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!