From A Dream

On July 26, 2000, an image of a little girl's cartoon came into my dream.  When I woke up, I quickly sketched her in my journal, not really knowing what she meant.  At the time, I was the principal at a local parochial school and had two early elementary school girls of my own.  I figured that may have something to do with my dream.  However, I soon forgot about her.

Yesterday, Karen Letchworth mentioned Pile It On in her blog, which literally encourages readers to pile up various challenges along with theirs.  This week, they have Challenge #21, which is about using patterns and mixing scales.  I decided to try them out, and researched various blog challenges to find the perfect combination for my art projects.

©Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

First of all, I knew I wanted to use The Play Date Cafe PDCC132 color scheme, which features black, white and a splash of mustard yellow.  I've been playing with them for a couple of months and love their design team.  Next, I searched for a theme and found that Sunday Postcard Art blog's theme for the week is childhood.  I've never played with them before, but loved the featured postcard by Audrey - that's what reminded me of my old cartoon.  All kinds of mediums are allowed, so when I found the Crazy Amigo Challenge - Doodle, I knew what I wanted to do.  I learned to tangle through 3 books by Sandy Steen Bartholomew, a Certified Zentangle teacher.  I've never met her in person, but I consider her one of my blogging friends.  I even won the Latin Lover Bean Award she sponsored last summer!  Therefore, I combined these challenges to create the Zentangle Tile in my art journal.

©Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

For my card, I decided to use the sketch in Card Positioning Systems CPS266.  I hadn't played with them in a while, but their layout was perfect for me to use the pattern scale mix in the Pile It On challenge.  I recycled a scrap from a church bulletin and a vintage typewriter key print by Paperabilities.  I also had a mustard colored stamp frame by K&Company and some black and white Stanley mason's line that would fit the Play Date Cafe challenge perfectly.  I scanned my tile and cut it with a pair of Fiskars stamp scissors.  I created my focal point with the print and a Dymo label with the word "Hello," over a scrap from an Art-C print.  I flipped the sketch vertically and altered the order of the layered elements to fit my needs.  It worked!

©Arnoldo L. Romero 2012
Since the original Zentangle tile is only 3"x3," I used another print of it for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge.  They require that the postcard be 6"x4" in size.  I glued a strip of black paper that I had decorated using bubble wrap and white acrylic paint several years ago.  I matted my print in black and estimated where it would be.  I drew some light pencil lines and sketched out where I wanted to place my text - Psalm 127:3.  I inked my lettering with the same Sakura micron pens I used to tangle.  I attached my print with foam squares and scattered some K&Company mustard colored flowers.  As a finishing touch, I added dashed lines around the perimeter of my postcard.


This Week's Sketch (#266)

As you can tell, I had a fun with these art projects.  Hope you enjoy them too.  Since I first got the idea for these art projects from Karen, I'm also using the postcard as an entry to the Word Art Wednesday challenge.  As if it wasn't enough, I am posting this in Take A Word Challenge - Dream, since all of these art projects stemmed from a dream.  (Isn't that weird?)  I truly appreciate all your comments, and would love to increase my number of followers, so  you are cordially invited to join me.  Blessings!

Comments

Dalis said…
Hi Arnoldo!
We are so happy you found us (pile It On!)! I am just loving all your amazing art, I might go late to bed tonight due to your amazing blog!

-- dalis
That is really cool! I totally got lost with all the challenges - but LOVE the result. :-)
Your blog-friend, Sandy (heehee)
Marijke said…
this is sóooo great, super
Ozstuff said…
Welcome to "Take a Word" Challenge and thankyou so much for sharing your whimsical and very creative "dream" artpiece. Love the Zentangling!!
A very cool scene Arnoldo.
Lovely greet
Marja
Borqna said…
Very interesting to me are your new projects. How an image can be reborn in different compositions and situations. Everything is in its exact place. Your notes and explanations are great - Thank you for sharing with us. I really liked the way you combine challenges.
As Pooh says - The more - much more!
I enjoy this your new post.
Wish you success!
Anonymous said…
Fabulous design, Arnoldo! Love the words, too.
Winnie said…
I love your drawing! It is so adorable. What a fun piece you made using it.
I just love how this project evolved. Your creative process is always so interesting to me, and I appreciate that you share it with us. It makes me appreciate your art even more. You are a blessing and an encouragement, and I'm so grateful to God for your participation at Word Art Wednesday and in my own crafting life. Thanks for blessing me through your beautiful art and using your talents to glorify the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Blessings,
Karen L
Word Art Wednesday
Elizabeth Hart said…
Love your projects - they are so fun and intersting to look at and find all the intricate designs. Thanks so much for joining us this week at Pile it On!
Gemiel said…
Wow, you really piled it on and the results turned out beautifully!!! Love how you combined all the different artistic elements. Thanks for adding Word Art Wednesday to your "pile" this week.
The Zentangled girl is so cute! I especially love the way you wrote out that bit of Scripture, though. You have great handwriting, Arnoldo!

Thanks a bunch for playing with us at The Play Date Cafe!
Donna B. said…
Wow! You have been busy!! These are all great projects Arnoldo!! I love the yellow frame of your card and all the cool recycled elements you used! And that little cartoon girl is so fun - you are a great artist. I need to learn more about the Zentangle since I am an AVID doodler. I haven't done anything in my art journal in a couple of weeks and you have inspired me to take it out and get doodling. I always enjoy seeing your creations. Thanks for playing with us again this week at The Play Date Cafe.
Jinny Newlin said…
Such great projects! Your fonts are absolutely stunning and completely fabulous! Thanks so much for playing along with us this week at The Play Date Cafe!

And I don't think that I ever thanked you for the sweet comment you left, on my blog, for last week's layout. Thank you! It meant a lot to my hubby, too ;).
Arnoldo said…
Thank you Sandy. I learned to tangle through your books and blog, so it means a lot to me to have you comment on my blog. Blessings!
nice Blog!
thanks for visit me!
from Chile
c@
Linda Beeson said…
Great use of that nice color combo and I like you used the CPS sketch too.
Wendy Swenne said…
I love this. Love the image and what you made with it!!

Great to see you made 2 things for our challenge!

Thanks for playing along with us at WAW.

Wendy
Kelly Griglione said…
Such a wonderful, whimsical project! Thanks for posting your inspiration, Arnoldo!
Lisa Minckler said…
Hello Arnoldo,
I stopped in to say that I so appreciated your very kind words of encouragement on my blog regarding the questionable triangle candy holder...ha! It has been a pleasure visiting your blog as well and I must say that I love the Zentangle work you've done. Your drawing skills are masterful and I really like this latest creation you've designed. I have several bloggy friends who have tried to encourage me to try this drawing technique and I have not as of yet. Seeing your work has truly inspired. :)
Thank you again for your visit and I hope you're having a wonderful week.
Lisa
Adri Munhoz said…
Love it! I adore your little girl! Hugs
Electra said…
Your sketch is wonderful and I love how you have used it in the different ways!
Laura Williams said…
I'm so glad you came to play with us at CPS! :)
Anonymous said…
Fabulous creation love the colours, thanks for joining us on the Pile it on challenge this time, hugs Samantha :0)
Teen Queen said…
I really like the lettering and the zentangle. Great!