Saturday Art Smorgasbord - This and That

Greetings!  In addition to the regular day-to-day chores, there is always this and that to get done during the Holiday season.  Christmas shopping, baking, and wrapping are just the beginning.  However, somehow I managed to squeeze in sometime to work on my own "this and that" in my studio to help me relax.  Praise the Lord!

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

One of the pieces I worked on in my studio was the 5x7" peaceful watercolor scene of a snowman and a cardinal looking at the Christmas Star.  I actually started this piece a couple of years ago and was going to use it on printed greeting cards, but I ran out of time.  (I may still do that latter.)  I hadn't really thought about it much, until Carolyn Saxby asked our team at Tag Tuesday to use a "Winter Landscape" as inspiration.  I dug it out of a portfolio, finished it, scanned it, matted it digitally, and made a postcard (4x6") size print to use as my tag base.  I used strips of a Christmas card stock print by DCWV and red satin ribbon to trim it.  Then, I added a die-cut flower as an embellishment.  The sentiment, "tried and true," is from a K&Company set.  I used it as a reminder of our Savior's unconditional love for us.  I formed a tag shape by rounding the top corners, punching a hole in the center, and adding a ribbon tie.  I am also submitting these pieces to Paint Party Friday, Artists in Blogland, Illustration Friday, Sunday Sketches, Inspiration Avenue: Peace, Simon Says Stamp: Snowflakes, and Craft Artwork: Christmas Postcard. 

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Two other projects I worked on were these tags I designed inspired by the techniques of Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of 2012 - December.  These are the last two of a series of twelve which started in February.  I painted the bases of both tags according to Tim's instructions, but I distressed the edges too.  Then, I cut mats out of two of his prints to create my focal points.  For the Christmas tag, I stamped a vintage Santa image on watercolor paper and illuminated it according to his instructions regarding the snowman in his design.  I attached it to my mat, along with one of Tim's Plaquettes.  I used some letter charms I had to spell the word "Joy," and attached them over a strip of Tim's musical washi tape.  I stapled a strip of tinsel under the latter with Tim's Mini Attacher, and enhanced it with some miniature silver pine cones.  As a finishing touch, I added a distressed "Ho, Ho" tag with one of Tim's Gem Clips, as well as a strip of red gingham ribbon.  For my New Year's tag design, I used the same techniques Tim used on his poinsettia and scroll, to make my star and scroll.  (I love the versatility of techniques you can use on Tim's Grunge Board!)  Then, I distressed a copy of an engineering diagram to create a band for the bottom portion of my tag.  I embellished the tag with a vintage watch face, an old ticket stub, and gold cording, as well as Tim's Word Bands and Philosophy Tags.  I am also submitting the first one to Word Art Wednesday #57 - Anything Goes and Crazy Amigo Challenge - Surprise, as well as the second one to The Play Date Cafe PDCC 160 - Mountaintop, Icy Blue, and Snowflake.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Finally, I worked on editing some of the photographs I shot during the week.  The first photograph is of  a Red Winter Rose Poinsettia that my wife and I found at a local nursery.  Apparently, some California growers took the traditional Mexican "Noche Buena" or "Poinsettia," and genetically engineered this new species.  Although the traditional species is still my favorite, I do like this new variety.  The second photograph is a still life I created featuring a copy of Sharon Wagner's first book she's illustrated.  I won it during a drawing she had, and will be reading it to my Sunday School students this season.  It is a lovely book!  The third photograph is one I took during a Radney Foster concert my wife and I attended yesterday evening.  Radney is a Del Rio, Texas' native, and the son of two of my wife's and my best friends.  Radney has written hits for Keith Urban ("I'm In," "Raining on a Sunday"), Sara Evans ("A Real Fine Place to Start"), the Dixie Chicks ("Godspeed," "Never Say Die"), and Gary Allan ("Half of My Mistakes"), as well as his own hits, such as "Just Call Me Lonesome" and "Texas in 1880."  It was an amazing show!  I am submitting these photographs to 52 Photos Project: Gallery 33 {Morning::Evening}, A Rural Journal, Hood Photo Blog: OYGIF #16, and Mandarin Orange Monday #22.

Well, this concludes my post of "This and That."  Thank you for the heart warming comments on last week's post.  Blessings!