Family

Other than my faith, I'm often inspired to create by my family, which may be immediate, by association, or at school.  Sometimes it's for reflective projects, and other for projects I create for them.  That appears to be the case this week.

My 3 Girls - 1
Photograph ©Arnoldo L. Romero
52 Photos Project: Gallery 21 {Bright}
Inspiration Avenue Challenge: Kodak Moment
Jen's In The Studio

My 3 Girls - 2
Art Journal Page
ABC Wednesday: I is for I Really Like This
Word Art Wednesday: Challenge #97
Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday - Week 27 Year 3

Mother and Child
Frame Tag
Tag Tuesday - Mother and Child
Jenn's Artist's Playroom #74 - Flowers
Take a Word Challenge - Childhood
Try It On Tuesday: Make Your Own Flowers
Alexandra's Sunday Sketches

The photograph above, which is one of my favorites of my wife and daughters, inspired the two art pieces that follow it.  I took the photograph around 15 years ago, when my wife came home from work.  The art journal page is a gesture drawing that I did in less than 15 minutes, and then embellished it with a strip of Smash tape and a punched heart.  Looking back at it, the size of the eyes is a little off, but I believe I captured the feel.  I cut the silhouette in the tag free hand.  The pose reminds me of the works of Mary Cassatt, the American impressionist artist who is known for her mother and child paintings.

Asian Circus
Collage Card
Maria's Orange You Glad It's Friday
Manon's Paper Saturdays
Ramona's Inspire Me Monday #89

I made the card above for my wife's and my Godson, who just turned 16 years old.  He is a very gifted and talented young man, who excels in various areas, including his study of the Spanish language.  We're so proud of him!  I used a print of an Asian circus for the card's backdrop, and then enhanced it with an origami fish, a torn ticket, and an Asian inspired stamp.  I even signed my card with my last name written in Katakana, a form of Japanese syllabic characters which make it possible to spell foreign words and names.

Dream Catcher
Photograph Collage ©Arnoldo L. Romero
Julia's What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday 223
Three Muses: Reflections or Repetitions
Lorik's Mandarin Orange Monday #59

Last, but not least, I have a photograph of my classroom desk, where I was planning a back to school project for my students to me decorate a Native-American inspired bulletin board.  I designed a Dream Catcher pattern for them to decorate using different tangles.  The photograph shows a sample I made, which I cut out, attached the feather to, and hung on the board for them to see.  Most of them have finished theirs, and the board is looking gorgeous, as I put each of their pieces up!  As to the photograph, I enhanced it digitally on Pixelmator, by adding a Pop art effect and changing the colors.

In closing, I want to leave you with a Bible verse I found, which is not only applicable to me as a father, but also as a Godfather and teacher.  It is found in Ephesians 6:4, and says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."  Have a blessed week.