Art Smorgasbord - It's Extra Large!

Greetings!  Yes, I went a little overboard with my art smorgasbord for this post.  My wife was out of town last weekend, so I had extra time to be creative - LOL!

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ;
it's no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me.
This first piece is an original tag design using techniques I learned from Tim Holtz and a portion of a Bible verse I found last week.  I used a "Scripture By Design" chipboard cross that I won a couple of weeks ago at Word Art Wednesday - Thank you, Karen!  Therefore, it seemed appropriate that I submit the tag to their Challenge #73.  The wings and crown are from a Tim Holtz Grungeboard set.  I looped an teal ribbon to the top of the tag, and tied a purple organza ribbon to it.  As a finishing touch, I added a Tim Holtz Trinket Pin to the top of my tag, and embellished it with a hand wired glass bead and a yellow ribbon tie.  I am also submitting this tag to Simon Says Stamp and Show: Challenge: Quotable and posting it simultaneously at Tag Tuesday - Letter L.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Last week, I also received another artful gift!  It was a stencil designed by my blogging friend Jessica Sporn that I won during one of her giveaways.  You can see it covered in green paint in the photograph above.  I have used motif stencils in the past, but never background stencils, so it was a blast experimenting with it.  I began by randomly sponging some blue. lavender and yellow acrylic paint on a white piece of heavy drawing paper.  When it was dry, I placed the stencil over the painted paper and sponged green through it.  As a finishing touch, I took the stencil off and spattered some watery red using a brush.  After it dried, I tore a square from the hand painted paper, sketched the fish, and lettered the word "Ichtus" with a #2 liner paint brush.  I glued the piece to my art journal page and did the hand lettering around the perimeter of the piece with a micron pen.  I am submitting this piece to the Order of the Opus Gluei: Challenge #153 - Go Where You Haven't Gone BeforeIllustration Friday - Swim, Paint Party Friday and Sunday Sketches.  For the 2nd page, I glued the scraps on the page, did a timed Twenty Minute Challenge sketch, and then did the lettering.  I am submitting this page to What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 199, as well as to Inspiration Avenue - Seeds, since Maundy Thursday, when the washing of the feet takes place, celebrates Christ's institution of the Eucharist and the sacerdotal priesthood.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
© Arnoldo L. Romero
This week my family and I are celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday, as well as my father-in-law's.  They both have always appreciated my artwork, so I enjoy making their birthday cards.  Rick's card is featuring a vintage botanical collage that I made using a combination of Maryjo Koch and vintage papers.  I used a calligraphy pen to write his name on the label and tied some traditional baker's twine to the bottom.  I am submitting it to Artist's Playroom #50 - Flight, Creative Every Day: March 25-31, Crafting by Designs: Anything Goes with a Twist (Spring), and Collage Obsession: Steam Punk and Beyond.  Dad's card is featuring a mixed media collage background I did on an ATC size card.  I used the latter to mat a print of an icon of Christ which I did last year for a show in San Antonio, Texas, titled Lent Through the Eyes of the Artist.  I finished it in the same way I did Rick's card.  I am submitting this card to Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything GoesThree Muses - Out of Bounds, and Pin and Tack: Spark Your Creativity Now!  Challenge #7 Anything Goes.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Last, but not least, I have a photograph I took last summer during a lunch date with my youngest daughter.  She accompanied me to one of my art exhibits in San Antonio, Texas, and these flowers were sitting in a vase at a place where we had lunch.  I loved the layers of colors and petals!  You may recall that I used the original composition of the photograph as the subject for a 20-Minute Sketch I posted last week.  This week, I am submitting a cropped version of the photograph to the 52 Photos Project: Gallery 49 {Layers}.  I also took a copy of the photograph and altered it digitally with a Pixelmator program.  I cropped it further and then used a line dye, which I adjusted to get these luscious orange hues.  To better define the shapes, I sharpened the image.  Finally, I flipped the photograph vertically, to enhance the view of the flower.  I love the graphic feel of this last version!  I am submitting this piece to Orange You Glad It's Friday and Mandarin Orange Monday #35.

I apologize for the length of this post, but hopefully you found something in this extra large art smorgasbord to suit your taste.  Thank you for all your encouraging comments last week, and if you aren't already doing so, you are cordially invited to follow my blog.  Blessings!

Doodles & Sketches & Lines, Oh My!

Last week I was on Spring Break, but although I had commitments and errands to take care of, I did have a little extra time to spend in my studio.  I worked on a couple of Resurrection Sunday projects to give to my daughters, but I can't post them yet.  My girls don't get on my blog often, but just in case - LOL!  Therefore, I am posting some doodles, sketches and scriptural lines that inspired me to work in my art journal, as well as a photograph I took this week.

Scriptural Journal Entries
Psalm 19:14 and 1 Corinthians 2:9b
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Sharpie Micron Pens, Alphabet Stencil, Paper, Heart Punches, Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens
What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 198
He is Alive!
Based on Mark 16:11
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Sharpie Micron Pen and Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens
Word Art Wednesday #72 - Galatians 2:20
Artists in Blogland
Ross
(Isaiah 54:13)
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Sharpie Micron Pens, Smash Date Tape, Fodder, Paper, and Star Punch
Art Journal Journey - Special Moments
Twenty Minute Challenge
Sunday Sketches
I did the art journal pages above in a truly intuitive manner.  The art journal pages in the first photograph were inspired by Biblical scriptures featured in Word Art Wednesday a few weeks back.  The art journal page in the second photograph was inspired by the upcoming celebration of Resurrection Sunday.  I basically just kept on adding details to the latter pages until I felt they were "finished."  The 20-minute sketch in the third photograph was inspired by a childhood photograph of Ross that his mother, who's a close friend of mine, posted on Facebook recently.  I added a Biblical verse that felt was appropriate and finished the page by adding a fodder detail I put together.

Las Moras Springs
Brackettville, Texas
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
iPhone 4s Shot With Warm Enhancements and Edge Blur
Artist's Playroom #49 - Things I Overlook
Inspiration Avenue - Your Home Town
52 Photos Project: Gallery 48 {Distance}
Orange You Glad It's Friday #30
Mandarin Monday #34
I took the photograph of Las Moras Springs last Tuesday during a field trip I took with my third grade students.  I work with a gifted and talented pull-out program, and the third grade unit is on biomes and ecosystems, so Las Moras Springs is the perfect environment for us to observe what we've been studying in living color.  The springs are only about 30 miles away from Del Rio, so it doesn't take long to get there.  This view reminded me of how blessed I am to live in a community where God's creations are literally in my backyard.  Distance is never an obstacle.

He Is King
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
3x3" Entangle Tile
Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks, Crown Stamped Image, Sharpie Micron Pens, and Sharpie Poster Paint Markers
Art Abandonment
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Easter/Spring
Paint Party Friday - Week 2, Year 3
The last photograph is of a Zentangle piece I gave away during my Church's Lenten program.  My Church's Rector asked me to present "The Parable of the Hidden Treasure," found in Matthew 13:44-46.  Therefore, before my fellow Church members came in, I left the tile on one of the tables.  It was the perfect opener for my presentation, and it was fun to see the gentleman's expression when he found out it was for him to keep.  May his life be blessed as much as mine was when I worked on the tile.

I hope my doodles, sketches and lines bring as much peace into your life as they brought to me when I was working on them.  Thank you for stopping by.  Godspeed!

Art Smorgasbord - International Women's Day

As some of you may know, my wife and I have two daughters, who are our pride and joy.  Although they are not perfect, they are loving, highly intelligent, and strong, just like the other two women in my  life… my mother and my wife.  In celebration of the International Women's Day, which took place on March 8th, I am dedicating this post to my daughters and all young women who are the future of the world.

2 Timothy 1:7
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Art Journal Page
Sharpie Micron Pens, K&Company Smash Products, and Martha Stewart Flowers
Artist's Playroom #48 - International Women's Day
Artists in Blogland - Show and Tell Saturday
Order of the Opus Gluei #152 - Spring Has Sprung
Twenty Minute Challenge
Word Art Wednesday #71
Illustration Friday - Yesterday
Sunday Sketches
He is the Key to Life Everlasting
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Tag
Tag, Various Papers, Vintage Rick-Rack, Ribbon, Linen, Rhinestone Brad, as well as Various Tim Holtz Products and Tools
Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 - March
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - A Bit O' Green
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Chic to be Shabby
May you know that the Lord has given you a spirit of power, love and discipline, as well as being the key to everlasting life.

Guiding Light
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Digital Photography
Cropped and Enhanced
52 Photos Project - Gallery 47 {Light}
Water of Life
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Digital Photography
Cropped and Altered to Enhance Warm Tones
Crazy Amigo Challenge - Orange, Red, Yellow, Black & White
Mandarin Monday 32
Orange You Glad It's Friday #29
May you be mindful of others by being a guiding light and providing for their needs regardless of their differences, just like Jesus taught in the parable of the good Samaritan.

Relax
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
Greeting Card
Various Cardstock, TreiC Bautista Print, Markers, Scissors, Rick-Rack, Martha Stewart Paper Border & Border Punch, K&Company Word Tag, EK Success Border and Corner Punches, Making Memories Stapler, Assorted Adhesives, and Tim Holtz Embossing Folder
The Play Date Cafe Challenge 172 - Hollyhock, Spring Bud, Azure
Blog Dos Desafios #10 - Livre
What's On Your Workdesk? - Wednesday #197
May you remember to relax, so you can enjoy life's sweet moments with family and friends, as well as when you are alone.

Blessings to all the women of the world!

In Memory of Ross Maxwell

It is with great grief that I write my post this evening.  Ross Maxwell, the son of some dear friends and one of my former students, passed away this morning short of becoming 22 years old.  Ross, who called me his "school dad," was a gifted, selfless, and loving kid since he was a 2nd Grader at St. James Episcopal School, where I was Head of School.  His mother was my 5th Grade Teacher and later Assistant Principal.  Therefore, Ross, as well as his younger sister and brother, have been a part of my 2 daughters lives ever since.  They laughed, cried, and even prayed together during our daily chapel services.  Since he was older, they all looked up to him and respected him tremendously.  Even after he left to Texas A&M, he influenced my oldest daughter to follow suit.  He truly became like the son I never had, as well as a brother to my daughters.  We were all blessed by having him in our lives.  I know Ross is now in peace after his one year battle with cancer and rejoicing in the arms of our Lord, Creator and Savior.

Ross Maxwell
Pixelmator Digital Collage
© Arnoldo L. Romero
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Word Art Wednesday: Challenge #70 Anything Goes
Artist's Play Room #47 - What Do You Treasure?
52 Photos Project: Gallery 46 {Horizon}

Art Smorgasbord - Enjoying the Ride

I started working on the projects for this week's post with a vintage botanical theme in mind.  However, it ended up reflecting the way my week has been, which had lots of unexpected detours.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
The Spring projects above were inspired by Tim Holtz - Tattered Floral Challenge.  I made the flowers by following Tim's instructions, except I varied the painting technique on the tissued grungeboard.  I also customized my fasteners differently, by using vintage buttons and twine.  Since I had some painted grungeboard leftovers, I cut some butterflies with my Tim Holtz's mini dies.  I used glass E-beads and wire to design bodies for the butterflies, which I glued on.  I arranged the pieces around a birch tree branch to photograph them.  I am also submitting this designs to Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes and Take a Word - Wings.


© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
The art journal page above, which was inspired by John 3:3, was a lot of fun to make.  I started off by illustrating the egg on bristol paper using gouache paints and Prismacolor pencils.  Then, I carefully trimmed Maryjo Koch images and papers, as well as my egg.  I created my collage composition, and then lettered in the Bible verse with a micron pen.  I finished the piece by adding some orange and blue shading with Prismacolor pencils all around the page.  I am submitting this page to the Artist Playroom #46 - Blorange, Collage Obsession - EggsWord Art Wednesday #69, What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday 195, and Paint Party Friday - Week 51, Year 2.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
The tag above is part of the children's book I wrote and illustrated, based on my original character, ©Anel.  I illustrated the page using a micron pen and Prismacolor pencils.  The text is a combination of a Martha Stewart letter stamp and simple hand lettering.  I matted the illustration using a Pressed Petals print.  This is part of my Tag Tuesday - Alphabet series, but I'm also submitting it to Three Muses - Rustle of Spring, Illustration Friday - Talent, and Sunday Sketches.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013
The 2 photographs above are from my iPhone 4S shots collection.  I took the floral bouquet photograph during my family's Thanksgiving celebration in Austin, Texas.  I cropped the image, enhanced the warm tones, and blurred the edges.  I felt the latter gave the photograph a much more intimate and romantic feel.  I took the photograph of the old dormitory front doorway at Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas.  I cropped the image, adjusted the exposure, warmed up the tones, and added a digital mat.  I am submitting this photographs to 52 Photos Project: Gallery 45 {Vintage} and Mandarin Monday #31.

By the way, have you heard of Featuring: Art Journaling, Mixed Media and More?  It's a fabulous new European magazine that is very inspiring and creates a sense of community around the world, according to the various testimonials.  One of my blogging friends, Jennifer McLean, from the Artist's Playroom, is one of the writers, so I know it's an excellent magazine!  You can get a glimpse of some of the articles in issue #3 here.  Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the ride, as much as I did.  I want to thank all my followers, as well as all the people that have been leaving such encouraging comments.  Godspeed!