Art Smorgasbord - Short

It's been extremely busy for me lately.  However, I continue to feel blessed by my family and friends for their love and support.  Praise the Lord!  In addition, I also feel blessed for the little time I've spent in my studio.  Therefore, my posting this week is short and sweet.

I designed the card above for Bog dos Desafios #16, where I was asked to be one of their "Guest Designers."  It features parchment craft, an ancient art form that is believed to have developed in Spain and brought to America by the Church of Spain during the Spanish conquest.  However, I used some modern techniques which made it much easier to make.  I began by using a Tim Holtz Regal embossing folder with a diffuser to create a border on a sheet of vellum.  Then, I used a Fiskars Parchamoré template to incorporate the outline of my rose.  I like this system because it allows for some originality, depending on the designs you draw and the colors you use in the various fields.  I used Scotch vellum tape to strategically tack down my finished piece to the card base and taped two strips of ribbon along the left border to secure it.  Next, I made a frilly bow using a Mini-Bowdabra system and glued it over the ribbon strips.  I used a Tim Holtz mini ticket die, a blue stamp pad, and a calligraphy marker to create the tag.  I am also submitting this card to Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes, Word Art Wednesday: Challenge #82, Manon's Paper Saturdays, and Inspire Me Monday - Week 74.

I did the art journal page above over a week ago, but I hadn't posted it.  Before I went into the education field, I was in the advertising field and worked for a small chain of department stores.  One of my favorite tasks were the fashion illustrations that I sometimes had to do for newspaper ads.  Although this is a simple pen and ink line drawing, the dress is much more glamorous than the ones I illustrated for the stores' ads.  LOL!  This original design was inspired by the fashion designs of the 1950's.  For some additional visual interest, I assembled a simple collage using two Tim Holtz salvage stickers and a K&Company die cut.  I also added the date using a K&Company Smash sticky note that had some scissors printed on it.  I am submitting this page to Collage Obsession - Open Challenge, Julia's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #208, Maria's Orange You Glad It's Friday #40, Paint Party Friday: Week 12, Year 3, Diana's 10-Minute Warm Up, Alexandra's Sunday Sketches, and Lorik's Mandarin Orange Monday #44.

© Arnoldo L. Romero

Last, but not least, I have a photograph I took at Texas A&M about six weeks ago during a parent meeting I attended at the Architectural department.  That is where my oldest daughter is currently working on her degree.  This modern architectural detail is found on the ceiling of a crossway in the main entrance of Langford building.  I just loved the waves that were formed by the molded wood lattice like design, and the way the ceiling light rays came through.  I took the photograph using my iPhone 4s, and then adjusted the color to Black and white.  I also added a blurred edge using iPhoto, which has sort of become my trademark.  LOL!  I am submitting this photograph to Bella's 52 Photos Project: Gallery 6 {Uncommon Shapes}.

Hope you enjoyed my short post.  I want to thank everyone for the kind words and prayers they left on my post last week.  My daughter's bronchitis is under control, and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel in all other issues.  I also thoroughly appreciate the motivating comments about my work.  Blessings!