Seaside and Other Summer Fun Places

In my family, Summer is a time for relaxation, trips, and explorations.  Although not extravagant or expensive, we always have fun.  As with other artists, daily life experiences influence my art work.  This was most evident in my Matthew 26:34, Camping, and Green posts, in which I documented my family's trip to the Big Bend National Park area, in Texas, through photographs and art work.  Sometimes, these inspirational experiences are from the past, as is the case in this post.

This is my family and me in the Corpus Christi, Texas, Shoreline Drive walkway park area.
Summer 2011
© Arnoldo L. Romero, 2012

La Canción de la Sirena - The Song of the Mermaid
"Lotería" Card Tag
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

This tag is inspired by a game that I used to play as a child during the summers called "Lotería," which is the Mexican equivalent to Bingo.  (I also introduced it to my daughters when they were young, as a means to develop their vocabulary and cultural awareness.)  All Lotería sets have 54 cards, which are named and numbered.  However, instead of calling out the numbers for the players to fill their boards, cards are drawn one at a time and called out by their name.  Anyway, one of the cards is "La Sirena," or the mermaid, which is card number 6.  Mermaids are mythical aquatic creatures that are half-woman and half-fish, and have appeared in various cultures throughout the world. According to a myth, they used their singing to lure sailors to catastrophe.  For my ginormous tag, I worked on Daler-Rowney 100% Cotton paper.  I used Faber-Castell artist India ink pens and Sakura micron pens for the drawing, lining and lettering.  I designed a miniature corner embellishment on a seaside Art-C tile scene using sand, a shell, faux pearls, wire, a metal seahorse, a star stamp, a scrap of greenish paper, and a Tim Holtz blank charm.  I also used a Tim Holtz grungeboard number "6" and a K&Company frame to complete my mixed media collage.  As a finishing touch, I added a tassel made with greenish ribbons and a shimmery fiber wire.  By the way, my mermaid is nice and has just come to the seaside to invite you to enjoy the ocean - LOL!  I am submitting this for my Tag Tuesday-Seaside post, as well as to Take a Word-Music, and Collage Obsession-Mermaids.

Date Night
iPhone 4 Photograph
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Twenty Minute Sketch
5x7" Art Journal Pen & Ink
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

American Red
12x15" Pastel
© Arnoldo L. Romero

Another Summer activity that I enjoy is having a date night with my wife at our favorite wine place, which has a fabulous outdoor patio and live music.  I am submitting my photograph to 52photos Project - Gallery 10 {Release}.  It is a composition I did on the spot when my wife and I were out.  The owners grow grapes in the patio and gave us a sampling of their small, but delicious grapes to have with our wine.  I used the photograph as inspiration to do a pen and ink sketch for my Twenty Minute Challenge post.  As you can see, I changed the composition a bit, because I  used it as a study for the pastel piece.  My wife's cousin asked me to do a piece in which there was a wine bottle and where red was the featured color.  I hope she likes it.  I am submitting this pastel piece to Artists Play Room #16 Red & White...& Blue, since I'll be having an American red wine to celebrate the 4th of July - I'll drink to Canada's birthday too!  I am also submitting it to Paint Party Friday - Week 16.

I'll be driving up to the Dallas/Ft Worth area to spend the 4th of July weekend with family.  Hopefully I'll find new inspiration.  As usual, you are invited to leave a comment and/or join my list of followers.  That is one of the most encouraging things you can do to inspire me to continue to create.  Thank you for stopping by, have a marvelous week, and blessings!