Let Us Put Our Trust In The Lord

Hello!  ¡Hola!  It's been a good week, between celebrating my wife's birthday, a trip to DFW to see my mother, and as always, finding time to work on my artwork.

               

                                      

My first project is a card for a male friend of mine.  I was inspired by the following four: As You See It Challenge #374 sketch by Jan; Inkspirational Challenge #369 Woodland Gnome; The Male Room Challenge 211 - The Outdoors; and Inspiration Station Challenge June 2026, Photo #86 - Red (Thanks ISC, for choosing me as a May 2026 Top Pick).  I used a Spellbinders Gnome Drive Holiday die set; a Sizzix Stacey Park circle stamp/framelit & Tim Holtz Darling Deer thinlit; an Amazon "blessed" die; a hole punch; a Hobby Lobby Plaid Tidings pad; and assorted cardstock & distressing ink pads.

  

Next, I have a piece inspired by Sunday Postcard Art - Owls, Try It On Tuesday - Flying High, and Little Red Wagon - Outdoor (Thanks for featuring me!).  I sketched this tawny owl, which is commonly found in woodlands across Europe, from a stock picture I found online.  I used my traveling art supplies, which include Zig Manga Water Based Pigment markers; a set of Winsor & Newton pan watercolors; and a Kevin & Sasa Grainer Brush.  I'm also submitting this to What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 888/108.

   

This is another piece I made while traveling.  My base is an old Kraft postcard from a set I bought at Walmart years ago.  I illustrated and lettered my postcard with the Zig markers, along with assorted Faber-Castell, Tombow, and Conté pencils.  I am submitting this to The Dream Factory Challenge #150 Underwater World (Thanks for featuring me!), Shopping Our Stash SOS575 - Kraft-astic, and Art Nudge June 2026

The first 3 pictures above are from my wife's birthday celebration, last weekend.  I took her out to eat at Memo's Restaurant, in Del Rio.  This Tex-Mex food restaurant was established in 1936, and belonged to the late Moises "Blondie" Calderon, the piano player and music director for country music legend, Ray Price.  It's still operated by his family.

After our scrumptious lunch, I took her to Val Verde Winery.  Established in 1883, by Italian immigrant Frank Qualia, it is the oldest bonded winery in the state of Texas.  Many of its wines have gained the attention of serious wine connoisseurs, and some have won medals from Texas to New York.

I found the last photograph at my Mom's house.  It was taken in 1955, when my parents started dating.  She lived in Texas, but was attending a Church youth conference at the Seminary of San Andrés, where my Dad was a seminarian.  Established in 1894, it's the oldest Spanish-speaking Anglican theological institution.  My Dad went on to be elected as the first Diocesan Episcopal Bishop in Northern Mexico.

I am submitting these pictures to Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #756-757, Friday Face Off 6/12/26, My Sunday Best, and Mosaic Monday.

In closing, I'll leave you with a summary of my sermon for the 2nd Sunday After Pentecost:

God responded to Abraham, Matthew, Jairus, the hemorrhaging woman, and Paul during their stressful situations, because God is love - God is mercy - God is life.  He's also countercultural, as he rebukes adherence to non-inclusive laws, empty religious rituals, and mere traditions for the sake of tradition.  God always goes to the heart of all problems that are brought before him, sees what is in people’s hearts, and responds with wholeness.  So as my parents taught me, let us put our trust in the Lord, regardless of our stressful situations.

Thanks for visiting!  ¡Gracias por visitarme!  Please leave a comment, and I'll reciprocate, so we can get to know each other.

Shalom,

Arnoldo+