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.

News Flash! Bob T. Panda travels to London!

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, One of Bob T.’s representatives was invited, quite on the spur of the moment, to travel to London with his good friend Suzanne S.  We had stopped into to visit her at her Sunday job, working at Brackenwood Gallery, in beautiful Langley, WA.

“I thought you were already in London,” I said.

“No, I leave tomorrow!” replied Suzanne.  “Maybe Mini-Bob would like to join me on my trip.”

So then, Mini-Bob and I had to have a conversation about what he would do in London.  Perhaps a visit to the National Portrait Gallery to see Beatrix Potter’s portrait.  “I’m definitely NOT going to Tate Modern,” said Mini-Bob, “but I would like to go and see the wonderful Pre-Raphaelaite paintings at Tate Britain.  Babette gets to go everywhere, and I really need to check up on the torch bears, and maybe Suzanne will take me to Edinburgh to visit Sunshine and Sweetie.  I could give them some ‘pointers’ for next year.”

I suggested that Mini-Bob not get too up close and personal with the Scottish pandas, as they might accidentally think he was a cuppycake, as he is small and round, and quite sweet looking.  He promised he would be careful, and also that he would write a journal of his trip, and send them to me via email from his mephone.

I think it's high time that SOMEONE checks up on the torch bears

 

We’ve already received his first communication, sent from his seat (in first class, no less) on his Pand-Air flight to London:

“Hi everyone! Here I am on Pand-Air flight 999 to London Heathrow!  It’s really fun sitting in First Class.  I should add that my hostess on the trip, Suzanne, was not able to fly in first class, but the flight attendants assure me that they will make sure I don’t get left behind when we get off the plane in London.  I was planning on sharing Suzanne’s seat, but when the flight attendants saw me, they INSISTED I ride in front.  When we get over the ocean, and there is no chance of hitting anything, they said they’d even let me fly the plane for a little bit.  After all, everyone loves pandas.  They just can’t do enough for me!

BTW, going through security was a breeze.  Since pandas don’t wear clothes (Babette excepted) they could see I didn’t have anything not permitted with me, so they waved me through, although all the agents wanted to frisk me, as I am so cute.  I’ll write again tomorrow!  This is so exciting!”

Of course I should mention that Suzanne is now an esteemed member of the Roll of Honor, for her generous offer to take Mini-Bob with her on this trip.  I hope they will send pictures of Mini-Bob as he takes Britain by storm!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

News Flash! Bob T. Panda travels to London!

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, One of Bob T.’s representatives was invited, quite on the spur of the moment, to travel to London with his good friend Suzanne S.  We had stopped into to visit her at her Sunday job, working at Brackenwood Gallery, in beautiful Langley, WA.

“I thought you were already in London,” I said.

“No, I leave tomorrow!” replied Suzanne.  “Maybe Mini-Bob would like to join me on my trip.”

So then, Mini-Bob and I had to have a conversation about what he would do in London.  Perhaps a visit to the National Portrait Gallery to see Beatrix Potter’s portrait.  “I’m definitely NOT going to Tate Modern,” said Mini-Bob, “but I would like to go and see the wonderful Pre-Raphaelaite paintings at Tate Britain.  Babette gets to go everywhere, and I really need to check up on the torch bears, and maybe Suzanne will take me to Edinburgh to visit Sunshine and Sweetie.  I could give them some ‘pointers’ for next year.”

I suggested that Mini-Bob not get too up close and personal with the Scottish pandas, as they might accidentally think he was a cuppycake, as he is small and round, and quite sweet looking.  He promised he would be careful, and also that he would write a journal of his trip, and send them to me via email from his mephone.

I think it's high time that SOMEONE checks up on the torch bears

 

We’ve already received his first communication, sent from his seat (in first class, no less) on his Pand-Air flight to London:

“Hi everyone! Here I am on Pand-Air flight 999 to London Heathrow!  It’s really fun sitting in First Class.  I should add that my hostess on the trip, Suzanne, was not able to fly in first class, but the flight attendants assure me that they will make sure I don’t get left behind when we get off the plane in London.  I was planning on sharing Suzanne’s seat, but when the flight attendants saw me, they INSISTED I ride in front.  When we get over the ocean, and there is no chance of hitting anything, they said they’d even let me fly the plane for a little bit.  After all, everyone loves pandas.  They just can’t do enough for me!

BTW, going through security was a breeze.  Since pandas don’t wear clothes (Babette excepted) they could see I didn’t have anything not permitted with me, so they waved me through, although all the agents wanted to frisk me, as I am so cute.  I’ll write again tomorrow!  This is so exciting!”

Of course I should mention that Suzanne is now an esteemed member of the Roll of Honor, for her generous offer to take Mini-Bob with her on this trip.  I hope they will send pictures of Mini-Bob as he takes Britain by storm!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

Has Sunshine and Sweetie’s luck run out for this year?

There has been news of panda frolics all over the internet lately… well, at least where the pandarazzi lurk, that is.  Rumor has it that Sunshine and Sweetie have called it quits as far a parenthood this year.  What with moving into a new home, (“try finding a plumber or a decorator in a new town…I ask you!”) it seems that the two day “window  of opportunity” was a little too short to “get the job done.”  Other panda pairs are perhaps having better luck in this department.

Maybe a silly little love song would have helped things move along in Scotland.  Well, there’s always next year!

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

 

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

It’s the panda season of lo-o-o-o-ove!

Doesn’t the thought of roly poly pandas on a date just tickle your fancy?  But what does say, a panda at the Edinburgh Zoo have to do so that he will be desirable to his lady love?  According to one of the zoo panda specialists, he needs to be put on an exercise program.  I am NOT making this up.  I heard it on the BBC.  I think it maybe went something like this:

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

More from the Scottish pandas later this week!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

Happy Birthday to Mehitabel!!!!

And that’s no April foolin’.  In honor of her 16th birthday, we share a cartoon that has NO PANDAS in it.  Hey, I had to grant her wish, or who knows what she would have done!

  Well, maybe this wasn’t such a cat tribute after all.  Hmmm….I knew I shouldn’t have let the panda kindergarten select the day’s cartoon…..Well, happy birthday anyway Mehitabel.  May you continue to be able to jump on the counters for many more years!

And here is a little April 1st humor from the Scottish Pandas:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/pipes-play-music-of-love-for-edinburgh-zoo-pandas-1-2209167

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

 

Well, if a DOG can write an autobiography….

…why can’t a cartoon panda?  Why indeed. I ask you?  I just read in Publisher’s Lunch that Uggie, the star of the movie The Artist, is writing his autobiography.  I imagine he’s getting some help with the typing.  I mean, Jack Russell Terriers are smart, but they’re not that smart.  Well, you may remember that I HAVE written my autobiography already! surely you remember my great literary masterpiece, Black and White Like Me ?

More literature of the panda!

Wouldn’t you rather read about me than a dog…even if he is a movie star?

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

PS: We did NOT win the Mega Million Lottery this weekend.  There goes my dream of a giant cuppycake warehouse to help feed hungry pandas. Sigh….

I had NO idea that….

yoga for pandas would be so popular!  Or maybe it was the cuppycakes?

In other panda news around the world, extremely personal information about pandas (welcome to the panda season of lo-o-o-o-ove)  has been circulating on the internet, especially on facebook.  Well, to be a panda is to give up your privacy.  We are so adorable that people just can’t get enough of us.  What can I say?   I was born to be popular, but really people, a little decorum is in order.  I can’t imagine Babette will agree to photographers being present to commemorate our  well…you know.

Meanwhile, rumors abound about the wife and child of Claude (aka “Clod”) Pandet, whom he abandoned in the Paris airport when he caught sight of Babette as she was boarding the plane for Singapore, to visit her dear friend Lucilla.  Claude immediately offered to paint Babette’s portrait and they made plans to meet on her  return from Singapore.  Well, Babette had no idea that there was a Madame Pandet and a wee bebe Pandet, left like so much forgotten luggage in the baggage claim area. There is more to this story than meets the eye, I’m sure.  We are awaiting photos of Madame Pandet, so that we can confront Clod…  um… I mean Claude with the evidence.  Poor Babette is beside herself, as she had NO idea that Clod ..um..Claude was such a cad.

In other news, Babette, the panda kindergarten and myself (Bob) send out get well wishes to some of our Facebook friends who are feeling under the weather, some with some rather serious stuff.  We joke around a lot here at The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire, but we are quite sincere in our affection for the people who love pandas and panda humor.  Like Barbara Streisand sang, “People who love pandas are the luckiest people in the world…”  So here is a little cartoon to let you know that pandas are standing by to make you feel better!

 Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

Yoga for Pandas

OK, I guess I must bestow yet another Roll of Honor award, this time on my favorite yoga instructor in the whole world (and I have been through more than 1 or 2).  I mentioned last week that I had, of my own free will, mind you, completed 21 sun salutes (on the same day, not just in one month) as per her usual practice of having us do this when class falls on a solstice or equinox.  When I told her this she said, “I just had a vision of a panda doing the sun salute.”  Of course what a panda would salute is not, perhaps, the sun, but something that is more near and dear to a panda’s (well, this panda, anyway) heart.  Congratulations Amanda! (of Whidbey Island Yoga)  You are now on the Roll of Honor!  (certificate and cartoon arriving at class this Sunday!)  (OK, the other thing that gets her on the Roll of Honor is that she indulges me in my obsession with my favorite spot, and doesn’t mind when I make unsuspecting newcomers to the class move if they get there before me.)

All salute the sacred cuppycake!

 

Be the Bear!  Embrace the Cuppycake!

Bob T. Panda

If it isn’t one thing, it’s your mother….

Editor’s Note:   But enough about that!  I’ve been working on some drawings for a (panda) book project, so I haven’t been keeping up with Bob and the Panda Kindergarten.  Fortunately, I just got these pictures from Panda-Palooza 2012 which took place at the San Diego Zoo last weekend.  Panda-Palooza is, of course, the celebration of all things panda, and several of our Facebook fans worked long and hard to make this event happen.  Since I myself could not attend, I sent Bob and Babette (and the panda kindergarten to go in my place.  Here are some pictures of them at the convention.

Here is Babette being a very helpful panda. "Would you like to use my pen?"

"This way! This way to the Pandas!"

"Hellooooo! here I am! Fellow panda...Hellooooo!"

"OOOO...I hope I don't get car sick back here...Are we there yet?"

Are we having fun yet?

New cartoons soon… I promise!

 

San Diego Panda Whoopie!

News on the street is that perhaps the “festivities” (we are a family friendly cartoon feature…um… mostly) that took place at the San Diego Zoo earlier this week may have some adorable dividends.  Bai Yun is not telling, although Gao Gao has a bit of a smirk, and keepers reported hearing him mumbling, “Whose da bear?  I’m bad, I’m bad, I still got it…” under his breath as he did handstands and relaxed in his hot-tub.  We won’t know for sure until much later this year, as pandas are notoriously tight-lipped on this subject, as well as unpredictable.

While we wait for our resident chronicler of pandas (will you get on it, and get off the darn computer and DRAW for cryin’ out loud?) to finish the latest cartoon, here is an old favorite on the subject of panda parenthood.

will the pitter patter of little paws soon follow?

 

Till we know more,

Be the Bear

Bob T. Panda