Tag Archives: Institute for contemporary panda satire

We are in The Panda Season of LOOOOOVE!

It’s that time of year again when a panda’s thoughts turn too…um…what was it they turn to?

Oh yeah! Romance! It’s the Panda Season of Love!

Since it’s the Panda Season of Love, all felty panda orders in the month of March will have a bonus of a roll of Panda Season of Love Washi tape!

Tape is about 1 1/8″ wide and rolls are about 10 YDs long. Shows brighter here than it is.

I hope people haven’t had enough of silly love songs!

I just love the cub reporter.

Love in the Time of Mittens (which, quite frankly, is a lot like the time of cholera)

The Scottish pandas have had a few disappointments…

A bear by any other name, would still smell pretty funky.

A panda by any other name, would smell…well, they would just smell…

I am only making some of this up. copyright 2012 -A. Belov

“It was dark….there were men in masks….”

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

While you were waiting for whatever was going to happen next week…

Well, here we are, waiting for the other shoe to drop, hoping against hope that all will be well, or at least well as to the successful completion of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ inauguration.

I thought I might take this opportunity to thank you all once again, for these last 11 years of Fun with Pandas. I decided not to do a January Kickstarter project, as right now I don’t seem to have the required energy. However, a project came across my Twitter feed that I thought some of you might be interested in.

I follow a lot of other writers, cartoonists and illustrators on Twidder, and Jennifer L Meyer is one of my favorites because BUNNIES!!! I love her drawing style. She has teamed up with Nate Cosby and Ariana Maher to create The Effervescent Adventures of Fight Bunny.

Because I can’t leave well enough alone, and because I like supporting other artists when I can, I made them an offer I was pretty sure they couldn’t refuse. If you’ve been following along here, you can probably guess what it is, so you might want to head over there first thing Monday morning to check it out. At the very least, you might decide that your home library won’t be complete without your own copy of The Effervescent Adventures of Fight Bunny

Because BUNNIES!!!!

Here are some of my ‘toons about doing Kickstarter campaigns!

and that’s what it’s all about!

Get ready…….

Says Babette de Panda: “It’s all about MOI` “

paws

Put your paws together for the panda kindergarten!

I thought mommee hid Pinky’s magical wand!

away we go

We’re off!

ready

Think of the next couple weeks like NPR and their pledge drives!

Be the bear! (Or maybe today it should be Be the Bun!)
Bob T Panda

Don’t forget to check out The Effervescent Adventures of Fight Bunny!!!

Beware, the Ides of October!

Who among you have seen the original Vincent Price classic, The Fly? If you have, you may have heard a tiny voice when you watched the Vice Presidential debates the other night. What did the voice say?

Help Me! Hellllllllllppppppppp meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! (said in your best Vincent Price as tiny fly voice.)

We apologize for interrupting Beary Poppins, but really, this couldn’t wait.

Help meeeeeee! Help meeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Be the Bear!
Or the FLY!)
Bob T Panda

It’s going to be a long, hot summer…

…and probably not in a good way.

I have to admit, the last couple days have been very hard. More than 100,000 people have died in the US from COVID19. Protests have turned into riots, which seem to be fueled by HWMNBN pouring gasoline on the flames, as well as the very real possibility that those white supremacist groups that showed up at state Capitols with not so much as a slap on the wrist, are showing up, to increase the violence and use the (mostly) peaceful protesters as cover.

HWMNBN’s Liar General is claiming that these are “radical left extremists.” I’m pretty sure this is a lie. Audible violence is mere blocks away from the homes of people I care about. I am safe (for the moment) in my forest hideaway and feel very fortunate that this is so.

There is not much I can do from here, besides send adorable, funny pandas out into the world.

Here ya go!

Our lack of taste is only exceeded by our sense of the absurd.

And just how did the panda kindergarten get her address?

Who’s the bear???!!!

Varooooooomba! Thanks to Lynnie Ness for alerting us to the “off label” use of the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner.

panda movie

social media for pandas

panda kindergarten naughtyness

this old den 2nd episode

The panda kindergarten is so very helpful.

He’s small for now, but Bubba Bei Bei is shaping up to be a whole lot of panda!

This one is still my favorite:

See? I told you it was broken!

I hope these ‘toons with no whiff of HWMNBN helped heal your hearts a little this morning! Panda on, everyone!

Many thanks to those who are sharing pictures of your newly arrived panda masks! They are absolutely adorable, and it gives me great pleasure to know that Pinky, Bubba, Bee (the Bear) and young Pirate Wu are keeping you all safe! 

Take care everyone!
Wands Up!
Stay Safe!
Bob T Panda

What Day is it, Anyway

You might think that someone who has worked in her home studio for over 30 years would be able to remember what day it is, but I am having a hard time with that. Yes, I work in my studio every day, but there are regular activities that I engage in, and as most of those aren’t happening, it gets kind of hard to figure out what day it is.

Fortunately, the Whidbey Island Organic Farm School has started up  production, even if their students are not able to be there yet. If you are on Whidbey Island, you’ll know we have a wealth of small organic farms growing wonderful food. Since the farmers markets won’t be opening any time soon, if at all, sales opportunities (i.e. how they actually make enough money to keep going) are extremely limited. If you can, check with your favorite farmer where ever you live, and see if you can get a CSA share. It will keep the farmers working, and you’ll get fresh vegetables that actually taste like something, other than vaguely green.

And now, let’s have some Pandas! One can only eat so much healthy food! Bring on the cuppycakes!

Keeping you safe from evil cuppycakes….

yoga for pandas

All salute the sacred cuppycake!

What makes a panda run? Cuppycakes, of course!!!!

Legalize cake today! Prevent illicit cuppycake activities.

inspector panda and cuppycake pushers

Inspector Panda says, “Know the signs of cuppycake dependency”

pandas in the laboratory

Can you calibrate the cuppycake?

I have extra frosting!

If I have but one life to live, let me give it for a cuppycake.

Gimmee!

Washi Tape Has Arrived!!!!

I have about 45 more sets of Washi Tape available at $20 for a set of 4 rolls of 4 different designs. If you have a pending felty panda order (Either through Kickstarter or from this website) and would like to add a set, I can add them to your order with no additional shipping costs. See the Buy Stuff with Pandas page for ordering information. If you are trying to figure out what Washi Tape is and what you can do with it, this site is a good place to start!

Here is a picture of the actual tape! Tape is about 1.25″ wide and a roll is 10 meters of tape.

Wands up, everyone! It’s getting pretty scary out there.

Panda On!
Bob T panda

It’s Sunday *gulp* Funday!

While the news makes it feel more like Sunday, Bloody Sunday instead of Sunday Funday, here at The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire, we are dedicated to bringing you fun with pandas!

A quick note: We are ready to start taking orders for more felty pandas! All the information can be found on the Buy Stuff With Pandas page, which you can find right here! You can also order the first group of Panda Chronicle themed Washi tape!

Pinky is a Star (not to mention a icon) and she is ready to be your emotional support panda…well, if you let her be president she will! Wearing her signature tutu and her tiara, Pinky is ready for you to grant her all her wildest dreams. hey! This is Pinky we are talking about. You didn’t think she was here to serve you, did you?

But now, let’s jump into the panda way-back bus and see what encore presentations there are for your Sunday relaxation!

Oh dear….are you going to leave her there?

There must be cake!

Is this any way to treat our Nation’s most adorable icon?

The forces of Meihem are only barely in check.

But at least Pinky didn’t FLUNK CAKE!!!!!

“Oh yeah…dere MIGHT be one or two other pandas in it, but I can’t remember who.”

Never say “no” to Pinky!

And it was ever thus….

Meihem, not Mayhem.

Well, they did hang their coats up.

Introducing Princess Dumpling

Wait a minute…triplets??????

We hope you enjoyed a completely Mittens free Sunday! I sure needed that and I bet you did too! Don’t forget to check out the new line up on the Buy Stuff with Pandas Page!

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

100 Years of Solitude

Gee. I hope it’s not going to last that long, no matter how much this first week feels like it has already been 100 years long. I hope it gets easier. But although I am still healthy, covid19 cases are growing in Island county. In theory, I’m pretty safe. I work at home, I don’t go out to crowded places much, but when every door handle is a ticking time bomb, and knowing how extremely contagious this virus is, it does not give one much peace of mind.

In times of trouble, we need art and laughter more than ever.

Doesn’t impeachment seem like a million years ago?

A bear can dream, am I right?

I have a lot of thoughts, having a bit of extra time to think, so I thought I would share it here.

Also, if I put these nuggets of wisdom between the ‘toons, it will be harder to just scroll past it and get to the good stuff. 🙂

The transition from staying home most of the time to staying home all the time (except for one post office run and maybe a weekly trip to the grocery store) is not a big one, but somehow it feels significant. It feels different. I’m trying to remember to talk to people on the phone, not just text or tweet at them. I’m trying to keep in mind that even though I am not on the front lines in health care or restocking grocery store shelves, creating humorous panda satire, and beautiful paintings (and felty pandas!!!) is still important.

Don’t get mad. Get even.

Rising up from behind the stories of inept and malignant “leadership”, are teachers and writers and artists who are making broad and generous offers to share what they have created online, so that families who are suddenly homeschooling or coordinating online learning from their closed schools, have interesting, joyful content for children.

Theater companies are offering their seamstress services to hospitals to make mask to protect the doctors and nurses on the front lines.

Governors and mayors are stepping forward and doing what needs to be done to keep their people safe, when the federal government drags it feet.

And of course everyone is starting their own podcast!

Because of course she does!

So much FLANNEL!!!!

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been creating panda satire for more than 12 years, starting in early 2008.

In all that time, as the readership has swelled, some people have been here almost from the beginning and some are more recent friends and readers.  For those who are new here, most of the ‘toons are here in the archives for you to read, to get to know all the characters that reside here in Pandyland.

This is not a land with millions of followers. But those of you who have decided to get on board the panda bus, well, I think you are pretty special. (You obviously have excellent taste in humor) Our numbers may be modest, but our love of pandas and warmth of spirit are mighty. It makes my day when I get a card (in the actual mail!!!) from one of you. It makes me feel like what I do matters.

When I see references to cuppycakes, comments and conversations in the voice of the characters of The Panda Chronicles (Otherwise known as panda improv) It makes me smile and makes my heart lighter. It makes me feel like I have created something significant. I have created characters that have come to life in minds other than my own.

Who would ever imagine Pinky would do something to offend someone? #ClapLouder

Make no mistake. These are dark times.

If we are to get through them, we need each and every one of us to keep that panda light in our hearts. We need to believe that there will be a rising up against the malignant force that has taken hold in the center of our government. We need to believe that good hearts and good spirits will prevail. ( We need to VOTE in November)

Pinky: when are people gonna learn dat pinky knows da best!

Being endangered means never having to say you are sorry.

bears will be bears!

Let Pinky be Pinky!

George Washington Bridge lane closure satire.

Princess Pinky Bao Bao…what have you done now?

Panda on, Panda on!
Bob T Panda

Day 28 ~ 31 Days of Pandas

Oh my. We are almost at the end of the 2019 edition of 31 Days of Pandas. Recently, one of my readers asked how 31 Days of Pandas got started. Maybe what they actually asked was “What the heck were you THINKING!!!!????”

As I recall, the first year I did this, it was in November, and an illustrator friend had just completed A Monster a Day during the month of October. Another popular one-a-day art project for artists is Inktober, where people post a drawing a day during the month of October. While I have not participated, I’ve seen some great drawings posted for Inktober, and I think for those looking for a kick in the pants to do some regular drawing, I think it is a fine thing. Since making art is my day job, there is less of an incentive, and it feels like another thing on my lengthy “to do” list. Don’t let my attitude stop you from trying this!

My original 30 Days of Pandas was to create a drawing that every day, in honor of Po’s Birthday! I added a new panda to the drawing every day for a month. This turned out to be more work than I thought, as I had to re-scan the drawing every time I added a panda. It did turn out to be a really fun drawing, though!

Days one and two!

Day nine!

I think I need to have the ballon panda as something on Redbubble!

18 pandas

Day 18

day 25 -30 days of pandas

30 pandas day 28

Day 28

And the final image…

30 days of pandas - day 30

30 Days of Pandas!

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the origins of 31 days of Pandas!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

Happy Friendsgiving

It’s time for that holiday that is celebrated in the good old US of A, you know, the one where you get together with family you don’t particularly want to see, argue with Uncle George about what the current “resident” of the WH is really up to, the one where you eat way too much of food you don’t really like and then it’s time for PIE!

Once I moved far, far from home, and got to have this holiday extravaganza with friends of my own choosing, my attitude changed somewhat. (I do like pie, and why doesn’t anyone still make the sweet potato casserole with melted marshmallows on top?) I continue to be thankful for spending time with people I love.

Last Supper, Cupcakes, DaVinci

Princess Pinky says, she is thankful for cuppycakes and da panda kindygarten and her magical wand!

And now we know about all the cultural/genocidal implications of our first National Holiday, which I won’t get into here, but need to be acknowledged. That makes celebrating this holiday kind of cringe-worthy, and yet…

I think it is a good thing to be thankful for the many things that have come our way. If we can separate the history of white europeans invading these shores, and all that followed afterward (because, if you aren’t an indigenous person, you are an immigrant no matter how many generations ago your ancestors got here) I think that is okay to have a holiday in which we acknowledge what we are thankful for.

So here’s a list of some of the things I’m thankful for:

Friends
Artistic talent
Pandas
Good health
A home of my own
Trees that surround my house
Pandas
People who appreciate (and buy!) my art, my writing and panda satire
Did I remember to mention pandas?
Friends who like to visit pandas
Cuppycakes
Books
Art museums
Cats!
Scottish terriers
A convenient grocery store
#PandaTwitter
Coffee

I could go on!

Coffee tastes better when you have it with Pinky!

But meanwhile, it’s time to get ready for 31 Days of Pandas!!!!

That’s something we should all be thankful for! As we head into full on impeachment mode, we may be watching, in real time, the 45th “president” of these here United States dissolve, self destruct, maybe even burst into flames in front of our very eyes! We are going to need all the funny we can get if we want to get through this alive!

Be the Bear
Bob T Panda

PS: There is still time to get in on my fabulous felt panda-palooza! For all the info, read this post!

I Forgot Daylight Losing Time!!!!

What with all the excitement (IMPEACHMENT!!!!) and all the crazy-making BS that’s going on in DC (IMPEACHMENT OBSTRUCTION!!!!) I plum forgot that I had not run my favorite seasonal Panda Kindergarten cartoon last Sunday. I hope you all are not showing up an hour ahead (or is that behind?) of time all this week, due to my thoughtless error.

Bob explains daylight savings time to the panda kindergarten

spring back, fall forward?

The other excitement is that I have launched my Panda Chronicles Sock Design project this week, and people are putting their best (panda) foot forward! Panda Chronicles socks, you say? When did you decide to do that?

Um…last week?

Be sure to head over to the Buy Stuff With Pandas page to see our current designs. Each design will be a limited issue, and depending on how many people want to step out in (panda) style, will determine how many I order. Unlike Kickstarter, where I don’t order the items until the project has closed, with something this open ended, I can’t take people’s money then leave them hanging as to when delivery will happen.

I this case, I decided it was worth taking a gamble on 3 designs, with 50 pairs in each design. As you might have surmised, Pinky is far and away the most popular (Pinky: duh!) but the other designs are holding their own. I hope you will want to add Panda socks to your wardrobe, and might I add that these would be socks that anyone would be happy to receive as a holiday gift!

Meanwhile, let’s look back on some other escapades of the panda kindergarten!

This cartoon is one of Bob’s earliest appearances!

You can’t be too careful!

Ha ha! Here’s a toothbrush!

The very first appearance of the Torch Bears!

The torch bears!

Episode 1

Huzzah! More Wheel…of…PANDAS!!!

The Scottish pandas

Save some pie for me!

cheerful

Or how about some cuppycakes?

Do we have to count panda adoption fees?

Well, that’s all we have time for today! And for all you DC watchers, remember, if you have to cheat to win, you’re not really winning! #SoMuchWinning

Be the Bear who Buys Stuff With Pandas!
Bob T Panda

A Note on Panda Commerce: As you may know, I am a one bear band (not the Band-a-Pandas, but that gives me an idea for another pair of socks!!) This means I am not on the computer all the time. (Well, some days it may seem like I am, but really…) As the quantities tick down to 0, you might get nervous if you don’t hear back from me immediately. Don’t worry. I can see the order that the messages come in, and will contact you and send the invoices in that order. In other words, if you haven’t heard from me, no one else has either! Doesn’t that make you feel better?