Read, Explore, Create!: October 2012

Saturday Art Smorgasbord - Día de los Muertos

Greetings! It's hard to believe, but All Hallows Eve (Halloween) is around the corner, which of course is followed by All Saints' Day, on November 1st, and All Souls' Day, on November 2nd. These are holidays observed by most Roman Catholic Churches, as well as many Anglican, Episcopalian, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Although both of the latter holidays are considered important, el Día de los Muertos, or All Souls Day, is the one most closely observed by many Mexican descendants - click here for further information in my 2011 post. Most of my artwork in this post was inspired by this holy-day, that unfortunately has been paganized and commercialized by our society.

First of all, I worked on an illustration for a t-shirt design for my school. The students will be participating in an academic competition, and every year the school district has a theme for the event. This year, the theme is Fiesta, so I decided to do a piece in commemoration of José Guadalupe Posada, the Mexican artist who brought the traditional Mexican folk art of the calacas, skulls or skeletons, to the mainstream art world. His work has inspired artists throughout the world, including me - LOL! I began by doing a pencil drawing, inking it, and scanning it. Then, I used Caran d'Ache water-soluble wax pastels and Bienfang watercolor brush pens to illuminate a print of it. I can't wait to see my illustration on the students' t-shirts! I am submitting this piece to What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #177, Illustration Friday - Haunt, Paint Party Friday - Week 33 Year 2, and Blue Chair Diary Illustrations: Sunday Sketches.

Next, I worked on my Twenty-Minute Challenge for the week. I was inspired by a photograph I found on-line. This is an example of a traditional costume used in the processions I described in last year's post regarding "El Día de los Muertos." Although I've never participated in these type of festivities, they are fascinating to observe. I used Conté pencils and micron pens, and worked in my art journal. Although I didn't have time to complete the drawing in the allotted time, I feel I captured the feeling of the festivities. I am also submitting this piece to Artist's Playroom #32 - Pairs, Inspiration Avenue - Trick or Treat, Take a Word Wednesday - Roses, and Order of the Opus Gluei - Leaf It Up to You.

My next project was inspired by the techniques of Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012 - October. I followed Tim's background technique, except I used a leaf stamp to simulate a graveyard. As to the dry glittering technique, I did not tint mine, because I used one of Tim's grungeboard skull shapes instead of his BOO and spider shapes. To get a sugar skull feel, I used various colors of Distress Stickles and crackle accents on the orifices. To enhance the graveyard feel, I added various fabric and paper flowers, as well as a hand lettered label stating Descansa en Paz (Rest in Peace). I finished my tag by adding a spray of various orange ribbons, a Tim Holtz journey token, a mother of pearl cross, and some glass beads. I am also submitting this tag to Word Art Wednesday #51 - Anything Goes, Tag Tuesday-Halloween, Collage Obsession - Night, Artists in Blogland: Fall Fearless and Fly (Second Challenge), Crazy Amigo Challenge - Halloween, and Craft Artwork - Extraordinary Times. However, I'm dedicating it to my father, the late Right Reverend Leonardo Romero, DD, whom always supported my artwork and taught me the meaning of, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," Matthew 6:21.

Inspired by the same theme, I created a tablescape in my den area. This is the kind of candle holder used in altars built in memory of loved ones during el Dia de los Muertos. Although I was not raised with this type of tradition, I certainly appreciate the Christian connection that was made. I am submitting this photograph to 52 Photos Project: Gallery 27 {On the Table}, A Rural Journal: Your Sunday Best #41, Hood Photo Blog: Orange You Glad It's Friday #10, and Lorikart: Mandarin Orange Monday 16.

Last, but not least, I want to share two pieces I posted last week in other blogs that I'm a member of, as well as on Word Art Wednesday #50 - Blessings From God. I usually post them simultaneously there and on my weekly post here, but I did not have a chance to post on my blog last week. The wire heart I posted on Tag Tuesday - Rust, and the drawing of my wife I posted on the Twenty Minute Challenge. You may recall the photograph that I used for the drawing from one of my previous posts (Click here to view). I dedicated both of these to my wife, Lisa.

I hope you enjoyed my Saturday Art Smorgasbord as much as I did putting it together. Thank you for all your encouraging comments, as well as to all whom have joined my list of followers. Vaya con Dios - Go with God!

Saturday Art Smorgasbord - Autumn Days

Greetings! Autumn is in the air here in Del Rio, Texas, and we've been blessed with gentle rains that have brought our temperatures pleasantly down. Therefore, all my artwork this week has been inspired by the season once again.

My first entry is a drawing inspired by a photograph I found on-line of a girl grieving over a rainy day. It reminded me of my students' attitude when they can't go out to recess when it's raining. Bless their hearts! I began by pulling out my materials and setting my timer to go off after 20-minutes. I did a quick pencil sketch, and then proceeded to detail the drawing with a couple of micron pens. After the timer went off, I wrote in my sentiment. I am submitting this drawing to:

Twenty Minute Challenge
Word Art Wednesday #49
Artists in Blogland #27
Artist's Playroom #31 - Celestial (Clouds are in the sky, right?)

For my next two entries, I decided to use my original character ©Anel. I began by illustrating her with watercolor brush pens, colored pencils, and micron pens on a water color ATC tablet. I also did the lettering, based on Leviticus 26:4, by hand. Next, I scanned the illustration and made a digitally matted print of it. I used corner punches and a teardrop punch to turn the print into a tag. I finished the tag by wrapping some tangerine baker's twine to the bottom edge, adding a matching rhinestone brad, and tying a coordinating ribbon to the top. I used my original ATC illustration to make an art journal page. I am submitting these pieces to:

My fourth entry is a photograph inspired literally by the "spirits" of the season. I loved the Día de los Muertos (All Saints Day) labels on these bottles of beer and wine, so I decided to use them in a still life. Día de los Muertos dressed skeletons were brought into mainstream art by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada, in the early 1900's, through his political satire. As you can see, his art continues to inspire artists now a days, including me. LOL! I am submitting this photograph to:

I hope you enjoyed my "Autumn Days" inspired art pieces. In closing, I want to take a minute to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers regarding my post last weekend. I still don't know what route my crossroad will be leading me into, but I feel at peace knowing that the Lord is in control. I am also thrilled to say that I was one of the 12 winners of the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012 - September - thank you, Tim! (I am submitting the photo to Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday #175.) As usual, you are cordially invited to leave a comment and/or join my list of followers. Vaya con Dios - Go with God.

Saturday Art Smorgasbord - Autumn Garden

I have been extremely busy lately, so I had not been able to post anything in 2 weeks or work much on my artwork. I am at a crossroad in my life that may affect my future. It's exciting, but I am very nervous. Therefore, all I can do is "Believe" that the Lord is in charge, as Jesus said in Mark 5:36. May God give me the strength, courage and wisdom to endure anything that is to come

Anyway, the live oaks in my gardens are dropping a acorns galore and the Monarch Butterflies are back! The weather has also been glorious, with some occasional gentle rains, cool mornings, and clear skies in between. God is good! With all those acorns around my garden grounds, I decided to pick a few of them to use as subjects for my Twenty Minute Challenge piece. I've been reading a book by Lee Hammond on crayon drawing, so I decided to give her techniques a try. I started by sketching the acorns with a pencil, and then started adding layers of color with the crayons. As you can see, I did not get to complete my drawing within the allotted time. However, I feel I got the gist of the acorns. I am submitting this piece to What's on your work desk Wednesday #174 and Mary Walker Designs: Show Me Something Creative (Autumn October 3rd - 9th.

I completed the illustration after the 20-minute allotment and cropped it. I was happy with the results, especially since the illustration was done with crayons. I scanned it and made a print. I trimmed the print and used it to design a tag for Tag Tuesday, where I and my team members were challenged by Carolyn Saxby to use "Autumn Leaves, Acorns, and Conkers." I used K&Company rub-ons to trim the upper edge. For the bottom, I made a label on which I used my calligraphic skills to write the word "Grow." I finished the tag by distressing the edges and adding a simple tan cording tie. I am also submitting this piece to Artists in Blogland - Fall Fearless and Fly and Take a Word Challenge - Manuscripts.

As to the original acorn drawing, I decided to incorporate it into a simple art journal page. I began by adding a K&Company Smash tab that reads "I need," because I feel I always need to continue to grow as a Christian, family man, and professional. Then, I wrote a quote by Lewis Duncombe about the growing acorn, because it perfectly describes the way I feel. Finally, I used some Canson self-adhesive photo corners to attach my crayon drawing to the page. I am submitting this page to Artist Playroom #30, Paint Party Friday, Word Art Wednesday #48, Sunday Sketches, and Three Muses - Journal a Quote.

Last, but not least, I took a couple of photographs of my garden views to share with you. The first one is of the glorious Monarchs resting on one of my tree's branches before they continue their journey South into Mexico. They are such a blessing to see. I tried to capture them in flight, but all I got were fuzzy dots. I am submitting this one to 52 Photos Project Gallery 24 {Orange} and to LorikArt's: Mandarin Orange Monday 13. The second photograph is of one of my wife's Bugambilia blooms. Bugambilia blooms are usually purple, but my wife found this one in orange and fell in love with the unusual color. She currently has it in a pot, but plans to transplant it to the ground later this fall. I am submitting this photograph to A Rural Journal #38 - Final Flower Farewell and to Hood Photo Blog: Orange You Glad It's Friday #7.

I hope you enjoyed my Autumn Garden inspired pieces. Thank you for following my blog and for all your encouraging comments during my last post. I was especially touched by a quote that Seema left by William Blake, "To see a world in a grain of sand and a Heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour." As usual, you are cordially invited to leave a comment and join my list of followers. Vaya con Dios - Go with God.

PS - If you are so inclined, I ask that you please keep me in your prayers as I pass through the current crossroad in my life. I would truly appreciate it. Blessings!