Seaside

Greetings from the Dallas - Ft. Worth metroplex, in Texas!  My family and I drove up on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the 4th of July, as well as my mother and mother-in-law's birthdays.  We've thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as we've visited with family, old friends, and our old stomping grounds.

Seaside Love
Mixed Media ATC Tag
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012
Thursday afternoon, as I was visiting with my mother, I painted this miniature piece.  I based it on a photograph that my oldest daughter took of my wife and me in 2008 during a Summer vacation at Mustang Island, Texas.  It's one of my favorite pictures!  I started off with a quick pencil sketch and inked it with a Sharpie micron pen.  Then, I did some quick water color washes.  When it was dry, I added some details with colored pencils and white gelato.  As a finishing touch, I sprayed it with a red dye mixture to give it a warm glow.  To turn the ATC into a tag, I edged it with a black stamp pad, made a whole at one end, and added some ribbon, fibers, and a strip of beaded wire.  I struggled with this piece and don't consider it my best work, but I like the tender composition by the seaside and the warm color scheme.  This is my entry for Tag Tuesday - Seaside, but will also be submit it to Artist's Playroom #17, Paint Party Friday Week 17, the Simon Says Stamp and Show - Spritz, Spray or Stencil, and to Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Tags or ATC's.


This was my work area on Thursday afternoon.  My portfolio and a Hobby Lobby shopping bag worked as my storage bins and my art supply box as my table.  The Hobby Lobby bag was filled with new goodies I purchased during a shopping spree, and was able to try a couple of them on my ATC Tag.  (We don't have an art supply store in Del Rio, so visiting one is always on my list of things to do when I visit a big city.  I'm like a child in a candy store!)  It was a very comfortable seat, but not the best work area.  However, it was marvelous having my dear mother sitting next to me.  It reminded me of when I was a child and my mother carried art supplies for me to entertain myself when we were out in public.  LOL!  I am submitting this to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #161.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012
Both my mother and mother-in-law have a green thumb, so I always enjoy sitting in their gardens.  They're the kind of places to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening.  This flower is from a hibiscus bush in my mother-in-law's garden.  Since it's a tropical plant, she has it growing in a pot to ensure she can provide it with the proper care.  (My mother had red ones in her garden when I was growing up.)  I used my iPhone 4S to take the photograph, and believe it truly captured the flower's color and beauty.  Don't you agree?  I'm submitting this to 52 Photos Project Gallery 11 {Different Pathway}, since I took this picture away from my home.

Anyway, although I haven't had an opportunity to visit the seaside this summer, I've had a marvelous time enjoying God's many blessings and living an artful life.  As usual, you are cordially invited to leave a comment and/or follow my blog.  Blessings!

Comments

Anna-Karin said…
This is beautiful! Love the little seaside scene you created. Thank you for playing along with us at Simon Says Stamp & Show!
Dan said…
Great ATC/tag, I love the feeling of warmth you've achieved, that red dye spray really did the trick! Thanks so much for joining us in this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge.
Beautiful original art work with so much meaning on this fab ATC!! ~ Blessings

http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/
Candy C said…
Arnoldo...your ATC is beautiful! I really like the fact that it is TOTALLY your creation; from the sketched scene to the way you've colored in every little detail. I really love the red dye spray that you added at the end. It really does give a nice warm glow. Thanks for sharing your art with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy
leonie wise said…
love the colour of that hibiscus.
HeARTworks said…
Cute tag! Looks like a scene from an old movie! patsy
Deborah said…
a beauty of a hibiscus!
scrappymo! said…
Such a pretty little seaside picture!
Marlena M. said…
Gorgeous tag! I love the scene you created here.
GlorV1 said…
Love your seaside scene and hobby lobby bag. Thanks for sharing tidbits about events, etc. Happy PPF!
Kristen said…
Very pretty, this is very artistic. Love the scene you've created, thanks for describing your process!

xo, Kristina
Sharing bloggy love from SSS challenge
Come by and see me sometime!
www.pearlgateway.com
Mary C. Nasser said…
Wonderful miniature painting!
I am like a kid in a candy store when going to art stores, too!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
Lisa Carroll said…
This tag is exquisite! Absolutely fabulous sketch, and I, too, love the warm tones you used. My parents also had a (red) hibiscus plant in our backyard while I was growing up... certainly stunning blooms. :) Thank you for playing along in the tag/ATC challenge this week over at Simon Says Stamp challenge blog!
pat brennan said…
I've enjoyed taking a little tour around your blog Arnold. You are an inspiration.

Pat x
Winnie said…
Love your tag! What a treasure of you and your wife. I had to smile when I read about your mom bringing art supplies along to keep you occupied. She opened such an amazing world for you by doing so, and encouraged your great talents to be use. I know you encourage your children so I can see how her love has passed down to all of you. Glad you got to spend time together..
JKW said…
The seaside postcard is adorable. I love it. Blessings, Janet PPF
Valerie said…
I like the tag. Wonderful story behind the picture. Your workspace looks a little cramped but doable. I can understand your delight at shopping at Hobby Lobby. That flower is beautiful. I agree the iphone did a great job of capturing its beauty. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! Valerie #142
Rosa Viñas said…
Te sigo. Me gusta tu blog.
Saludos
Ms. Becky said…
I like your art work, very much. and I like too that you showed us your work area where it was created. Your art is comforting - nostalgic - and makes me feel good just looking at it; I especially like Kate pastel on your sidebar. thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hello, I'm happy that you did. happy Tuesday to you.
Linda W. said…
I love your flower photo. Such nice colors!
Borqna said…
Seaside Love - This is one of my favorite pictures! Many times I come here to watch it. Admire a lot. I wanted to write a comment, but my mind was running. Magnificent is!
Great post!