Anne Belov paints, writes, makes prints, and is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. You can find her paintings at the Rob Schouten Gallery and Fountainhead Gallery, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. She also writes regularly for The Whidbey Life Magazine, a free journal of art and culture on Whidbey Island. Her main regret in life is that there is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire.
I thought I would be having a lot more fun by now: Biden in the White House, Covid Relief checks out to the people, majorities in the House and Senate…but no. Fascism still is rearing it’s ugly head and making me tired. And as we all know, it’s all about me!
Wait…was that Pinky talking in my ear?
This week we’ll have a report from Frank and Mikey as they travel to Alaska to spend some time with their family, and Mei Xiang checks in with her sister! I bet you know what (or who!) is coming next!
But now, let’s dive into the archives for a little of that debonair French panda cubby!
Zank hebben…for leettle bears!The world swoons….Of COURSE he would be an artist!We are pandas of mystery!What grace! What form! Bebe Maurice is a painter to be reckoned with!
Did I hear the Bebe Maurice was going to be making a visit to the Panda House in DC? perhaps he will paint a family portrait!
Be the bear! Bob T Panda
Try to hold off the end of democracy for at least another week!
Meanwhile, back at the real SNZ, Bikkie seems to be taking the throngs of real life visitors in stride, or at least in cubby trot! So just remember, when real life gets too surreal, there is always the panda cam!
Yet again, Mei Xiang has given the world a little miracle! Xiao Qi Ji (which means little miracle) was born last August, completing Mei Xiang’s August trifecta. (I believe Tai Shan, her first was born in July)
Of course, Xiao Qi Ji (aka Bikkie in the Panda Chronicles) has been breaking the internet, not to mention the Cute-O-Meter, since his birth last August. Normally, the cubs have made their public debut in the late winter, but due to the pandemic closing, Bikkie did not make his public debut until mid-May of 2021. He was apparently unfazed by seeing his fans in person.
Perhaps Mei Xiang told him all about his fans, or maybe Pinky and Bubba clued him in via Zoom!
Who would have guessed my creative journey would have taken me into the realm of needle felted pandas, or even Panda Satire? Certainly not me! When I was in art school, back in the days when you could get a college education for less than the price of a house, if you were a painting student, you PAINTED! Nothing else was acceptable! You did not “waste” your talents on such frivolous pursuits as Panda Satire, for crying out loud!
For some number of years, I held to those principles. Eventually the realities of a more regular cash flow lead me down the path of printmaking (etching to start). Eventually I embraced other forms of printmaking, such as lithography, monoprint, and monotype. One of the universal truths I discovered was that all forms of making art have something to offer, and each technique you add to your tool box, circles back around and makes the other forms you practice stronger.
Working on black and white etchings made my paintings much stronger, with greater attention to composition and light an dark values.
This all has a point
The recession of 2008 hit me hard, and I needed something to cheer me up. Pandas were the answer. I don’t know what the question is. What I do know, is that one thing leads to another: panda satire lead to starting to write children’s book (another pursuit which has a long way to reach its conclusion) and it also led to making needle felted pandas.
Every bear has a story
Some of the stories are mine, but the felty panda troop inspires stories in the people who welcome them into their homes. I am honored to be entrusted with some of these stories, and rather than my usual dive into the archives today, I am going to share some of the photos sent to me by a lover of the felty bears. They have added their own touch to the settings, and as one who has always loved dollhouse miniatures, the exquisite details they have added to the scenes thrill me no end!
Enjoy these Felty Dioramas!
Frank ponders the readiness of his toasted marshymallow. Fortunately, ice cream sandwiches, lemonade, and hot dogs provide a back up, should the marshmallow be burned beyond recognition!Pinky ponders the speed limits of her new cubvertableThe Meihems attempt to catch a ride! “No room!” Pinky says! “you’ll crush my tutu” “Where to,” says Frank!Bert: well, if Pinky won’t give us a ride, we’ll have ice cream without her! Ernie: and some cuppycakes!Mikey prepares a treat at the Panda Chronicles company Picnic, while Larry looks on and gives toasting advice!Frank and Mikey have nabbed the cubvertable, but not for long!Frank and Mikey, kicking back at the company picnicMeanwhile, Pinky is off on a joyride! I wonder how fast this thing goes?After the party, some of the cubbies settle in for a slumber party!
I hope you enjoyed these felty dioramas! It’s never too late to have a panda party at your house!
Imagine! I could be taking a nap on the couch, and just when I need to wake up, it would come over and nudge me, bringing me a cold drink and a snack! I realize these inventions are created for people with mobility issues, but what a boon for the laziest among us!!! I think I need another nap! Binky! fetch me a soda!
It’s getting harder to keep the faith, but keep the faith we must! Meanwhile, I’m sure things are getting sorted out at the Panda House…is PPJ real, or a collective figment of everyone’s imagination, what with Pinky being a teenager still and living at home with her family.
Have a favorite ‘toon you want to see again? If you can describe it to me, I’ll try to find and post for next week!
By popular request….
Well *bleep* and take your *bleep* and stick it *bleep*!!!!
It was Bikkie’s Debut weekend this week, so, even though I just ran this one recently, it’s always time for the Cute-o-Meter!
See? I told you it was broken!I didn’t THINK that Pinky knew the “share” word.Well, it is kind of funny, isn’t it?My! You are quite the good looking fellow!
What does this mean for the Panda Chronicles! Has PPJ (Princess Pinky Junior) arrived out of an alternative future to live with all the pandas at the Panda House? And now Beary Poppins has gone off on vacation? Is Mei doomed to a never emptying nest?
Stay ‘tooned to the Panda Chronicles to find out!
This Doctor Panda is on the job at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus Ohio! As you can see, they have excellent credentials!!!
While all of Bikkie’s fans prepare to converge upon the Smifsonian Panda Zoo, (and the chaos of a reservation system being overloaded with all of his fans) those of us with non-panda zoos took a day to visit the “other” pandas.
Yes, I do mean red pandas. Of course I asked them where the real pandas were. They were not amused. No matter, it was a fun day at the zoo, meeting up with some of #PandaTwitter for a morning’s wandering in the May Seattle sunshine!
Here are some Sunday Fun Day ‘toons to hold you, until the next exciting episode of Pinky’s Dream drops on Tuesday!
Bikkie’s debut is just around the corner!!!
See? I told you it was broken!Oh those red pandas! They are such characters!It’s so hard to be cool when you still live with your mom.
For those of you who were wondering how Frank got those fuzzy dice stuck on his ear…
Ruh Roh….Send in the bears!I like bears.
Who doesn’t love a couple of adorable grizzly bears?
