Te Amo

This week, Card Positioning Systems challenged their readers to use sketch CPS #256.  Their sponsor is Bombshell Stamps, which is known for Vintage tattoo stamps and Pin-ups, as well as a new Sugar Skull collection and other designs.  Since I've used variations of the Sacred Heart, the pinup, and the sugar skull themes in my artwork on various occasions, I was very motivated to work on this challenge.  After some deliberation, I decided to pay homage to Alberto Vargas, the Peruvian premier pinup artist of the 1940's.  In case you are not familiar with him, I decided to write a short bio.

According to Tom Robotham, in VARGA, on October 15, 1940, ESQUIRE magazine introduced Vargas to the world.  Known as the "Varga Girls," his pinups were known for their beauty and eroticism, yet they conveyed a feeling of wholesomeness.  During World War II, the Varga Girls helped raise morale amongst American military troops serving abroad.  The Varga Girl pinups not only adorned military sleeping quarters, but were sometimes copied and painted on combat planes.  Due to unreasonable production requests by ESQUIRE, Vargas's work relationship with the magazine and his use of the trademark the "Varga Girl" came to an abrupt end in 1947.

After looking through several of his pieces for inspiration, I used a pencil to sketch a girl leaning over and surrounded her with flowers.  I used a Sharpie to outline her and add some detailing.  I scanned the drawing, cleaned it up digitally, and printed it on a piece of white card stock.  I used Bienfang watercolor brush pens and Prismacolor pencils to color her.  I accented the flowers with Tim Holtz worn lipstick Distress Stickles, and then highlighted the eyes and lips with Ranger Glossy accents.

Next, I began working on the card.  I used an American Crafts 5x7" card for the base and a butterfly print from a DCWV Garden Party Stack for the background.  The background's corners were embellished with an EK Success punch.  I then created a double mat with a K&Company flower print, a Colobök brown punch-out, and four red eyelet brads.  I cropped the pinup with a Fiskars ShapeCutter system circle template, scraped the circumference, edged it with burnt sienna stain, and attached it with some foam pads.  Instead of the side rectangular bar, I used a knotted vermilion ribbon.  As a finishing touch, I made a plate with some scraps to write the phrase "Te Amo," which is Spanish for "Love You."

I feel this card has a very vintage Latin feel to it, which is very appropriate considering Alberto Vargas was my inspiration.  This card design would be great for any guy, since the coloring of the image, the text, and the paper selection could be adjusted to fit other needs.  I invite you to follow my blog and/or leave me a comment.  I truly appreciate it and motivates me to continue to create.  Blessings!