Friday Art Smorgasbord - Texas Style

Howdy!  If you study Texas history, you will find that our culture is a blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, French, Irish, British, African American, Chinese, Japanese, German, and many other cultures.  Therefore, you can find names, foods, drinks, music, art, literature, and festivals that reflect influences from all these groups.  However, since our first settlers were ranchers, the "vaquero," cowboy in English, became our primary symbolic representation.  This is the inspiration for this post.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

My first piece, is a "Loteria" tag of "La Bota," the boot, which I designed and illustrated for my Tag Tuesday's Table Games post.  You may recall my Seaside and Other Summer Fun Places post on July 3rd, where I explained the Mexican origins of this game.  This tag also features a used Yahtzee score sheet, a double-two domino to represent the cards #22, a royal flush stamp, and a Scrabble "B" tile as part of the card's title.  These are all games that my family and I have enjoyed playing.  I am submitting this tag to Simon Says Stamp and Show - No Rules.

The vaquero works
In God's blessed green country
Living honestly.
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I did this drawing of a pair of my "botas vaqueras," cowboy boots, for my Twenty-Minute Challenge post this week.  I also wrote a poem for Haiku Heights - Green and Recuerda mi Corazón.  Although my father was a bishop, most of his brothers were ranchers in central Mexico.  Although many of them are now deceased, some of my cousins still rejoice in God's creation and thrive to live by His word, rather they're wealthy or not.  Therefore, I dedicated this part of the post to them.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

The art journal page above was inspired by Artist's Playroom #23 - Illustrate a Word, Word Art Wednesday #42 - Joy, and Artists in Blogland - Show and Tell Saturday #24.  This was a stressful week for me, since I moved my daughter into her first apartment and then went back to work at school.  However, I need to remember not to worry, but trust in the Lord, who watches over all of His creations.  Not only will He watch over my daughter, but will ensure that I have a successful school year and am able to continue my artistic endeavors.  Therefore, as found in Psalm 71:23, "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You, I whom You have delivered."

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I shot the 3 photographs above at Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas, where my oldest daughter is a Sophomore.  I took them when we moved my daughter into her apartment, while walking around campus.  It is an excellent university in a relatively safe city, but it is nearly a 6-hour drive away from Del Rio.  Therefore, I wish we lived there so we could visit more often.  I am submitting them to the 52-Photos Project Gallery 18 {On the Street} and Inspiration Avenue - If you could be anywhere.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Last, but not least, I took a photograph of a small pastel drawing that I did of a "vaquero."  It is attached onto a vintage window frame that was re-purposed into a display board.  An artist friend of mine made it by adding a plywood back and chicken wire to the front.  I covered the back with paper bags featuring a vintage ad print, because it went better with my studio's look.  I use clothespins to hold some of my small pieces of art and notes like this Bible passage that another friend gave me.  You may find a photograph of the whole frame in my My Studio post.  I am submitting this to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #168 and Paint Party Friday #24 Year 2.

I hope you enjoyed my "Happy Trails."  Thank you for your kind and motivating comments during my last post. You are cordially invited to leave a comment this week and join my list of followers.  ¡Vaya con Dios!  Walk with God!