Green

I'm back in Del Rio after several days of vacationing in the Big Bend National Park area, which is in Texas, USA.  There are truly awe inspiring sites to enjoy, and although I cherish the comfort of my home, I do miss being there.  Therefore, I'm dedicating this post to my last days there through pictures I took, commentaries, and art projects that were inspired by my vacation.  In addition, this will be the 3rd post regarding the Big Bend area, so it will be officially a series.  Right?

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

No, this is not one of my card designs.  My wife and daughters made it for me during a scrapbooking party they were invited too.  They even made the green envelope!  I'm very proud of it, because it's the first time they've ever made one.  They also brought me coffee in bed that morning and gave me several very thoughtful artsy gifts.  I LOVE my girls!

The green lizard posed,

As we marveled & praised God,

Creator of all.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

My first project is for Tag Tuesday, which is featuring the color Green.  My Camping post was featured in their blog, and my blog is now listed under "More Artists Playing Along" on their sidebar.  Thank you, Carolyn!  For this tag, I used matte medium to glue tan script pint tissue to the background.  When it was dry, I scrapped the edges and distressed them with a Sepia Archival ink pad.  I cut a photograph I took of a Southwestern Earless Lizard at Big Bend into a circular shape and edged it with the sepia pad.  (I love the lizard's emerald green markings!)  Next, I composed a haiku poem about the experience and wrote it on a sheet of K&Company Smash captions with a green marker.  I also edged the sheet with the sepia pad.  I used some K&Company die-cuts that matched my green theme, and arranged them along with my other elements on the tag.  I made a pendant using some green and amber glass beads and tied it to the end of a strip of green twine.  I tied a feather to the other end.  I attached the twine to my tag.  I'm also submitting this tag to Word Art Wednesday Challenge #33 and Craft Artwork - Post #1 Motivational Word/Words.

Sotol Vista has a truly breathtaking view.
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Convenience Store, yes!
Looking for something to eat,
In the heat, ICE CREAM!
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

After hiking through several trails in temperatures of well over 100˚F (38˚C) on Father's Day, we needed something to cool off.  We found this little convenience store that had an antique Gulf gas pump, so I had to take a photograph.  Using the Sketchbook app in my iPad, I used my photograph to make this digital collage.  I began by importing my picture and blending it with a red background.  On a third layer, I sketched the desert motifs in the corners.  Finally, I used a fourth layer to type the haiku poem that I composed about our experience.  I think its kind of humorous.  I am submitting this piece to Crazy Amigo - Yellow, Red and Orange and to Inspiration Avenue - On Holiday.  I'm also submitting my two landscape photographs to Inspiration Avenue.

Santa Elena Canyon was the highlight of our trails that day.  It is mesmerizing to stand in the middle of the canyon.  God is truly the greatest artist of all.
© Arnoldo L. Romero

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

On our last day, my wife and I decided to sit outside with cups of coffee in hand to wait for the sunrise.  It was worth it!  I was able to take a couple of stunning sunrise photographs with the ocotillo cacti in the foreground.  When I saw last week's Play Date Cafe color story, which included azure, raspberry and blackberry, I knew they would coordinate well with one of my photographs.  Unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to make my card on time to meet the submission deadline.  However, I'm still using the colors and applying them to Card Positioning Systems' Sketch #270, as well as taking the challenge at Take a Word - Sewing.  In my design, I used a zig-zag pattern for the trim instead of rick-rack and incorporated stitching around the perimeter.  I used a kraft card base, papers from a K&Company Urban Rhapsody pad, a sentiment slip by K&Company, blue thread, a blue vintage button, and a blue Marvy marker.  My tools included a Martha Stewart border punch and a Tim Holtz design ruler to make the stitching holes.  I wanted a American western pioneer feel to my card, and believe I achieved it.  I also stained all the paper and card edges with the sepia Archival Ink pad.

Before heading home, my family and I got to ride horses through Terlingua, an abandoned cinnabar mining ghost town.  We were joined by my wife's cousin and her son.   We had so much fun!
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero

So, what's on my workdesk now that I'm back home?  It's an acrylic painting in progress, which is actually on my easel, and I'm submitting it to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  The painting is one of 3 pieces that I'll be showing at the Cathedral House Gallery, located at the Bishop Jones Center, at 111 Torcido Drive, San Antonio, TX 78209.  The opening reception is on Sunday, June 24th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Central Time.  However, it will be up through the Summer, and the gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  It is open to the public, so if you're in town, please feel free to stop by.  Other artists in the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas will also be featured.

In closing, I am submitting both my card and tag to the Simon Says Stamp and Show a bit of brown.  They both meet the criteria for there challenge.  Last, but not least, I am also very excited to let you know that I am now a contributor to The Twenty Minute Challenge.  Thank you, Teri!  You can check my first entry thus far here, but I'll be posting a new one by Saturday.  Hope you enjoyed reading about my creative journey as much as I did going through it.  I'd love for you to leave a comment and/or follow my blog.  Both are truly motivating to my artistic life.  Blessings!

PS - I almost forgot!  My blogging friend Karen Letchworth is giving away a copy of CD#3 from Crafty Secrets, with images to use in cards and other projects.  Be sure and visit My Cup Runneth Over for more details.