Friday Art Smorgasbord #5

This was a hectic week, and it's not going to get any better for a while.  Besides the regular house chores to be done, my two daughters and I have been getting ready to go back to school.  However, I thank God I had some time to work in my studio.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

The first two photographs above are for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday #166 and Inspire Me Monday Week 31.  The first picture is part of the current series of vignettes in my studio that I've been featuring.  This area of my studio is for storage and reading.  I use the vintage cases to store finished paintings, surplus art supplies, books, and to display a few decorative items.  The seat, which was in my childhood home, provides a comfortable and cozy place for my dog and me to read - LOL!  You can't see it, but there's an adjustable pegboard bar on the wall that I use to hang larger paintings.  The second picture, which I'm also submitting to Paint Party Friday: Week 22 and Artists in Blogland - Wonder, shows elements that I'm working on inspired by the "Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012  - August."  Tim used his stamped silhouettes, as well as his flower and leaf die-cuts.  As an artist, parent and Gifted Specialist, I strongly believe in continually fostering a sense of wonder and creativity in myself and others.  Therefore, I cut my own silhouettes based on memories of my daughters' childhood profiles.  I also painted my own kraft paper, as well as designed my own flower and leaf patterns.  God willing, I will share my finished tag design next week.

Art - Enjoy the Journey
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I did get to complete some other projects such as this tag collage, which I titled "Art - Enjoy the Journey."  I don't gamble, but decided I could make a case about the similarities between artists and gamblers.  Both of them take chances in what they do, without knowing what results they'll get.  In my mind, the main goal is probably the joy they experience during the process.  You may read more about my theory at Tag Tuesday - Casino Amusements, as well as take a look at my artist team members' work.  I used a playing card, vintage images, glossy accents, painter markers, Prismacolor pencils, a micron pen, ink pads, a felt heart, raffia, beads, washi tape, and a Tim Holtz word band.

Rt. Rev. Leonardo Romero, DD
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

This leads me to my fourth photograph, which I'm submitting to the 52 Photos Project's Gallery 16 - Gift, Take a Word Challenge - Memories, and Word Art Wednesday #40.  This is one of my favorite pictures of my father, the late Rt. Rev. Leonardo Romero, DD.  I took the photograph during a Diocesan Council with a 35mm camera back in the early 1980's.  Therefore, I had to scan it and adjust the hues digitally.  It reminds me of one of the most important gifts I've received.  Through my father, I learned what Jesus said in John:14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  Once I accepted this knowledge, I received the precious gift of redemption.  Although I am not without sin, and probably will never be able to, I do try my personal best to follow a good Christian life.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

This next picture is of an art journal entry I did based on a childhood memory, which I've titled "The Beginning and The End."  My father traveled around the world as part of his ministry, so he visited Japan in the early 1970's.  Later, we were blessed by a visit from the Bishop of Japan and his wife.  It was a fascinating spiritual experience which also made me fall in love with the Japanese culture.  I started by working on the ATC drawing, which I did for my Twenty Minute Challenge post.  You can read about the process there.  Next, I worked on the miniature origami crane card, which I embellished with washi tape strips.  Inside, I wrote the scripture found in Revelation 22:13, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, The Beginning and the End."  I arranged the items on the left side page, and used my "poor" Japanese calligraphic skills to write the "A Un" characters, which stand for "the beginning and the end."  I also stamped the word peace.  On the right side page, I created a design using a store bought "chopstick instructions" tag and some washi tape strips.  I used the design as a background to write a Haiku poem:

TRINITY

Beginning & End,

On earth & beyond the stars,

Father, Son, Spirit.

I am submitting this page to Collage Obsession - Oriental, Crazy Amigo Challenge - Washi Tape, and Haiku Heights' #156 - Stars.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

The next photograph is from another art journal page I titled, "Whiter Than Snow."  I posted it on Monday Artday - Bathtime, and am submitting it to Artist's Playroom #21 - Turquoise and Lime, Inspiration Avenue - Zentangles, and Simon Says Stamp & Show - Paint It Up.  It's a whimsical page to remind me of Psalm 51:7, "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow."  I started by doing a drawing of ©Anel's dogs, my original characters, and designed a hose border using Zentangle patterns.  I matted my drawing with a turquoise and lime print card stock tile.  Next, I painted the background using turquoise and lime acrylic paints.  When it was dry, I added 3 washi tabs to my tile and glued it to the background.  Finally, I wrote the scripture with a black paint marker and added some doodling to finish filling the page.  This was a fun page to work on.

Little Love
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Last, but not least, I worked on a baby card.  Working in the education world, my coworkers are primarily women, so I get invited to baby showers sometimes.  I used The Play Date Cafe - Challenge #144 colors of pink carnation, orange sherbet, and lemonade, on the Card Positioning Systems Sketch #277.  I also took the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Let's Play Bingo, so I used ribbon, a die-cut, and buttons.  I used a Tim Holtz butterfly print for the background, a Punch Studio die-cut dimensional sticker of a baby, orange card stock, Pressed Petals striped print card stock, a lace pattern embossing plate, a pink and a sepia ink pad, buttons, ribbon, a black micron pen, and a scrap of kraft paper.  I believe it could be used for a boy or girl, but I'll need to confirm that with my wife.  LOL!

I hope you enjoyed this Friday Art Smorgasbord.  You are cordially invited to leave a comment and/or join my list of followers.  I want to thank everyone who took the time to do so last week.  In closing, please remember,  when working on your art, enjoy the journey.  Blessings!