OLD Whidbey Life Magazine

Tag: Pandamorphosis

  • Pigment, Perspective, and Pandas | The Idea Factory

    Pigment, Perspective, and Pandas | The Idea Factory

    BY ANNE BELOV
    February 25, 2015

    “Where do you get your ideas?”

    People want to know, especially about my cartoons, as they have no idea how I thought that up, and just what it had to do with pandas in the first place.

    You do know about the pandas, don’t you?

    They started inhabiting my head about seven years ago and they are still there.

    So THAT'S what it looks like inside Anne's head!
    So THAT’S what it looks like inside Anne’s head!   (cartoon by Anne Belov/(c) 2013)

    But, I’m getting sidetracked. The creative process is a mysterious thing to many people, not the least of whom are those in the middle of said process. Not to disillusion anyone, but for the most part we are just as clueless as the rest of you about where all these ideas come from. If only…if only…if only there was…an idea factory!

    Well, actually, I have one.

    It’s outside, in my garden. I suppose calling the collection of ferns, blackberries and miscellaneous plants that threaten to overwhelm the house like a modern day Sleeping Beauty tale a garden is a bit of a stretch. My version of gardening takes place when the driveway is just about to choke off like the arteries belonging to the guy who eats nothing but cheeseburgers and fries (with mayonnaise), topped off with a large bag of potato chips for fiber. Froggwell, it ain’t.

    There is nothing like bashing away at some particularly enthusiastic blackberry vines, (which I have ignored for the last three years because they weren’t quite covering the driveway,) for stirring the creative juices till they spill over in a rolling boil. I have many more brilliant thoughts while toiling away with my loppers and rake than I do while staring at a blank computer screen.

    My miniature, found art bonsai garden, courtesy of mother nature, photo by Anne Belov
    My miniature, found art bonsai garden, courtesy of Mother Nature   (photo by Anne Belov © 2015)

    As for panda satire cartoons, one of my favorite places for story ideas comes from the radio, specifically our Seattle NPR station, KUOW. One of the things that pandas like best is making fun of news of the real world. I do hear the occasional story on Morning Edition that says: “This is a job for panda satire!” But the show that most often feeds my need for a quirky story is Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, the news quiz show. They find the most bizarre stories imaginable, and hide them among made-up stories, and the guests and panelists have to tell truth from fiction.

    The stories are funny enough as they are, but immersed in the world of panda satire, well…let’s just say that more than one person wonders what the inside of my head looks like and if I’m entirely sane.

    So, I was listening to Wait,Wait… last Saturday morning, and one of the questions was about which one of three stories about things that might make you crazy was true. The correct one was about a study that proved that cats can make you crazy.

    If you have a cat, this is probably not a surprise to you. I have a cat, and yes, she does make me kind of crazy, but the first thought that went through my head, was that I was glad my friend, Mr. Badger, does not listen to the radio, because he would point out this story and that yes, cats do make you crazy. I thought I was safe from his anti-feline comments, but it turns out he was listening to the radio and called me to ask if I had heard the story. Sigh…

    But what does this have to do with pandas? Well, I don’t know yet, but I wrote the idea down on a post-it note (my preferred way of keeping track of cartoon ideas) and sooner or later the idea will fill itself out, and a cartoon will go forth into the world.

    So my advice to all present and would-be Whidbey creative types, is that when you are stuck for an idea, the best thing you can do is step outside, take a deep breath, and let the ideas pile up, along with the weeds.

    Anne Belov is a painter, printmaker, and master of panda satire, an only recently discovered field. She has published five collections of The Panda Chronicles cartoons, most recently Pandapocalypse NOW! All five, along with her wordless picture book, Pandamorphosis, can be found at Moonraker Books in Langley, as well as on Amazon. She is working on more panda silliness, some of which will appear in the not too distant future. Her paintings can be seen at Rob Schouten Gallery in Greenbank, including a brand new painting at their upcoming first Friday opening on March 6. And, sadly, while several cartoonists have won MacArthur Awards, there still is no award for panda satire.

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  • Rob Schouten Gallery presents Anne Belov’s original “Pandamorphosis” drawings for two weeks in October

    Rob Schouten Gallery presents Anne Belov’s original “Pandamorphosis” drawings for two weeks in October

    Sept. 29, 2014

    Pandas! Who can resist their black-and-white fuzzy beauty and their adorable charm?

    Fall in love with pandas all over again at Rob Schouten Gallery when local artist Anne Belov shows the original color drawings from her charming new children’s book, “Pandamorphosis” from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15.

    Visitors to Rob Schouten Gallery will know Belov for her exquisite oil paintings, which are regularly featured at the gallery. We’ll swap out Belov’s paintings for two weeks only, so patrons can get a glimpse of these lovingly rendered panda drawings.

    Belov’s colored-pencil drawings feature playful pandas and an envious cat, who wants to be loved as much as the pandas are by their little girl owner. The cat makes a wish on the moon, but gets more than she bargained for. “Pandamorphosis” is a love story to pandas and to the belief that magic can happen when you least expect it.  

    “I’ve always loved beautifully illustrated children’s books,”  Belov said. “I’m a big fan of author/illustrators like Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner; the way they combine their stories with such masterfully done illustrations is an inspiration to me.” 

    An original colored-pencil on bristol board from Anne Belov's new children's book, "Pandamorphosis." / Photos courtesy of the artist
    An original colored-pencil on bristol board from Anne Belov’s new children’s book, “Pandamorphosis.” (photos courtesy of the artist)

    The drawings are colored pencil on bristol board, a very smooth and heavy paper used for drawing and graphic work.  The story, told in pictures only, developed over a period of three years through a painstaking process of sketches, discarded drawings and the final gorgeous pieces that comprise the book. 

    Meet Belov at a special “Pandamorphosis” book-signing event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the gallery. Bring the kids!

    Belov will also be present at an artists’ reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, along with October’s featured artist, Keiichi Nishimura, who shows his unique paintings on silk from Oct. 1 – 30. We will serve some light refreshments as part of Greenbank Farm’s “Second Sunday at the Farm,” when the Farm’s galleries, shops, cafe and market welcome visitors to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of fine art, good food, natural beauty and lively conversation.

    “Pandamorphosis” costs $17.95 and is available at Moonraker Bookstore in Langley and at Amazon.com.

    Rob Schouten Gallery, a premier showcase for Whidbey Island and Northwest artists, is located at 765 Wonn Road, #C-103 at the historic Greenbank Farm. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends; closed Tuesday or by appointment.  For further information, call 360-222-3070 or email info@robschoutengallery.com.

  • Pigment, Perspective, and Pandas | What Day Is It Anyway?

    Pigment, Perspective, and Pandas | What Day Is It Anyway?

    BY ANNE BELOV
    Sept. 18, 2014

    There are so many different “Special Day” designations that it’s hard to keep them all straight.

    For instance, this Saturday, Sept. 20,  is International Red Panda Day (who knew?) a day to celebrate those cute little critters that sort of look like red-headed raccoons and are no relation whatsoever to Giant Pandas.

    On Sept. 19, it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day, yaar, me hearties! which will be celebrated with much hilarity over at The Panda Chronicles with the piratical adventures of Mr. Wu.

    But of all the days that one can celebrate, one of my favorites has just passed. It is International Dot Day, which was inspired by the Peter Reynolds book, “The Dot.” The whole point of Dot Day is to inspire creativity, and to make your mark on the world in some creative fashion. Schools and their students the world over commemorate the day with painting, singing and any other creative activity they can think of.

    My contribution to the 2014 Dot Day Celebration//Anne Belov
    My contribution to the 2014 Dot Day Celebration — Anne Belov

    I’ve talked before about how important making art was to me as I was growing up, and how so many school districts have slashed their art, music and drama budgets to keep the lights turned on, and the taxpayers…um, less unhappy than they already are.

    But, it turns out that letting your mind go out to play is one of the best things you can do to help you learn the hard stuff—like math and science.

    The process in “writing” my wordless picture book, Pandamorphosis, was a long one, and without giving myself the permission to let my mind wander, experimenting, writing, re-writing, sketching and scribbling, the book would never have come to be.  I’ll be giving a presentation at 11 a.m. this Friday (Sept. 19) at the Freeland Branch of the Sno-Isle Library to talk about the inspiration and the process of writing this book.

    I was lucky to grow up in an era that included art, music and drama as part of a public school education. I applaud and appreciate the efforts of the folks who have made creativity a viral phenomenon in the world.  You can see the “dots” that thousands of illustrators and writers have created over at the Celebridots website. (Um…including mine!)

    Maybe next year on Sept. 15, there will be Dot Day celebrations here too.

    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, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. Find her regularly at Thank Blog It’s Friday here at WLM.

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