My Christmas Postcard This Year – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor and Ink

“It is the heart always that sees before the head can see.”
– Thomas Carlyle

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

My Christmas Postcard This Year

I painted this little card to send out this year.  I love the idea of Santa having a nice break at his vacation home after delivering all those presents.  And of course, he takes the elves along.  Mrs Claus is probably inside making the margaritas.

Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas!

About Thomas Carlyle

Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle is best known for his biographies of Frederick the Great and the German playwright Schiller. He was born in 1795. The first draft of his acclaimed two-volume work, The French Revolution, was accidentally burned by his friend John Stuart Mill’s maid; he rewrote it from scratch and imbued the rewrite with more passion and immediacy than was common at the time. This made his writing very popular in Victorian England. He died in 1881.

A Rusty Old Truck and Posey Park

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“I’ve learned that people whill forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

— Dr. Maya Angelou

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

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Rusty Old Truck

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I painted this from a reference photo by Skappy at WetCanvas.  I left the background empty on purpose, so I could do this…. 😀

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou is a remarkable Renaissance woman who is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature. As a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director, she continues to travel the world, spreading her legendary wisdom. Within the rhythm of her poetry and elegance of her prose lies Angelou’s unique power to help readers of every orientation span the lines of race. Angelou captivates audiences through the vigor and sheer beauty of her words and lyrics.

Happy Alien – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

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Every failure, obstacle, or hardship is an opportunity in disguise.  Success in many cases is failure turned inside out.  The greatest pollution problem we face today is negativity.  Eliminate the negative attitude and believe you can do anything.  Replace “if I can, I hope, maybe” with “I can, I will, I must.”
— Mary Kay Ash

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

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Happy Alien – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

I know… Bethville is a very strange place!  I can’t help the stuff that happens there.  🙂

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Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash earned a place in history when she stepped out in a man’s world to blaze a new path for women. Recognized today as America’s greatest woman entrepreneur, Mary Kay created new opportunities for women around the world. Her revolutionary move led to a multibillion-dollar success. In the process, she earned a place in the hearts of millions for her giving spirit, unwavering values and inspiring belief in the power and potential of women.   This site invites you to celebrate her remarkable story. It pays tribute to her life and her legacy, which continues to burn brightly through the countless lives she touched.

Moose in Zentangle Inspired Forest

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“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
– Lao Tzu

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2012

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Moose in Zentangle Inspired Forest

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I have to admit… this is one of my favorite paintings, ever.  It just flowed from me while I was in my little A-Frame cabin in Idaho.  I had plans on the day I was working on this, to go up to Grand Targhee resort and have lunch, but I couldn’t pull myself away from this painting.  I stayed at it until it was done.  I really loved the whole process and I think this may have to become a large acrylic painting.  Of course, the problem with that…. a moose painting is unlikely to sell in our local gallery, since it’s all about Oklahoma.  No dang moose herds roaming around Oklahoma.  🙂

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About Lao Tzu

The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is believed to have lived in the 4th century B.C. Little is known about him, but it is likely that he wrote the Tao te Ching, the foundation of Taoist philosophy, and engaged Confucius in debate, honing both men’s belief systems. His name means either “old master” or the “old child,” and one legend says he was born with white hair after spending 80 years in his mother’s womb.

Zentangle Buffalo in Idaho

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“I do believe it is possible to create, even without ever writing a word or painting a picture, by simply molding one’s inner life. And that too is a deed.”
– Etty Hillesum

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

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Zentangle Buffalo

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When in Idaho…. yeah, I was having fun painting the local flavor.  I was content to hang out in my cabin, painting from my Bethville brain.  I’ve been having fun with this particular twist on my usual style.  Each painting takes a really long time, though.    🙂

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About Etty Hillesum

Etty Hillesum, less famous than her contemporary, Anne Frank, lived a short life of great courage. She was born in 1914 in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and a Russian mother. She studied law, Slavic languages, and psychology. Hungry for knowledge, she cut down on food in order to buy books. She went voluntarily to the Westerbork camp to help fellow Jews interned by the Nazis. Her letters detail her experiences; her more meditative diary focuses on issues of faith. She died at Auschwitz in 1943.

Flowerdy Bear

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“Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.”
– Phillips Brooks

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Flowerdy Bear

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I’m thinking maybe this is a bear cub.  Certainly doesn’t look intimidating.  It’s possible it has been shunned by all the other bears because of his flowers… kinda like Rudolph and that red nose.  But that’s too sad to think about, so I’ll go with the vinyl wrap theory.  No matter what… he’s certainly found his way into Bethville!  😀

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About Phillips Brooks

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Phillips Brooks, the American clergyman now mostly known for writing the words to the Christmas song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” was one of the most influential ministers of his time, with his sermons reprinted in major newspapers. He delivered the eulogy at Abraham Lincoln’s funeral. Born in Boston in 1835, he spent most of his life there as overseer of Harvard University, rector of Trinity Church, and bishop of Massachusetts. He died in 1893, and the day of his funeral was declared an official day of mourning.

A Fly By – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

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“Always behave like a duck — keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath.”
– Jacob Braude

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Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

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A Fly By – 4″ x 6″ Watercolor

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Of course I have to paint during airport layovers.  I filed this image away in my brain on the way to Denver, then started the painting while waiting for my flight to Idaho Falls.  I didn’t paint on the planes this trip because I was at the tail end of a good book.   I was reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  It was a really good read.  I finished it on the way from Idaho Falls to Denver and bought John Grisham’s new book, The Racketeer – A Novel, at the airport.   It’s really good, too!

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I love books!  I hope to never have to go to an electronic reader, such as Kindle.  I’m pretty tired of electronic devices, by the time I curl up with a book.  There’s just something pure about that kind of joy.  🙂

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About Jacob Braude

American judge and author Jacob Braude was a fount of humorous and inspirational stories and quotations, which he used to regale the courtroom in Cook County, Illinois, where he presided for more that 35 years. His books of sayings, including Speaker’s Encyclopedia of Humor and Braude’s Treasury of Wit and Humor, have been mined by toastmasters and lecturers for decades. He was born in 1896 and died in 1970.

Acrylic Bird Trio

“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.”
– George Eliot

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Acrylic Bird Trio

Another bird archive.  I always liked this one.  It’s funny… going through archives, I sure see a lot of styles.  I think I finally found my true style, but it’s fun to revisit these.  I am wanting to play with my acrylics again.  🙂

About George Eliot

George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, the Victorian author known for her psychologically astute novels set in small English towns. She was born on a farm in England in 1819 and wrote several acclaimed novels, including Middlemarch, The Mill on the Floss, and Silas Marner. She lived with George Henry Lewes for several years, which was considered highly scandalous at the time. She died in 1880.

Meandering Geese

“One comes, finally, to believe whatever one repeats to one’s self, whether the statement is true or false.”
—Napoleon Hill

“Our inner dialogue can have awesome power. It often determines the behavior that defines who we are. We do, of course, have some choice as to the direction this inner dialogue will take. It’s as easy to affirm our self-worth with positive messages as it is to tear ourselves down with negative ones. And yet, many of us fall so easily into negative patterns of thought.

As with so many aspects of our life, we become proficient at what we regularly practice. The regular, preferably daily, use of positive affirmations can make such a profound contribution to our well-being and willingness to grow and learn, that it can change the course of our life. All we have to do is develop the discipline to make these positive messages habitual.”
— Karen Casey

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

Meandering Geese

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I have always liked this one.  It’s so simple, yet the geese have personalities.

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My sign shop computer and cutters are all working!!!  Finally!!!    … 

The last 2.5 weeks have been testing my ability to remain calm under stress.  I did it, but it was a challenge at times.  Now to play catch up.  Six working days until the 4th of July.  I am always the busiest right before holidays, so let the fun begin!

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More about Napoleon Hill here.

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Karen Casey, Ph.D., a Naples, FL resident since 1991, published Each Day a New Beginning, her first book, in 1982. This daily meditation book for women in recovery has sold more than 3 million copies. The 25-year Anniversary edition of Each Day a New Beginning was released in August, 2006. It was closely followed by The Promise of a New Day, in 1983, another daily meditation book for both men and women in search of serenity. It has sold more than 1.2 million copies. Following on the heels of these two books, Karen has written 22 additional books with more on the way. In fall, 2005 she published CHANGE YOUR MIND AND YOUR LIFE WILL FOLLOW.  In April of 2006 she published ALL WE HAVE IS ALL WE NEED and she published three more books in 2007. SERENITY was released in March. BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE, in April and in December, a companion book to CHANGE YOUR MIND AND YOUR LIFE WILL FOLLOW, called  ITS UP TO YOU: A PRACTICE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE BY CHANGING YOUR MIND.  In late July, 2010, LET GO NOW: EMBRACING DETACHMENT  was released.  Currently Karen is working on her memoir.  More here.

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My Pink House – 5″ x 7″ Watercolor

“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else’s life forever.”
– Margaret Cho

Copyright Beth Parker Art 2013

My Pink House

This is a little corner of my house.  There is a cliff on the east side and a lake on the west side so it’s hard to photograph.  I took this photo standing on the cliff.  I’ll try to do another one, showing more of the house.

I finally have my computer back.  I do not have my vinyl cutter back.  I have an old plotter and may have to upgrade.  So the sign shop is still in a holding pattern… as it has been for two weeks.  It feels good to at least be able to get orders in the system and do the design work.  I can’t wait until this is all resolved and I’m functioning at 100% again.  🙂

About Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho, the outspoken Korean-American comedian and actor, made television history as the first Asian-American with her own TV series, All American Girl. She was born in 1968 in San Francisco and has mined her life for extremely successful one-woman shows, including I’m the One That I Want and Notorious C.H.O., both of which spawned albums, movie versions, and books. When not touring with her comedy, Cho works now in Hollywood as both an actress and a director.