A Fishy Post

Isn't it funny how one thing may lead to another sometimes?  Well, that's what happened to me with this "fishy" post.  I didn't intend for it to work this way, it was mostly serendipity.  Well, I may have stretched the theme a little bit, but I believe it works.  LOL!

Fish Trio
3x4 Inch Pastel
© Arnoldo L. Romero 

It all started last weekend when my church celebrated the installation of our new Rector, and my wife and I wanted to give him a welcome gift.  I decided to use a print of a pastel painting I did a couple of years ago to make a gift tag.  I scanned the painting and used Pixelmator to add a quote by Jesus which is found in Matthew 4:19 - "Follow me and I will send you out to fish for people."  However, I couldn't get my printer to work - Argh!  Therefore, I decided to use the original painting as a tag.  I matted it, placed it in an art bag, and attached it to a gift plant through the use of a wire picture holder that I made.  I wrote a message with a reference to the quote on the back cover of the mat.  I believe the gift turned out beautiful.  I am posting this as my entry to Tag Tuesday, but I'm also submitting it to Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday: Week 20, Year 3, Maria's Orange You Glad It's Friday, Jen's In the Studio, Lorik's Mandarin Orange Monday #52, and Ramona's Inspire Me Monday - Week 82.

Inspired by the same Bible verse, I drew the fish above, which was also inspired by my personal studies of Celtic art and Zentangle.  I did this page for Sandy Steen Bartholmew's Tangled Card Challenge #2, where she asked followers to incorporate her Annee tangle into a piece.  (I am trying to win a set of her tangled card packs for my classroom, so if you like my page, please go vote at Sandy's Facebook Page.)  I began by carefully sketching out the design using a pencil.  Then, I used black and red Sharpie micron pens, as well as a Zig calligraphy marker, to complete my design.  I struggled a little working around one of the corners with the Annee tangle.  However, I think it's acceptable, especially since the main purpose of knot work and Zentagle workouts is meditation, not perfection.  I am also submitting this piece to Karen's Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #90 and Alexandra's Sunday Sketches.

The next piece is from a page spread in my prayer journal, which was inspired by Ephesians 6:13-17, in which Paul wrote, "… put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… with the belt of truth bucked around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace… take the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  I made the page using a paper doll template that I adapted to create the costume, an origami dragon, and shreds of handmade paper for the flames.  I drew some Celtic knots on the scripture tag and prayers' envelope flap.  In case you're wondering what this has to do with fish, it was the secret symbol used by early Christians to identify themselves.  I am submitting this to Dawn's Journal Journey's Challenge 21 - Hats, Julia's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday, and Manon's Paper Saturdays.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2013

Last, but not least, I have a photograph I took during the 2012 Christmas holidays, in Santaland, a park in Tyler, Texas.  The park is designed for people to ride in their cars as they look at the various light displays in the route, which was the perfect activity during that cold winter night.  Because I shot the photograph with my iPhone while in a moving car, it is not the clearest, even though I tried to edit it on iPhoto.  However, I really like the composition with the reflection of the lit crosses down below on the pond and the way the string of lights on the right lead the eye up as if they were a stairway to Heaven.  (By the way, I wasn't driving.  I also believe there are fish in the pond, so that's the connection to the theme.  LOL!)  I am submitting this photograph to Jenn's Artist's Playroom #67 - Weather, Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday's - Letter B "is for below", and Bella's 52 Photos Project Week 14 {Down Below}.

Do you think my "fishy post" theme was successful?  If you don't, hopefully you were touched by at least one of the art pieces.  I thrive to make every single piece as meaningful as possible.  I want thank everyone who took the time to leave a comment during my last post, as well as everyone who chose to follow my blog.  Blessings!