“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”
– Will Rogers

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Lovely in the Wind – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Ink

I found this photo in the WetCanvas Reference Image Library.  It was contributed by Sundiver and she labeled it New Annan.   I looked it up in Wikipedia and found this:

New Annan is a outlying community within the city of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named after Annan, Dumfries-shire, Scotland.  Cavendish Farms, Prince Edward Island’s largest private sector employer, maintains two large frozen foods processing plants in New Annan.  An 1875 gazetteer refers to New Annan Mills as a “small village in Prince County, 6 miles from Summerside. Pop.[Population] 80.

I just love the composition of this photo and I imagine I’ll paint it again.  I added the truck for fun and of course, I painted the white house pink. 

About Will Rogers

American humorist Will Rogers was considered the Mark Twain of his generation. He was born in 1879 in Oklahoma, of Cherokee descent, and left school early to become a cowboy. In South Africa his showy roping skills won him a job in a traveling Wild West show, and he quickly switched over to vaudeville and film acting roles. He wrote six books and 4,000 syndicated columns. An avid flier, he died in a plane crash in 1935.

This Guy Can Carry a Tune! – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Pen

“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.”
– Samuel Johnson

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

This Guy Can Carry a Tune!  – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Pen

Carry is the word this week for Illustration Friday.    I am enjoying IF, because it makes me think outside the box.  I painted this from a photo from Crispur (Christine) at WetCanvas.  Christine lives in Australia and she had some great photos to paint from this weekend.  I worked on Saturday, but on Sunday I got to paint some of them.  Yay!

About Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson, the sharp-witted British essayist, wrote the first English language dictionary; his definitions still form the backbone of current dictionaries. He was born in Staffordshire in 1709. Johnson married a widow 20 years his senior and lived in poverty before achieving success with his essays when he was in his forties. Later in life, he befriended the young James Boswell, whose Life of Johnson became the quintessential English biography. Johnson died in 1784.

Lost – 4″ x 6″ Prismacolor .05 Fine Art Marker on Indian Village Handmade Postcard

“All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without the benefit of experience.”
– Henry Miller

I Like that!

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Lost – 4″ x 6″ Prismacolor .05 Fine Art Marker on Indian Village Handmade Postcard

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Lost is the word for Illustration Friday this week.  Can you see the cat and the bearded dragon that are lost in this forest?  I painted this from two different photos by Mginsberg at WetCanvas.
There’s a very good chance that you’ll see this one again…. in vivid color. 

About Henry Miller

The bohemian American novelist Henry Miller is best known for his sexually daring autobiographical novels, Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, and for his love affair with benefactor Anaïs Nin. He was born in 1891 in New York. His writing blossomed after he moved to Paris in 1930 but was banned in the United States for its erotic content. Miller eventually won the right to publish in the U.S., becoming an icon of the sexual revolution. He died in 1980 in California.

So This Is Where Pink Sweaters Come From – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor

“Make me strong in spirit,
courageous in action,
gentle at heart.
Help me act in wisdom,
conquer fear and doubt,
discover the hidden gifts within me,
meet others with compassion,
be a source of healing energy,
and greet each day with Hope and Joy.”

–Kana Tyler

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

So This Is Where Pink Sweaters Come From – 8″ x 10″ Watercolor and .01 Prismacolor fine art pen

Gail(Ruby Red Dog) at WetCanvas had the best sheep photo to paint from over the weekend!  They each seemed to have their own personality and I had a great time painting them.  

 About Kana

Kana writes the best blog!  I love reading it every time it pops into my inbox.  Here is what it says on her about page.

 When faced with a fill-in-the-blank statement of “I am a _____”… What’s YOUR answer?

 I am… a writer, an explorer, a coffee-drinker, a recovering addict, a barefoot linguist, a book-dragon (“bookworm” doesn’t cover it), a raconteur, a minister, a sailboat skipper, a research diver, a tattooed scholar, a pirate, a poet, a spiritual adventurer, a photographer, a cartographer, a joyful wife, a mom (and Granny), an island-girl at heart… A list-maker!  

 And pleased to meet you! Kana

http://kanatyler.com/

Ralph Faded Into the Forest

“I celebrate all of me today!
Weaknesses and strengths alike!
I celebrate every part of me
And
I
feel
JOY!

-Ruth Fishel

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Ralph Faded Into the Forest – Illustration Friday – 5.5″ x 5″ Watercolor and Prismacolor .01 fine artist pen

Ralph, in his infinite frog wisdom, discovered that if he climbed into the tree and held perfectly still, he faded perfectly into the background, keeping him safe from 5 year old boys.  We all know little boys love taking frogs home and putting them in the bathtub.  Ralph liked the forest better than any bathtub.

Faded is the Illustration Friday topic.

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I had a whole 3 days off!  I am rested, relaxed and happy. 

Ruth Fishel, is a therapist, retreat and workshop leader, and author of several books, including “Precious Solitude,” “The Journey Within, A Spiritual Path to Recovery,” a pioneer book on meditation, spirituality, and recovery, and the best-selling “Time for Joy.” She also teaches “Stop! Do You Know You’re Breathing?” a program she developed for teachers and health care workers. She now co-directs Spirithaven, Inc., which she co-founded in 1989.

Spirit Haven, Inc can be found here… http://ruthfishel.com/Home_Page.html

Paddle Boat Painting

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
– Alexander Graham Bell

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

Paddle Boat 6″ x 8″ Watercolor and Prismacolor Pen

I painted this from a photo by mbeckett at WetCanvas.  I used a .01 Prismacolor Fine Liner to do the lines.  It was way too small to use a sharpie.

I worked on this the last couple mornings before work.  Coffee and art.  Ahhhhhhh!  Nothing better to start my day!

About Alexander Graham Bell
Scottish-Canadian inventor Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone; he also invented the metal detector, which he created hurriedly in an attempt to find the bullet that killed President James Garfield. He was born in 1847 in Edinburgh. He began as an elocutionist but began learning about acoustics to find a way to help his deaf mother. Other inventions include the telegraph and the phonograph. He also developed techniques to teach speech to the deaf. He died in 1922.

The Mystery Project – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Sharpie

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”
– Harvey Fierstein

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

The Mystery Project – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Sharpie

I painted this little postcard for a project with Art House Coop, in Brooklyn, NY and Prismacolor.  The idea of the project is to make a stranger’s day.  I received a little kit in the mail from Art House Coop, with a new Prismacolor artist pen and a theme.  The theme for my card was “If tomorrow came yesterday”.  I painted this little card and left it in a public place for a stranger to find.  Isn’t that a cool project?  2000 artists are participating.   I love it.  Debi Engle says this is a rak,  A random act of kindness.  I like that!  So far, I have not heard from anyone, saying it has been found, so it may still be out there.    I can’t show you the picture of where I left it, because one of you clever people may figure it out… then it’s not so random. 

About Harvey Fierstein

Harvey Fierstein, the raspy-voiced American actor, playwright, and gay activist, is best known for his semiautobiographical play, Torch Song Trilogy, which garnered Tony Awards for writing and acting. He was born in Brooklyn in 1954. His onstage debut as a female impersonator at age 16 led to a role in a 1971 Andy Warhol play. He adapted the French show La Cage aux Folles into a Broadway musical and, later, the movie The Birdcage. He has appeared in such varied movies as Independence Day and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Caribbean Crab

“A complete revaluation takes place in your physical and mental being when you’ve laughed and had some fun.”
–Catherine Ponder

Boy, that’s the truth!

 
Caribbean Crab
5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Prismacolor Pen

I’ve been posting such serious stuff lately that I thought the blog-o-sphere could use a little of my regular fun!    Haven’t you ever seen a crab with lipstick and flip-flops before?  he he
 
Catherine Ponder is considered one of America's foremost inspirational authors. She has written more than a dozen books, which include such bestsellers as her Millionaires of the Bible series. She is a minister of the non- denominational Unity faith -- long known as the "pioneer of positive thinking" -- and has been described by some as "the Norman Vincent Peale among lady ministers." She has served in Unity Churches since 1956, and heads a global ministry in Palm Desert, California.  More….

Prismacolor Sketch

“Instinct is the nose of the mind.”
– Delphine Gay de Girardin
 
Prismacolor Sketch
5″ x 6″ Prismacolor Sanguine Art Pencil on Vellum

Last week, I was in Muskogee to get my eyes checked.  Whenever I get to the big towns, I go to Hobby Lobby.  They were having a sale on all art pencils, so I bought three.  I have been wanting to do some actual drawing.  This is a sketch of a friend, Bonnie’s Dad, who has enough wonderful detail on his face, that I dared try it.  He is a lovely man of 85.
When I try to draw babies, all that smoothness really throws me.  I painted my friend, May’s nieces one time.  They were all around 7 and I made them look like 40 year old hookers!  eek!

About Delphine Gay de Girardin

French writer Delphine Gay de Girardin was equally well known for her patriotic poetry and for the brilliant literary gatherings at her home. She was born in France in 1804; her mother was the well-known author Sophie Gay. Delphine called herself the “Muse of the Nation” for her poetry about France. Under the pseudonym Vicomte Charles de Launay, she wrote a gossip column with comedic sketches of Parisian life. She died in 1855.

The Haunted Ship - November 2, 2009

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Haunted Ship

5" x 8" Watercolor & Prismacolor pen

A little leftover from Halloween, that I did for WetCanvas over the weekend.

The WDE (Weekend Drawing Event) is a lot of fun. I participate nearly every weekend. We attempt to complete our paintings, drawings, etc, in two hours, so it helps me to become a little braver and looser than I used to be. To add to that, I have made some really good friends over there. Go by there and see. It's fun.

About Franklin D. Roosevelt

Four-term American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, known as FDR, pulled America out of the Great Depression and led the country during World War II. He was born in New York in 1882. His political career halted when a bout of polio paralyzed him from the waist down, but after learning to walk with leg braces, he became governor of New York and then president. His New Deal initiatives included Social Security, jobs programs, and collective bargaining. He died in 1945.