Friday Art Smorgasbord - Luminous Moments

Greetings!  I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I last posted on my blog.  Not only has it been extremely busy at work, but I was sick for a couple of days and was out of town last weekend.  However, I did manage to have a few luminous moments in which I could express myself creatively.  The following pieces are the result of the latter.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I literally carved some time to work on the two art journal pages above.  I did the second one in the gym lobby at the local air force base while waiting for my daughter who was at swim practice - LOL!  They were both unplanned pieces in which I let myself go, while I prayed and meditated on various issues in my life.  I basically did layers of journaling, washes, fodder collage, drawing, and doodling with various media.  It was extremely relaxing to just enjoy the process without any preconceived ideas of what the end result would be.  I am submitting this pages to Paint Party Friday Week 36 Year 2, What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #180, Crazy Amigo Challenge - Stripes, Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes and Sunday Sketches.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I did the three "Celestial" inspired tags above for my Tag Tuesday entry for last week.  I've been working on a series of tags based on "Lotería," the Mexican version of bingo, so #23 "La Luna," #35 - "Las Estrellas," and #46 - "El Sol" were the perfect match for this challenge.  I used some hand painted papers that I made a while back to cut the various shapes for my collages.  The lettering was all done by hand.  I dedicated these cards to all my family, friends, and other USA veterans.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

The tag above was inspired by the techniques presented by Tim Holtz in his 12 Tags of 2012 - November. I used the background resist technique he presented.  However, I used different stamps and did my lettering by hand using a permanent calligraphy marker.  As to the embellishment, I layered a broach, a feather, and a piece of burlap.  I made the broach out of a piece of balsa wood, which I carved with a Dremel tool and used India inks to draw the design.  I used some rusty wire, beads, a shell, a jump ring, and a Tim Holtz muse token to finish it.  I added a strip of leather to the top.  I am also submitting this tag to Tag Tuesday - Brown or Sepia, Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Thanksgiving/Thank you, and Order of the Opus Gluei: Challenge #144 Three-Dee.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I took the two photographs above during recent trips around Texas.  The first one I took at a sushi restaurant, in Arlington, that my brother took my family and me to.  I loved the dramatic presentation created by the sparkler, so I had to take a picture of it.  I shot the second photograph last weekend when I was taking a walk at A&M, in College Station.  It's of a sculpture depicting the infamous bonfires they used to have before playing UT during Thanksgiving, prior to their new alliance with the SEC.  Gig'em!  I am submitting these photographs to 52 Photos Project {Gallery 30} Illuminate, Hood Photo Blog - Orange You Glad It's Friday #13, A Rural Journal - Your Sunday Best #44, and Lorikart: Mandarin Orange Monday 19.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Last, but not least, I got a head start on the holidays by illustrating the artwork I'll be using on my family's Christmas cards this year.  It's a drawing of my original character Anel, wearing an angel costume.  The dove she's holding is representative of a peace token to the world.  I used micron pens, water colors, and color pencils to illustrate it.  I am submitting this piece to Artist's Play Room #35, Artists in Blogland #29,  Illustration Friday - Zoom, and Three Muses: Animal.

In closing, I'd like to thank you for all your kind words during my last post.  You are cordially invited to leave a comment and/or join my blog.  ¡Vaya con Dios - Go with God!