Author Archives: Panda in Chief

About Panda in Chief

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.

9 More Days on the Kickstarter Trail…

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Well, y’all are doing just great getting my Kickstarter project funded, but don’t stop yet! I put a few new rewards on the project page yesterday and added my stretch goals. For those of you new to crowd funding, and Kickstarter in particular, the idea is that you only get your funding if you reach your goal in the time frame you’ve specified.

In my case, I set the funding period at 16 days and a couple hours. Why so short? (most projects fund for 30 -60 days) Because youse* guys are so freaking awesome, that’s why! (*Pittsburgh plural for “you”) I let people know in advance when the project would run, and you all stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park. Thank you all! You can check out the project here, if you haven’t already. (There is a very cute picture of Cami with the Emperor Pew Panda standing on the Great Wall)

In fact, I’ve already reached my first stretch goal! Huzzah! Which unfortunately means I’ve committed to getting a Hepatitis A shot, as it was recommended by our friends at PDX Wildlife. Oh well…I guess it is a good idea.

But let’s see who is the next guest at Kickstarter central!!!

Kickstarter

Did Bubba eat the cookie? Better be careful, Boo Boo!

We still have a week and a half still to go, but don’t delay! Cool rewards are yours for the pledging! Check it out!

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

Pandas are (still) Standing By!

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I’m writing this Friday afternoon, as my Kickstarter project is a mere $600 away from funding. There are still more than 10 days to go till the pledge drive is over, but don’t stop pledging now. Tomorrow I will be posting some additional goals for this project to go see pandas and make art inspired by my trip.

Update!!! We have reached our goal, but don’t stop now!

Tomorrow I will be posting my stretch goals in an update. These are things that would be helpful on my trip, but not essential to actually being able to go on this trip. I would point out, this is one of those rare opportunities to get some of my original art at a greatly reduced price. You can see my paintings (and what they sell for on the website of my Whidbey Island Gallery representative. Why am I offering these paintings for so much less? Well, primarily because you are paying for them without having seen them yet. I’m hoping you’ll like them when I’m done, but it’s not quite the same experience as seeing a painting you love and choosing to buy it. so there you have it!

And of course, we will be getting to see some of our favorite american pandas. Pinky and Tai shan, for sure, and hopefully Yun Zi, Zhen Zhen, (my adopted panda) and the Meihems.

But now, on with our show!

pandas

Pinky: what’s wrong wif dis cookie?

Don’t take Pinky’s word for it! There are still some things that Pinky didn’t get her paws on! Check them out here!

Panda on!
Bob T Panda

Friday was never so Fabulous …

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…as this Friday, when my Kickstarter project to visit the panda ranches of China, is now about 60% funded, in less than 3 days. OMG!!!!!! If you haven’t visited yet, get on down to Kickstarter headquarters here! I am so thankful for all your support, and for the photos shared by some of my fellow Panda-trekkers that decorate my project page.

Update!!! Now 85% Funded!

Who could resist having lunch with a panda? (Actually, their table manners are terrible, but so are mine!)

But meanwhile, it is Fabulous Furry Friday and you know what that means…

Panda, panda, panda…bring on the pandas!!!!!

…if I were a panda, yadda dah dah da- da- da- AAARGH! I can’t stop!!!!!

Part 1 of Bob and Mehitabel’s explanation…

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

Babette and Bee, the Bear have a “discussion”

And while we are all…ahem…thinking about persons in power who may have been “misspeaking”….

Oh, Bob, you didn’t really say that, did you?

Early fake news?

Mehitabel did NOT approve this cartoon.

Archie, is that you?

We KNEW that was you!

I was really afraid this was going to happen.

You can’t fire a icon.

And don’t forget to check out my Kickstarter campaign! Pinky misses me!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

 

And Away We Go …

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If you are reading this before noon PDT, you might be somewhat confused because there is no link here to take you immediately to my Kickstarter project page, and that’s because I have to set this up in advance, and won’t have the link until I actually post the project! Did that make sense? Never fear, I will post an update in this post as soon as the project goes live, so you may have to check back here if you are one of the people who gets this post via your email before I’ve been able to add the Kickstarter link. But meanwhile, away we go …

Update: We are live!

Congratulations, your project is live on Kickstarter!

Drumroll…

Here’s your project URL:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arttraveler/a-panda-tastic-journey

So without further ado, let’s get this baby on the road!

away we go

We’re off! And I want an answer to the cuppycake question too!

I wanted to point out, that this funding project is a rather short duration, only 16 days total. From my previous projects over the last 5 years, I’ve learned that there is a kind of “dead space” after the excitement of the campaign’s launch and it’s knuckle biting final hours. so, in order to save you from my endless whinging during that middle period, I’ve made the campaign about half the time of a typical funding period. Huzzah! Think of it like you thin k of your local NPR station pledge drives! Okay, maybe not, but you know what I mean.

We bring you panda satire, rain or shine, downfall of civilization not withstanding, for the low, low price of FREE! So every once in a while, we come to you to help us fund a panda project. No one knows better than I do that a person (or panda) might not be a position to contribute, but you can still help be sharing my project on social media. Who knows! Your friends might have been waiting to discover panda satire! It could happen! You never know till you try. 🙂

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

We Now Paws Our Programming…

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..as we count down the clock to our Kickstarter campaign! But don’t worry, Pinky and the Meihems will be back in their new story at The Institute for Inner Panda Studies Panda Camp (whew! that’s a mouthful! Should we just call it the IIPSPC?) We are working on a fun story within the story starring not only Pinky and the Meihems, but also Bubba and the newest Cublanta sensations, Six and Sebben! But now, let’s put our paws together for Bob and Mehitabel!

Don’t hit that PAWS button now!

paws

Isn’t it time for a cuppycake?

…and do you remember what happened the LAST time Bob was going to be a Pandward Bound counselor?

Nothing like a bit of the great outdoors to straighten up the panda kindergarten.

Be the bear and Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Pandas Are Standing By

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Yes, this is a little like those endless pledge drive on public radio and TV. My Kickstarter project will go live next week, on Wednesday, June 7th, tentatively at noon. I thought it would be fun to share some of the Kickstarter and other panda fundraising ‘toons I’ve done in the past. If nothing else, the first one explains how Kickstarter works, as told by pandas because….

Pandas are standing by to take your call!

and that’s what it’s all about!

Oh, Mr. Kitty!

Poot Poot! (This was for you, Cami)

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

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

fundraising on Kickstarter

Ha ha! George Clooney… where do those little pandas get these ideas?

I hope this trip down memory lane of Kickstarter projects past gets you excited about this project, since it’s been a couple years since my last one, to publish Pandamorphosis.  If you’d like a sneak peak preview of what’s in store, check out this preview link!

Be the Bear and Panda On
(we spare no panda cliche!)
Bob T Panda

Are You Ready ?

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With all that’s going on in the world, the problems of one little panda don’t seem to be all that important, what with the fall of civilization on the brink of happening. The White House is lawyering up, Princess Pinky has moved to China (the real one, anyway) and there are NO cuppycakes in my house!!!! BUT…..one week from today, I’ll be launching my new Kickstarter project. I think I’m ready …

Are you ready?
And more importantly, is Bob?

ready

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

Panda On!
Bob T panda

Memorial Day

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We’ve all been there. On the bus, on the train, standing on the street, waiting for the light to change. And that guy…you know the one, that guy with the vaguely threatening air starts ranting. Maybe he’s just ranting. Maybe he is being aggressive towards someone. And we quietly edge away, hoping he won’t direct his venom at us, hoping that the light will change, that he’ll move on. But this Memorial Day…this day when we honor those who lost their lives in the service of our country…

This Memorial Day, we watch in horror as one Democratic norm after another gets thrown under the bus.

On this day, when we learn that one of the men who lost his life defending a stranger on a Portland Oregon streetcar, was an Army veteran, we learn a new meaning to the phrase service to our country. Neither he, nor the other two young men who stepped up to defend two teenage girls who were being harassed on the streetcar, turned their backs and said this is not my fight.

The young man who was killed by this attacker had just graduated and was at the start of a promising life. He stepped up to protect two young women, one African American, the other wearing a hijab, who were being verbally attacked by that guy, he made it his business to defend people he did not know. A third defender is still in the hospital in critical condition. I am sending light and healing his way.

In the face of seemingly state sanctioned hatred, love and compassion still exists.

A GoFundMe campaign for the families of the three victims has raised over $700,000 in less than 48 hours. There is still good in the world. I will have to hold on to that.

And meanwhile, back in the land of Panda Satire….

Memorial day

Don’t be endangered, be dangerous

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Pandward Bound!

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Just when Pinky thought that all of the attention would be on her, look what has happened to ruin her dreams of Pandward Bound Dominance! Poor, poor Pinky…she never gets a break. Maybe Bubba will have some wise words that will lessen Pinky’s shock and disappointment.

Ha! Don’t count on it! Let’s see who else might be Pandward Bound!

Pandward bound

What a wonderful surprise! Um…NOT!!!!

Panda On!
Bob T Panda

Stay tuned for a bonus cartoon tomorrow sometime!

Mei Watch and the Pitter Patter of Little Paws

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Oh, it is that time again! The first cubbies (twins!) have been born at a zoo in China and the Smithsonian just announced in their email that Mei Xiang has entered the Panda Season of Love! And now it is baby panda season!!!!

To celebrate, let’s revisit some classic toons about baby pandas, but first… Mei Watch!

Soooo….you are saying no pandas in bikinis?

#6 is getting ready to make his move!

Huzzah!….ooops.

will the pitter patter of little paws soon follow?

…if I were a panda, yadda dah dah da- da- da- AAARGH! I can’t stop!!!!!

Stay tuned for more Mei Watch news (however we will not be posting videos such as the 2012 video at the Pan Diego Zoo!) as it becomes available.

Pseudo thumbs crossed!

Panda On!
Bob t Panda

Have a fabulous furry Friday!

It’s worth a mention here, that my secret password only page about the China trip won’t go live until June 7th, when I launch my Kickstarter campaign. If anyone here wants a sneak peak at the campaign, send me a message on the contact page, and I’ll send you the preview link. You won’t be able to pledge yet, but you can see what the project is about and what the rewards are!