Below is a slideshow of the images from the booklet, a YouTube performance from Steven and a song from the CD. Thanks Steven for designing such a lovely layout of my work in your CD!

“European Championship Finalist 2012″, Birmingham, UK “2001 – 2011 Celebrating 10 years on stage
Contact Steven @ Mobil: +352-691-360460 Email: info@elvis.lu Web: www.elvis.lu www.facebook.com/steven.pitman

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

If you have any problems voting or viewing the results, just click Bettyblog in the sidebar to refresh the page. Thanks!

In August 1987, I was taking my 10^th consecutive trip to Memphis to exhibit my art during Elvis Week. Though, I had been exhibiting my drawings for years, they had never been for sale. Little did I know that this year was going to be different. While I was sitting in the lobby of the Roadway Inn on Airways discussing my work with the Fans, in walks Carole Drexler, a longtime Elvis fan from California . Carole came to the show and was interested in one of the drawings titled, “Loving You”. I thanked her for her interest in the drawing but informed her that they were not for sale. I had been drawing Elvis since about the age of ten, every day of my growing years were spend rendering his image. Every thought I ever had, every feeling I ever felt, went into those pictures and to sell one was like giving away a part of my life. Now here was this lady that wanted to own one, I had to do some serious soul searching.

Later Carol spoke with a friend and told her what I had said. Her friend encouraged her to approach me again, which she did, day after day. Through her persistence, I started thinking that maybe I should let her “adopt” this piece, she loved so dearly. I decided if she came and inquired about the drawing again, I would indeed let her have the art. Carol showed up once more and with a heavy heart I let her take the art home. She was so happy and nervous that when she made out the cashier’s check she wrote, “Carole Harper” instead of Drexler.

Since that time Carole has acquired an extensive gallery of her own Betty Harper original Elvis artwork, and her collection continues to grow. Since Carole broke the ice many fans have massed their own collections of my Elvis art. I love what I do and especially drawing Elvis and exhibiting them for the fans to enjoy. The fans have always been so supporting of me and my artwork and I greatly appreciate it.

Elvis Tshirt Betty Harper

Anyone who has visited Elvis’ birthplace in Tupelo knows the story about a young Elvis who would, in the evenings, climb the hill that is now the back side of the park and sit with his guitar looking out over Tupelo…dreaming the dream. There is now a monument on the site erected by RCA.

Now exclusively at the birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi, they are offering a T-shirt “Never Forget Your Dreams” featuring my artwork.The front features the drawing of Elvis and on the left sleeve is the logo for the birthplace. The shirt is a new arrival and is available on their website at Elvis’s Birthplace or you may call them at, 662.841.1245 and ask for the gift shop.

Upcoming Exhibits of Elvis Art by Betty Harper

Elvis artwork by Betty Harper will be showcased at The Center for Southern Folklore, located at 119 S. Main Street in Memphis, August 1, 2012 – October 19, 2012 and at the Birthplace of Elvis in Tupelo, Miss., November 1, 2012 – January 15, 2003.

In observance of the 35^th anniversary of Elvis’ passing and in honor of the 40^th anniversary of The Center for Southern Folklore, numerous pieces of Betty Harper’s original Elvis artwork will be on display for fans around the world to enjoy.

Since she was first entranced by the magic of Elvis in the 50′s, Betty has created more than 10,000 portraits of the king, capturing every period of his life. Although Betty’s artwork includes drawings of famous statesmen, entertainers and sports heroes, she has become most famous for her portraits of Elvis.

With countless awards and ribbons by the time she graduated from Dreux American High School in France, Betty studied at the American Academy in Paris where she continued to develop as an artist with a style distinctly her own. “The subject matter of my art varies, but my first love has always been faces.” As she grew older, her interest in Elvis intensified. “There was something incredibly inspiring about him. He pushed right to the limit of his potential, always himself, always trying to be the best he could be.” “Every face has a story to tell,” says Betty. “Every time I draw him, I see another side, almost another person. Just when I think I’ve exhausted all the possibilities, have sketched every angle, every expression, I begin to draw and discover another.”

To learn more about the exhibit at The Center for Southern Folklore, please visit www.southernfolklore.com. Betty Harper, will be on hand to autograph her works of art on Thursday, August 9th, 2012.

Betty’s Elvis artwork will also be featured November 1, 2012 – Jan 15, 2013 at The Birthplace of Elvis in Tupelo, Mississippi. To learn more, visit www.elvispresleybirthplace.com.

My Elvis art exhibit for January will be at the HEARTBREAK HOTEL on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th from 12 – 5:00. I look forward to seeing everyone that is able to attend the celebration this year.

Arnold’s restaurant is a Nashville institution started thirty years ago by Jack Arnold.  Southerners lovingly refer to this type of eatery as  “a meat and 3” and the place to be, standing in lines that run out the door. Get your food and take a seat in this cozy atmosphere or join anyone else for a great lunch and interesting conversation. Recently, the Food Networks, Guy Fieri found his way to “Arnolds”, and left his stamp on the wall.

Friendly faces and warm hospitality are always on the menu along with carved roast beef, fried green tomatoes, and not to be missed, my favorite dessert, chess pie with meringue. The walls are lined with autographed photos of everyone from Brook Shields to Chet Adkins and framed magazines covers that have featured Arnolds. Among the array of photos is one that was presented to Rose and Jack Arnold by the son of Chet Adkins. It includes the art I created for RCA Records in the 70’s that was a collage of the entire country music artists represented by the label at that time. The original art is now part of the permanent collection of the Country Music Hall of Fame (approximately 40” x 40”).

Jack who always had the duty of slicing the roast beef has turned over the knife to his son Kahlil who now runs the restaurant along with the same smiling group who always greets you. So if you find yourself in Nashville at lunch time stop in and say hello to Rose, Franz & Kahlil and the gang and enjoy the Southern hospitality they dish up.

Arnold s Country Restaurant

]]> http://bettyharper.com/2011/12/12/restaurant-review-arnolds-a-nashville-institution/feed/ 0 http://bettyharper.com/2011/11/30/flashback-deja-vu/ http://bettyharper.com/2011/11/30/flashback-deja-vu/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:08:11 +0000 admin http://bettyharper.com/?p=3561 Deja vu is an interesting phenomenon!  While having lunch with my son, James, at Chuy’s on the corner of 17th and Broadway, the famed Music Row in Nashville, it dawned on me I had been here before. It had been forty years since I was last in this building. Back then, it was a drive-in restaurant where the musicians and management would meet up and head out on bus tours to perform.

Why was this realization relevant to me? It was here forty years ago in this restaurant, midnight to be exact; I waited to board a tour bus with Loretta Lynn. My husband and I had been invited to accompany her on a tour up the east coast to the Virginias. This was the trip that turned our family of three siblings into four by March of 1972. The happy occasion brought a girl whom we named….Loretta Lynn!

For decades, the building remained vacant and an eyesore but today the location is a Chuy’s Mexican Grill. They have done a fabulous job of beautifying the location even keeping the original “drive-in” overhang where customers would pull-up to order. Chuy’s is based out of Texas and had one location here but it is a good thirty minutes away. Now with this new location just around the corner, I can enjoy good food and the very unique Chuys’, “ELVIS SHRINE”.

When the  time came to work on our yearbook, it was only fitting that the dedication be to President Kennedy. I long ago lost my yearbook but with the help of former classmates, I have obtained this drawing.  I drew this portrait of Kennedy when I was seventeen and it was used for the  dedication page of our yearbook.