SNEAK PREVIEW!!! Windows to the Words

These are the 3 photos of children I will post on The Windows to the Words project on March 1. Are they cute or what?

Meet the Beetles

I'm
not at all sure if I know how to put all these pictures onto one blog, so the only thing I can do is just try. Aside from that, I'm not really sure that I should, but, what the heck. Around the end of the summer last year, I got interested in beetles. So I committed myself (I heard that chuckle)...so I committed myself to do two dozen beetle 8 x 10's in a framework of one month. So I got some quarter round, a good miter box and saw and a roll of canvas and made thirty blanks. I selected 24 subjects, drew em out, blocked in the basic colors, and then set to detailing and finishing one a day, minus Sundays. It happened. And the above is the result.

Beetles are so intriguing. One out of every 5 living things on the planet is a beetle. There are more species of beetles than there are species of plants...well over 400,000 different....each of which, I think, have been crawling around my studio at one time or another. The scientific name is Coleoptera, and you can explore more by clicking the following: The Beetle Ring or Coleoptera.

I could go on for pages about beetles, but I won't because I'd probably go to sleep doing it, or you'd go somewhere else from sheer boredom. So I'll leave you with a thought...next time you go to step on a beetle, remember that they really, really outnumber you. And that beetle could be some other beetle's Momma. And they also make a yucky sound when
you do step on em.

3 Sunday Notes ....... 2 Cute PICS

I will seldom spotlight an artist's blogsite simply because there are so many wonderful artists in our community and I'd hate to run the risk of slighting anyone. But I did say seldom. About 2 weeks ago, I ran across Pencil Sanity Maria's talent is outstanding....her inspiring story is marvelous. I urge you to visit her.

|I started reading when I was 2 months old. By the time I was 3 months old, I could read "Strained Prunes" on the Gerber baby food bottle and know it was time to go into crying fits. Since then, I have read 143, 798 books. I've read everything from War and Peace to Debbie Does China. The cream at the top of my reading experiences consists of works like Michener's "The Source", Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" and Dekker's "Circle Trilogy". When "The Shack" came to Costa Rica in paperback a few months ago, it was $25. Being the cheapskate that I am, I had only one option....I called my sister, Margaret, in Texas and told HER to buy it and send it to me. Loving person with a heart of gold that she is, she did. THE SHACK is the most moving, compelling, book I have ever read. It is one that I will reread...over and over...and wear out a highlighter or two on. If everyone in the world would read "The Shack" with an open mind and an open heart, then world tension would decrease 87% and inner tension would almost disappear. I recommend it immensely.


As much as I enjoy and admire puppies and kitties and all the paintings derived from those two subjects....I have a soft spot in my heart almost as big as the soft spot in my head for CHILDREN. Adebanji's rendition of DSFDF's Victorian challenge was awesome. And Dominique Eichi's "The Look" blog of Feb. 20 is absolutely fantastic. On March First I will post pictures of 3 children on Windows to the Words. I am inviting all artists to pick a child and paint or draw that child and send it in. I am often overwhelmed at the talent that flows from the DSFDF project. With the basic qualities of LOVE, INNOCENCE and WONDER inherent in children as the basis for artwork, I can't wait to see what may flow from this Children WTTW project. So PLEASE go to WTTW...read the guidelines...join in...and spread the word.

I'll leave ya with a couple of cute Pics.....have a great weekend!

Windows to the Words Submission

This is my submission to the Windows to the Words Practice project. It's based on writing subject 3...The Mind of a Criminal (Lonely Cell).

Too many of us take our freedom for granted...unless it's taken from us. I wanted this cell occupant to look like he had lost his freedom. I think I succeeded, but, unfortunately, it also looks like he's lost his girlfriend, his job, his bank account, his car...and his lunch. When I started this, I decided that I would work from my imagination and not use any reference photos or drawings. The result? It looks like I worked from my imagination and didn't use any reference photos or drawings. It looks amateurish, but I tried something new, and maybe next time I'll improve.

Windows to the Words is getting a slow start, but that's OK...I have plenty of patience. Submissions: Art....4 Writing....1 Photos.....ZIP.

Mystery Artist 3....and Her Loyal Protector

This one would be real easy if I had just gotten it to look like who it's supposed to look like. But I'm just beginning this portrait thing. And this is just a practice. With a bit of luck, lots of prayer and umpteen jillion art lessons, I may make it yet.

Glee is a word I don't use often. Matter of fact, I can't remember the last time I did use it. But as I was studying this young lady's little thumbnail profile, I thought to myself..."Now this is a gleeful person." Truth is, she reeks glee. And the first poet ever to use the phrase "rosy cheeks" surely had her in mind. I got to the point in her portrait that I had to settle for less than satisfied. I may go back and work with it at some point. For now it looks somewhat like her, but I didn't catch her exuberance. If I had, then I would be exuberant.

This delightful young artist is a cutey from Texas (my alma stater). That means she deserves a loyal protector, and as such, I have appointed the world famous, one and only.....BATDOG!!!!!!

Under the Weather

It's been raining cats and dogs here and I think I CATched something cause I feel like a dog....been painting slow and blogging slow. But, since it's been raining cats and dogs paintings, too, when I ran across this pic...I had to share it. This is one of those photos that's probably best as a photo, cause if you painted it, no one would believe it.

Mystery Artist 2

Here is my second attempt at doing an artist that frequents this little Blogger community of ours. I do this for practice,really, but it's kinda fun. One day, when I grow up, I do want to be a portrait artist....may be a long time waiting. This one should be easy. Easy only if it looks like who it's supposed to look like. Working from a low resolution profile picture is difficult, but not as much a problem as never meeting the person in person. There can be a little nuance or quirk in a person's personality and manner that reveals itself in a close encounter. That little "spark" can be absent from a photo, and thus, missing from the portrait.

There are a few risks in doing what I'm doing by painting a fellow artist, then displaying it in public. First of all, obviously, you can make an utter and complete fool out of yourself. I'm good at doing that, so that doesn't bother me too much. The big risk is insulting the subject. That I worry about. It would bother me no end to receive an E-Mail from an artist saying "Parker...you insufferable fool! I don't want my name associated with that atrocious image of garbage you consider a portrait. Make amends or I'll sic the Mafia". Now that would really make me feel glum.