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.

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.

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…

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.

I Love Puppy Breath

“Every day, think as you wake up:
Today I am fortunate to have woken up.
I am alive. I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all
my energies to develop myself to expand
my heart out to others for the
benefit of all beings.”
–His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

I Love Puppy Breath – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Sharpie

Don’t you just love puppy breath?  Annie’s puppy was just 4 months old in the photo I painted this from, but I made her look much older.  I do the same thing with children.  Why is innocence so hard to capture?

I have friends who have a new Saint Bernard puppy.  When George brought Lady to see me at 6 weeks old, she was the sweetest, cuddliest little thing.  She is now a 90 pound, 5 month old ball of fire.   George and Carla are in their 70′s!  I hope she learns gentleness. 

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.  The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet.  Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.
More here.

Chaos

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”
–George Moore

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2011

Reign of Chaos – 4″ x 4″ Watercolor & Sharpie

This is another pet of Jean’s (Just Chaos) from WetCanvas.  This is an older photo of Chaos as a puppy.

Well, I guess I have resisted long enough.  It’s time to put the Christmas tree up in my sign shop lobby.  I have been so busy that I have been putting it off.  It’s a cute little tree and it will probably put me into the spirit of the holidays. 

George Augustus Moore (24 February 1852 – 21 January 1933) was an Irish novelist, short-story writer, poet, art critic, memoirist and dramatist. Moore came from a Roman Catholic landed family who lived at Moore Hall in Carra, County Mayo.   He originally wanted to be a painter, and studied art in Paris during the 1870s. There, he befriended many of the leading French artists and writers of the day.
Source:  Wikipedia

Border Collie Pup

“Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish.”
– Ovid



Border Collie Pup – 6″ x 10″ Watercolor on Masa



And cropped to the 5″ x 7″ version.  A painting within a painting, while I played with color on the masa paper.  I had so much fun with this pup.  I kept adding blues and hot pink and purple to Cleo, while playing with warm colors on the background.

Thanks to JustJean at WetCanvas, for the photo.

About Ovid

“Publius Ovidius Naso, the Roman poet known as Ovid, best known for the epic Metamorphoses, is considered one of the greatest poets of Latin literature. He was born in 43 B.C. in what is now Italy. He rose quickly in Roman government and was on track to become a senator when he chose to devote himself to poetry instead. His tale of Pyramus and Thisbe is the source for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Emperor Augustus exiled Ovid from Rome for unknown reasons in 8 A.D.; he died in exile in 17 A.D. “

Beagle Puppy

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
– e. e. cummings



Beagle Puppy
6″ x 6″ Watercolor

I hosted the WDE over the weekend at WetCanvas.  I gave myself permission to paint just for the pure joy of it.  I had the best time!!  I love this little puppy.  I imagine I will paint him again.  I painted him in an hour and put him on a birthday card for my neighbor, Sue.  I did three other paintings, so I’ll have some fresh content for my blog this week. 

 There are some great reference photos in the link above, so go look and see if there is something you’d enjoy painting.  I included hi res links for each photo.  You don’t have to participate on WetCanvas.  Just enjoy the refs.

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. “In Just-” was his most famous poem.

Puppy Puzzle

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
–John Wooden

 

Puppy Puzzle
5″ x 7″ Acrylic on Wooden Puzzle

I think this puzzle will probably get something else.  Remember when I said that about the Innocent Cat?    he he  That cat became quite a hit on facebook.

I had the most amazing flight last night!  I did a bunch of really good landings and I feel a solo coming.    Then this morning I got word that I am the official sign company for Carlton Landing.  I am thrilled about that!  It is a wonderful opportunity and I am very blessed!  Whoo-Hoo!!

I love this big wonderful life!!!


In looking for a biography on John Wooden, I discovered that he was an amazing person with a long, rich history.  All of the biographies were really long, so please click on the links here for more info.  He said some incredible things in his life, such as:

“Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.”

John Robert Wooden
Born: 1910-10-14
Birthplace: Hall, Indiana
Race: White
Religion: Protestant
Field: Basketball
Famous for: Winningest-ever college coach
John Wooden Offical Website:
http://www.coachjohnwooden.com/

White Puppy

“There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, ‘We will never give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail.’”
– Jim Collins

 

White Puppy
4″ x 6″ Watercolor Postcard

I am still learning how to do whites.  I had fun playing with this puppy.  I used a little lavender, pink, yellow and gray to make the white.  Only an artist could look at white in 4 colors.  *giggle*

About Jim Collins

American business guru Jim Collins has written or cowritten four books, including the instant classic Built to Last, which spent more than six years on the Business Week best-seller list, and Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t, which became a New York Times best seller. He was raised in Boulder, Colorado. After seven years teaching at Stanford University’s business school, he founded a research laboratory to examine companies and why they succeed.

Love Puppy

“Life itself cannot give you joy unless you really will it. Life just gives you time and space. It’s up to you to fill it.”    -Author Unknown


Love Puppy
5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Sharpie

Since it’s Valentine’s weekend, I thought I’d share one of my little Valentine’s paintings. I had so much fun doing him!