Christmas House Ruins

[Ranger Dan]

Hey everyone,

So much going on with this and florals starting up, I couldn't keep up. Went back to good ol' pen & ink where the pace is slower. Anyhow, I made this for my Christmas card this year. Marker, color pencil and Micron pens. About 9" x 12" The ruins are from Arizona.

[ann chavez]

very VERY nice! the colors are marvelous, and i love the way you got the streaking on the upper rocks (and everything else in this, as well, of course).

(is this in canyon de chelly)?

nice work!

[sassybird]

Dan, I can't wait to get this in the mail this year. It is fantastic. I love the reindeer and Santa that you put in as a cave painting.

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks Ann, the dark red colors were really a bit of an accident, but thank you. The ruins are from Canyon de Chelly, yes.

Thanks Charissa, I was so afraid this would take so much time, but the markers made it a whole lot quicker. And I had in mind to do the santa/reindeer pretty much from the moment I saw the reference photo. I'm glad it worked out!

[Lisa M]

I LOVE it! How clever. (Why didn't I think of that??) I've been pondering doing my own cards this year, for the first time; I guess it's about time to get on that, huh? I'll be eating Thanksgiving turkey and still trying to choose a subject!!

[Enchanted]

Cute idea! I'm guessing "back then" when the area depicted was less populated, Santa really didn't need more than 3 reindeer.

:thumbsup:

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks Lisa, it is so fun to do your own cards! This is my 3rd year doing mine. I love it!

:lol: Enchanted! Thanks, I was thinking of something along these lines inside:
"Archeaologists continue to spend holidays at the recently discovered Christmas House Ruins hoping to lear more about the ancient people known as the Ho-Hohokam."
Problem is it is a very local joke, as the Hohokam were the people who first settled and irrigated the Phoenix area in Arizona but disappeared about 4-5 hundred yrs ago

[Enchanted]

:lol: Enchanted! Thanks, I was thinking of something along these lines inside:
"Archeaologists continue to spend holidays at the recently discovered Christmas House Ruins hoping to lear more about the ancient people known as the Ho-Hohokam."
Problem is it is a very local joke, as the Hohokam were the people who first settled and irrigated the Phoenix area in Arizona but disappeared about 4-5 hundred yrs ago

Who cares - it's a cute phrase and I doubt many people are familiar enough with Hohokam culture to be that critical. I say go for it. Think of your cliff dwelling as "generic" rather than specific. After all, there are similar cliff dwellings in central Arizona too - example: Montezuma's Castle south of Sedona.

:thumbsup:

[Sandiclaus]

I live in Tucson and I think this is way cool. Wish I was on your Christmas card list :)

Sandi

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks again Enchanted!

Thanks Sandi. I was just down your way a couple weeks back for a conference. spent an afternoon in Saguaro National Park.

[Diane Cutter]

This is great, Dan!!! Like Sandi, I'm sorry I won't get one... It's way cute and cleverly done, as well as a beautiful piece of art! :thumbsup:

Diane

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks Diane! It was a lot of fun to do.

[twillard]

Well done, neat concept!

[Trilby]

Love the reds and enchanted with santa as a pictograph, great for your card.
TJ

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks Traci, TJ, I hope the State Fair judges agree!

[nvcricket]

Wow,

I was stunned with the color and the rendering, then...I noticed Santa. What great fun! Thanks for sharing

carol

[Ranger Dan]

The color and the reindeering, eh? Oh, rendering! heh, heh, Thanks Carol! In Pen & Ink I posted this as a WIP, and someone superimposed my glyphs onto a real petroglyph panel photo and I almost didn't notice, so I guess they come across as 'real'

[lisilk]

What a grand idea with the santaglyph, beautifully executed too!

Li

[Ranger Dan]

santaglyph
:lol: Love it! Thanks, Li

[DesertDarlene]

I like the way you did the patterns above the ruins, very creative and looks almost authentic. :D

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks Darlene!

[tuzigoot]

Thought I'd bump this up for the upcoming season!

[beetlesaab]

So very cool! :)

[jennaboo88]

What a beautiful drawing! Always fun when an older thread gets bumped up for the newer members to see and enjoy. The colors are magnificent! Well done, Ranger Dan. :)

[Ranger Dan]

Thanks Linda, Donna, Jenna. I was a little leery of showing this to friends in an Indian ruins museum, but they loved it.

[KreativeK]

Oh me, this is just outstanding in concept and composition! Merry Christmas!