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!

This Week's Sketch (#270)

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.

Comments

I LOVE the tag, Arnoldo, but really - all of these projects are super. Your art always intrigues me. I saw today that Simon Says Stamp and Show Vintage Blog has a DT call, and I immediately thought of you. Thanks again for sharing your beautiful art with us each week. Let's see more!
Blessings,
Karen L
Word Art Wednesday
Maggie said…
Such an interesting post ~ it sounds like you had a wonderful vacation. I love the tag, and especially the convenience store collage! The red color just emphasizes the heat and how refreshing ice cream can be. The haiku is perfect!

Thanks for playing with us at Inspiration Avenue!
Such wonderful projects!! Love that your wife and daughters have created their first card for you. How sweet!! ~ Blessings

http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/
peggy aplSEEDS said…
i enjoyed my visit today, with your projects (and your wife's and daughters') and the wonderful pictures. Indeed "God is truly the greatest artist of all" happy WOYWW!
blessings and hugs from #15
peggy aplSEEDS
Lou Anne Hazel said…
I'm glad you participated in our challenge at Inspiration Avenue. Your work is very diverse. I enjoyed your comments as well as the images.
SandeeNC said…
Thanks for sharing the photos from the trip and it's really nice how you incorporated some of them into challenges. have fun with your art gallery showing, sounds wonderful! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)
Hazel said…
Gorgeous views and beautiful crafting, including the card the girls made for you. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a good week. Hazel WOYWW #87 x
Neesie said…
What a packed post Arnoldo...such a lot to take in...but so enjoyable.
Your a busy bee for sure!
Thanks for sharing.
Happy WOYWW Neesie #26
... and thank you for playing Tag Tuesday Arnoldo. Your green tag is now showing there to be enjoyed and admired. Glad you had a great vacation and got home safely ... but there's no place like home right?

Carolyn - Tag Tuesday
Miriam said…
Sounds like you had a fabulous time.

Love your work.

#101
Leovi said…
A wonderful place, great pictures, I love those frames.
gurka_krolowa said…
Hi Arnoldo,
thank you for your work for our tag-journal challenge at Craft Artwork :) it's always nice to see your works there.
A nice surprise is to see a man among the participants of the challenges. It's unusual here and also a nice change :D

Greetings from Poland,
guru_królowa from DT Craft Artwork
mark gould said…
Happy woyww, love the tag and the holiday snaps, looks like a great adventure you had.
happy crafting, mark
SophieNewton said…
Fabulous cards and what stunning photographs
Sophie no.92
Deb Neerman said…
WoWzA, such fabulous creations! Love your tags and your terrific photographs, too!
Lisa Richards said…
Stunning photos and the cards are fun and creative! Glad your family enjoyed the vacation!
Karin said…
love the tag you made and the photo of the covenience store is brilliant!
Anonymous said…
What fun to see your pix and art! Just looking at that convenience store in brilliant summer colours, made me long for an iceream cone!
Take your pick! I'm here from both WOYWW and Inspiration Avenue. I truly enjoyed the photo of the canyon, as well as the sunrise. How awesome.
Love your tag! Such beautiful photos too!
Patrice said…
Beautiful creations, as usual...I'm going to have to get that app for my iPad! I hope you'll link up with me at 52 Card Pickup again this week!
http://www.oldbackporch.com/2012/06/52-card-pickup-week-25.html
Valerie said…
How sweet of your girls to give you the cards made and making the day special for you! Beautiful tag you made!Love the pics of your trip! Beautiful card with the sunrise picture!
Julia Dunnit said…
Gosh Arnoldo, you can work tiny tags and big canvasses, what a skilled artist. And what backdrops you have to inspire you! Fascinating post.
Rosa Viñas said…
Fantástico blog. Su obra es apasionante.

Un abrazo
Linda Beeson said…
I would want to visit where you are visiting, sounds so neat! LOVE your CPS card, very nice!
Sounds like a lovely adventure you had as a family, Arnoldo! Love that antique Gulf sign. My stepdad had worked for them, and we moved from the PHiladelphia area to Houston in 1976 for his job. :)
krcmasterpiece said…
First may I say-I wish my husband would try his artistic side. I love your style.

Thanks for playing with us @ Word Art Wednesday!
Eliza said…
I started reading this post then decided to get a coffee and come back and read the action packed story. Oh such a lovely place to go, I so want to be there, it looks so warm and such fun. I can pack my bags and be on the next flight out of Australia tomorrow, actually today. LOL I want to ride the horses and go through canons and have sun rises and sun sets. Your talent incorporating your art into this is amazing, thank you for sharing. Oh and I also went off to the app store to look at the apps to see which one would be best and well got stuck on that too as there are so many apps. I am interested in which app you use. Thank you again, I will see you next time.

Eliza
Borqna said…
...Yes! I remember this picture with the horses.
"What a wonderful vacation " - I said then.
I enjoy your designs.
Noticed that your followers have grown more than twice! This is great! You have many fans and you get an attention. I congratulate you for this!
Thanks again for sharing your beautiful art with us!
Blessings,
Borqna
justi said…
Hej Arnoldo. It my first time on your blog and I'm so impressed that for sure will visit you regularly. I love so much this small form-tag and your is so beautiful that I can't stop watching. Super!