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.

Day 2, 31 Days of Pandas

We’re back, with day 2 of 31 Days of Pandas! Huzzah!

And now, for more from the Wizard of Wu

Hang on to your hats, kids, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Hang on to your hats, kids, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

I don't think we're in Pandiego any more, Binky....

I don’t think we’re in Pandiego any more, Binky….

What could be waiting outside? Where the heck ARE we, Binky?

What could be waiting outside? Where the heck ARE we, Binky?

We are not in Pandiego anymore! Till tomorrow!

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda

Huzzah! 31 Days of Pandas is Here!

Yes, panda satire fans, it is time again for our end-of-the-year-last-gasp-attempt-at-fun

31 Days of Pandas!!!!!!

As I mentioned on Friday, with so many projects now on the front burner, I am not able to do a new cartoon every day this month. There will be new material as well, but I thought I would take this as an opportunity for some of our newer community members to catch up on some of the stories we have brought you in the past years.

Princess Pinky announces 31 days of pandas

Who can forget Princess Pinky’s first time on 31 days of pandas, when she was barely 100 days old!?

Mr Wu tries to take charge

Needless to say, the Wu Self was not pleased to have to compete for screen time for 31 days of pandas!

To start this year off right, we thought we would have an encore presentation of that holiday classic, The Wizard of Wu!

where happy pandas eat bamboo, oh why, oh why, can't...Wu?

where happy pandas eat bamboo, oh why, oh why, can’t…Wu?

We're in for it now, Binky!

We’re in for it now, Binky!

Let’s hear it for 31 days of pandas
Be the Bear, Bob T Panda

Behind the Scenes at The Panda Chronicles

You may wonder what the lives of The Panda Chronicles pandas are like when they are not on camera. Mr Wu, being a California bear, enjoys surfing and driving around in his cubvertable. The Meihem twins, besides being Panda Scouts, enjoy relaxing together and plotting ways to make Pinky mad.

And Pinky… well, Pinky likes to relax in her luxuriously appointed private quarters, while catching up on some educational reading.

What is Pinky reading?

What is Pinky reading?

And if you are wondering what your nearest and dearest would like for this year’s holiday, consider Pinky’s campaign swag!

Although why I am suggesting this instead of "Hey! Why not vote for Bob" merchandise is beyond me!

Although why I am suggesting this instead of “Hey! Why not vote for Bob” merchandise is beyond me!

Aren’t we in enough trouble already?

Be the Bear
Bob T. Panda

Let the excesses of the season begin! It’s almost time for 31 Days of Pandas!

Fabulous Furry Friday Gets Ready….

…for 31 Days of Pandas!!!!!

I am making a bit of a change to this years festivities, as with my various projects, I am a bit overloaded to do a new cartoon every day. (Booo! Hisss! Quiet in the cheap seats, you pandas!)

As you might remember, I am working on revising my story about Mr. Wu and Inspector Panda, where they are faced with a painting that may (or may not) have been stolen. Not to mention an international panda of mystery! Anyway, here is my plan for this year’s 31 Days of Pandas:

A new cartoon posted every Sunday, multiple episodes each day from some of my longer stories, and, sketches from my work in progress, staring the aforementioned Mr Wu in what I hope will be my first traditionally published middle grade graphic novel. But have no fear! Should the folks in trad. publishing say, “oh no! this is too weird! We can’t publish this! A Panda Detective? Bah, Humbug!” We will bring it to you as all the other Panda Chronicle books have been brought to you, via Leaping Panda Press! Huzzah!

So to get us off to a good start, here are the drawings that I have come up with so far, along with some colorful character sketches.

Yes, Mr. Wu gets to be the smart one!

Yes, Mr. Wu gets to be the smart one!

Hmmm...there is something familiar about this scene...

Hmmm…there is something familiar about this scene…

Mr Wu and Inspector Panda...a dapper duo, if I ever saw one!

Mr Wu and Inspector Panda…a dapper duo, if I ever saw one!

Babette, Minette, and several views of Mr Wu.

Babette, Minette, and several views of Mr Wu.

And because we need to laugh….

I really had no idea what she was up to.

“I didn’t know lawyers could run so fast” hahahahahahahaha!

Be the bear!
Bob T. Panda
Happy 31 Days of Pandas!

Oh yeah! and don’t forget to give the Gift of Pandas this year! Please visit my book page as well as my page on Fine Balance Images’ Gratitude Gallery, where you can buy beautiful full color reproductions of some of my favorite illustrations from Pandamorphosis. and for you black and white Friday special, don’t forget Pandyland, where you can buy “Vote for Bob” and “Pinky for President” gifts to delight your friends and family. Or buy them for yourself…I won’t tell.

I am Thankful

I am thankful for pandas, for laughter, for days the sun shines in my window, for misty mornings where everything is gray, and a panda…might…just …walk out of the fog.

Last Supper, Cupcakes, DaVinci

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

I am thankful that I still have a roof over my head, enough resources to keep the heat on and food on my table. I am thankful for those who help those who do not.

I am thankful for kindness, for peaceful dealings, especially with those who might not be in agreement with me. I am thankful for the help of friends, in big ways and small.

I am thankful for all of you who read my ‘toons, buy my books, engage in panda chat on Twidder and Fezbook. I haven’t had this much fun since kindergarten.

I am thankful for the mentor program through the Nevada chapter of SCBWI that welcomed a goofy story about pandas into the program, and all the lovely people I met there and hope will be connected to for a long time.

Be kind, be generous, be peaceful, be the bear.
Bob T. Panda

(back to business as usual tomorrow!)

Walk Like a Bear

When I wrote this cartoon, a soundtrack of a ’60’s style, Jersey Boys band singing in a Frankie Vallee falsetto immediately started playing in my head.

Walk like a bear,
look at my hair,
I want some boo,
Don’t yo-oo-oou?

Ahem. Sorry. I digress. Today’s ‘toon features Pinky’s ever more popular brother. Will he surpass Princess Pinky in popularity? Will he become a Smithsonian Icon? Only time will tell….

These paws are made for walking....eventually.

These paws are made for walking….eventually.

Meanwhile, the newest books from The Panda Chronicles Pantheon of great literature are here and ready for your holiday gift giving! Why not Give the Gift of Pandas this year? It’s as easy as click, click spend!

Huzzah!
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Busing for Beavers

What else could you call relocation of 76 beavers in Idaho in 1948, except busing for beavers? We recently heard this story, which came courtesy of the Boise, Idaho NPR station. The funniest things are occasionally true, true things are often funny. (At least we think they are.)

Of course, The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire couldn’t sleep until we commented on this exciting bit of history.

And leave it to the vivd imagination of the panda kindergarten, to see a parallel between the 1948 Beaver Air-Drop and a possible solution to the current rat problem that new York City is facing.

Uh oh! It's the panda kindergarten and they have a plan!

Uh oh! It’s the panda kindergarten and they have a plan!

Over here Mr. Kitty! We have a surprise for you!

Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda

Fabulous Furry Friday

Wouldn’t you know it…a little while ago I had an idea about what I wanted to post for this week’s Fabulous Furry Friday offering, and now I can’t remember what it was. This happens more often than I wish it would. I don’t know if it indicates impending dementia, or that there is just too much going on in my life and my brain is full so nothing new sticks to the surface. Is that really a thing?

Meanwhile, as I write this, the wind is howling, small branches are hitting the roof, and who knows how long we will have electricity?

Hey! That reminds me….

where happy pandas eat bamboo, oh why, oh why, can't...Wu?

where happy pandas eat bamboo, oh why, oh why, can’t…Wu?

We're in for it now, Binky!

We’re in for it now, Binky!

Hang on to your hats, kids, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Hang on to your hats, kids, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

I don't think we're in Pandiego any more, Binky....

I don’t think we’re in Pandiego any more, Binky….

I’m really hoping this doesn’t happen here. In the meantime, if you had your own copy of The Panda Chronicles Book 4: The Book of Wu, you could read the rest of this story of The Wizard of Wu, even if your power went out. well, if you had a flashlight. You do know where your flashlight is, right?

Baby, it’s cold out there!
Be the Bear, Bob T Panda

 

Get Your Crayons Ready!

Why not buy that set of 128 colored pencils you’ve always wanted? The box of crayons with the built in sharpener. …the 164 color marker set with 35 different shades of…pink.

You know you want it.

And of course by “it” I am talking about the FINALLY  released The Panda Chronicles  Coloring Book!!!! Because, as we have recently learned, coloring books for grown-ups has become a “thing.” I hear it is almost as relaxing as watching panda videos.

Nooooo! Not the PINK crayon!

Nooooo! Not the PINK crayon! It’s here! Huzzah!

Get your crayons ready, because The Panda Chronicles Coloring Book is NOW READY for ordering! And during the rest of November, in honor of my birthday season, there is a 15% discount if you buy it from my Createspace store (just click the Createspace button on the book page) and insert this discount code in the appropriate box:

E6DRL2FQ

Please note, this will save you money if you are buying multiple copies for presents, so if you are just getting your own (but what about cousin Sally? she loves to color!) and you have free Amazon shipping, you will spend about the same amount of money, so just ignore this and go to Amazon.

Huzzah!

Get your crayons ready!!!!

Get your crayons ready!!!!

Meanwhile, Pinky seems to have hacked into my computer again. Now where did I put her mother’s  Me-phone number? I noticed that a large number of viewers came by on Sunday. Is it because you love Bubba, or is it that you like to see Pinky behaving badly. I’m waiting.

Be the Bear,
Bob T Panda