While the panda birthday season continues (Yang Yang of Zoo Atlanta just had his birthday this week) we have finished with the major birthdays in The Panda Chronicles personalities, so that leaves me with a round up of ‘toons from Septembers!
But never fear! October is just around the corner and we will have our annual broadcasts of The Wizard of Wu and A Halloween Carol, two of my favorite stories!
So sit back, and enjoy while I rummage around in the past September ‘toons from the archives!
Do we have to count panda adoption fees?Our lack of taste is only exceeded by our sense of the absurd.Varooooooomba! Thanks to Lynnie Ness for alerting us to the “off label” use of the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner.Pinky needs stuff and she needs it now!We’re waiting…*tappity tap pity tap*
We’ll be back with new ‘toons on Tuesday!
BTW: I’m taking orders for halloween felty pandas, so if you would like to add to your themed holiday pandas, now is the time! Order by September 30th for arrival in October!
Order dates through September 30th for Halloween delivery
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!
