greenbeanbaby art

just plain dirty...

today i was informed that my illustration was being used on another site... i am LIVID!!! it's a shame that someone would take my artwork WITHOUT permission and CUT OFF MY INFORMATION ON THE BOTTOM... yes, you read that right... i had ©2005 greenbeanbaby on the bottom of that piece and whadda know, its GONE!!! i've emailed them, left comments, and left feedback... i am hoping they remove it soon but if not, i ask a favor from you all... could you please leave comments on my behalf stating how this illustration does not belong to them?!

i am really upset... i don't charge much for the hard work that i do.... i spend hours and try to make my artwork available for people with all price ranges... i spend days setting up my etsy shop, frazzling my curls, and working hard at organizing my papers.... i set free time to create so that someone ELSE can benefit FREELY?!  i am turned off and disheartened at this situation... it's sad that the internet is such a palce where people think EVERYTHING IS PART OF THE CREATIVE COMMONS COPYRIGHT... and if no one know, my stuff is not under such a copyright... i claim all rights unless someone is putting THOUSANDS of dollars in my pocket...

it makes me contemplate on changing my blog... i pay for typepad and found out wordpress is free... i''ve thought about moving it for awhile but worried about losing my fellow readers and supporters.... i've played with the notion of getting a new blog site and now, i just may.... if i go, will you come with?!

so in case no one knows [or pretends not to know], ALL MY ARTWORK IS COPYRIGHTED UNDER ELLIA ANA HILL, ELLIA HILL, GREENBEANBABY, AND GREENBEAN ART. NO ONE MAY TAKE MY PHOTOS FOR PERSONAL OR NON-PERSONAL USE. PERMISSION MUST BE GRANTED IF YOU WANT TO POST PARTS OR PHOTOS OF MY BLOG ONTO YOUR SITE. YOU MAY NOT POST, COPY, REPRODUCE, REPRINT, OR SELL MY ARTWORK AND PHOTOS FOR ANY FORM OF USE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN LEGAL ACTION.

LASTLY, to those of you who respect my art and photos, THANK  YOU... thank you for supporting me and promoting me and looking out for me... if it wasn't for you all, i wouldn't have even known on such an issue... and if i move, i welcome you all to come with!!!

nariko and the red ring of death

thanks to ramel and his new gamers site and blog, i've been inspired and motivated to create some game related artwork... in fact, he is requesting submissions from all sorts of artists and i'm joining in on the fun.... it began with my kratos holding his teddy bear and now, here is nariko from PS3's heavenly sword. She is, apparently, stronger than kratos and can fight up a storm.... while i never played the game, i do find the images of her intriguing and fascinating... the gal has alotta hair and it's a wonder she can fight without it getting in the way... still she is female warrior who [thankfully] doesn't look like she could be in a playboy magazine [as most games tend to make the women quite top heavy

my nariko is giving herself a haircut... she is tired of playing on the swings and getting her red strands stuck around the pole.... she has scrapes on her knees from tripping over it... she gets migraines at such a young age from the weight and she goes through shampoo bottles daily.... even her mother complains of finding LONG pieces of hair all over the house... often her vacuum cleaner gets clogged from this issue... so nariko decides to chop a few inches with the scissors [although her sword could have done just fine]

but as i like to work on art when the kids are asleep, i enjoy playing a few games on the xbox 360.... yesterday, ramel and i sat down to play some halo, when  all of a sudden, our game FROZE.... we shut the system down and restarted it... it froze again... one more time.... frozen...  finally, we turn it on again only to see the RED RING OF DEATH... the dreaded red ring that blinked where there once was green.... i couldn't believe it... GOSH DARN IT!! our first night to play halo together [ramel's been busy] and i just got my level back up to an 18 when we get this dilemma?! NO FAIR!!!

yes, i'm whining... and yes, we  will get the xbox repaired... but i have to wait, perhaps up to two weeks... phooey.... well, at least i can catch up emails and projects without any excuses.... :p

Ramel Joins the internet!!!

After many years of Ellia telling me to do something with my art or writings online this weekend it finally happened!  I am the husband of the infamous greenbean and yes I am an artist too!  My art has been on the back burner for the past 3 or so years with the addition of the kids, and I have had ideas, but no time to accomplish anything.  The duties of a husband...  Being married has taught me a lot about being patient and sacrificing for each other.  I have had to work ALOT since we purchased our home in 2005.  First it started out first and third shifts (10-6pm and 10-6am) back to back at one job.  Then it became one shift at 13 hours a day...now finally i have a job that is a normal 8 hours a day...and yes I have the time and energy to get back into some art! 

Ellia asked me to do some pages for her ABC book and I was totally flattered to be included on a fun project.

These are the first pieces of art I finished in 2008.

The Letter D: Watercolor and inks
The Letter M: Watercolor and inks

The Letter Q: Watercolor and inks
After finishing these three paintings for Greenbean, I couldn't wait until I actually did some work for myself.  I think every artist understands the joy of creating something that you have total control of.  Well a hobby of mine is gaming.  I have been a gamer since about the age of 6 or 7.  I have always been good at it and I loved the challenge of some of those old school games like contra, or ninja gaiden, even the original metal gear!  It made perfect sense for me to mix my art, with another passion of mine: Video Games! 

My love of games has carried over to wife as she plays Halo 3 more than me now...  I just launched a beta version of my site.  On my site I will dislay some of my work, but I hope to showcase artwork of gamers all over the world.  It could be from anyone, any age and from any game. 

Gamersdigart.com is the site.  I will be having contest monthly (for now) that will give away a brand new game for a lucky artist.  I hope the site can bring some gamers and artist together and have a good time.
The site is not just for guys as many women play games now a days, but ladies do tell your husbands/boyfriends if they have any interest in art and games to check it out. 

I will be starting a blog soon to discuss being a father/gamer/artist and the challenges of juggling all three.  And I just started a Flickr account as well: gamersdigart(I will be adding more images soon.)

Here is a sample: This a character from BIOSHOCK.


This a character from Halo 3.

Please stop by my site Gamersdigart.com, my blog Gamersdigart.wordpress.com  well as my Flickr .  (All three are in early stages this moment but I am looking forward to feedback!  I hope to have full color illustrations up soon, as well as works from other gamers who dig art and artist who dig games!  

Thank you Greenbean for sharing your wonderful blog audience with me!

a day with the kids...

we live in the city... close to downtown, near plenty of parks, close to 3 major malls, and close enough to dive into lake Michigan... a person shouldn't be bored here in milwaukee... so you'd think finding things to do with the kids would be easy, right?! i guess this would be the case for a mom who can tolerate public tantrums, who allows her kids to run the show, and who will shut her whiny kids up with candy and soda... but i'm not one of those moms and i have little tolerance for misbehavior... i love my kids dearly but if they are going to whine in the store, NONE of us are going to have a good time so why even go?! if my kids are moody, we stay home...

last summer was a challenge for me... i had a new lil baby who was too small to run around outside... and i had a toddler who challenged my authority and patience... we'd go to a park for HIM to enjoy, and he'd end the day with a tantrum, leaving us both in tears... if we were to leave the park, he'd hide in the playground tunnel or run off... one time he ran off from me and i had isabella in my arms... i ended up tripping in the sand and taking a tumble with isabella... embarrassed, hurt, and angry, we left that park a mess... carrying BOTH kids, i must have looked like a rookie mom... i learned that sticking close to the house with the two was easier on us all instead of trying to please diego and being rewarded with a tantrum....

i remained consistent with discipline and rules... if we go to a park, there is no crying when its time to go... the child must listen to the parent or they will forfeit future trips to that park [not forever though but long enough]... if you can't behave in public, we won't go to big places.... now, i sound strict but i will not end up with a 12yr old boy and girl giving me lip about them wanting something and whining because they can't get it... diego has learned and i am sure isabella will too, when the time comes... it has saved us all alot of headaches, tears, and frustrations...

so anyway, i DO like taking them to fun places and have waited a long time to take them to some of the cool spots here in town... like the betty brinn children's museum... it's  a place where they can touch EVERYTHING and interact and play and have fun... it was fun for ME even!! i warned diego not to cry if we had to go and that he had to listen.... i told him not to talk to strangers and to be on his best behavior... and that he did :) there was so much for both kids to do and explore... tunnels of the body's digestive system, a place to mix music... a place to dance... a place to color... a place to play loud music... a place to play pretend... you could learn how an ambulance works, how to shop, how to milk a cow, how the newsroom works!!
  the bathrooms were kid friendly, the place wasn't packed with bratty kids, and it was small enough to not lose your kid and freak out... both kids had a blast and i tried to take a bazillion photos but most are of the back of their head... there are more photos in my flickr site... we didn't even get to have the actual "learning" experience of the museum where you read the signs and ask your kid questions... i doubt diego knew that the red slide was part of the digestive tract... but it is still learning by experimenting, touching, seeing, playing, and having fun....

we will go there again... especially since both children didn't cry a wink.... so much for them to do and touch that it made the event such a blast.... i can't wait to take them to the zoo next....

yes, we are going to have a fun summer...

kratos- god of war

meet kratos... he is the god of war... well, in my version, he isn't the god of war yet... he's merely a boy, angry that his mother insists on him cleaning his room again.... he's upset that he is blamed for the mess in his room as there are little creatures that are the cause... his mother cannot see them though so this is where he begins his training on combating ugly demons... it is at this age, where he finds he is destined to be the god of war....

and here is ramel's version of god of war... he's a bit more humbled compared to the "real" character but nonetheless, powerful... he is ready to fight any demon that crosses his path but he strategizes his path... and this is much like the look ramel gives the television when we play xbox 360... ramel's illustration is awesome and will be seen soon elsewhere...

and here is the REAL character... or at least a photo of the statue version of him... to be honest, i never played the game... i seen ramel play it on ps2 and it LOOKED good but i never sat down to play it... apparently kratos goes after all the greek gods...

all this began because ramel showed me his sketch and i thought, "wouldn't it be funny if i made a de-emasculated version of this fellow?!"

 

the confessions of an artist...

sketching is a process for me... a LONG process... maybe it's partially due to the fact that i'm not that GOOD at sketching... it doesn't come easy for me... it's something that tests my self confidence and leaves me with less of an eraser than began... while i sketch, i sit near a garbage can filled with crumpled illustrations half drawn.... i fill my pencil with lead continuously and i'm surprised the bulb in my light table isn't burnt out from all the usage... the same illustration is drawn ten times over until it is p-e-r-f-e-c-t...

now ramel is the king of sketching... he can illustrate a guy jumping over a moon in one shot, without an eraser within 2 miles... he can look at a picture of a zebra facing sideways and redraw it so that the zebra is facing the viewer playing a guitar and singing koombya.... he truly has the talent and the patience to match... it must be that patience part i'm lacking, eh?!

i've been able to criticize my work with ease, understanding what i lack artistically... i can over analyze and give myself unsolicited advice... i am frustrated by my own limited skills.... perhaps my characters are too stiff... why do they always stand the same way?! and their hands! why can't my characters do more than just hold one object in one hand and use their other hand to massage their bony hips? how come my characters only have one emotion?! and why are their necks SO skinny? why are my characters always lacking nutrition and are thinner than angel hair noodles? and yet they have a gi-normous noggin!!!

how my work turns out is NOT how i envisioned it in my head... in my head, my artwork is as detailed as the cistine chapel... my work is so good it can sit next to the mona lisa... in my head, i see my characters moving and jumping and laughing and talking non-stop... somehow, when i sketch and cut the papers, my brain doesn't register the same information to my hand... my work is not as grand... i can't find the right color... or i can't find the perfect pattern... how come the colors worked out in my head and not outside of it?!

it's not to say, i'm not pleased with my outcome... i can be satisfied with my illustration despite the fact that it's not as detailed as i first envisioned... and sometimes, it turns out better than i thought... like this picture of rosa... it's from the children's book, i'm working on... this carmen miranda impersonator sat in my brain for two years and while the colors were more red and orange in my head, i think the purple works better... i'm pleased with how rosa looks and even though she has one hand holding an object [and the other hand sitting on her bony hip], it's nice to see her alive... it's nice to know that all this sketching is leading somewhere...

so there is my confession... what is yours?

happy mother's day

to all the moms out here in blogland.... for all the moms who work hard daily raising their kids the best they can, may your day be filled with peace and joy... for all the moms who worry, fret, love, care, clean, enjoy, discipline [with love], cry, laugh, and share with their kids, may you see how much you are appreciated and loved.... i know i could not be half the mom i am without having an awesome role model as my own... i'm grateful to have a mom that listens and understands and loves her grandkids so much...

happy mother's day!!! and a big hug to you all!!!!

note: card illustrated by diego hill- my very first handmade mother's day card :)

sweetness all around

summer is nearly here and i am so darn excited about it... this summer is completely different from all the previous ones as now, i have a nearly four year old boy who finds jumping off high places to be fun... he's more vocal and about 10x more energetic than before...  i have a one year old girl who loves her dresses and loves chasing her brother... i have two kids who enjoy each other's company and find that regardless of swarming wasps, the outside world is a place where you can holler as loud as your lungs mom allows....

and this summer, ramel will be home more often... he just began a new job this week and it allows him to only have to work the normal 8 hrs a day... this is a BIG deal in the hill household as prior to this week, the man was doing about 13hrs daily... he'd come home to bathe and play with the kids.... he'd have less than 2hrs before both were put to bed... he'd go to work before they woke up... we'd squeeze our time in aside from fatigue, my artwork, etc. and somehow, our time always seemed interrupted... ramel has had absolutely minimal time to work on art... something he missed.... so, with this new job [and a promotion at that], he will get to enjoy the summer with us all... he'll be home while the sun still shines... we can go to the parks together and perhaps sneak in a movie... ah yes, it's going to be a treat!

with this extra time of his, we both will have a chance to work on art and feel like our degrees aren't left collecting dust... while i've had my time to work on stuff, it's a completely different feeling when you have two people working on art early in the morning... or late at night... it gives you an extra oomph to create... the atmosphere is filled with creativity and inspiration.... it's a bit hard to explain but seeing my husband have a chance to do something he loves [sketching, painting, etc] is such a good feeling... it's attractive too :)... it reminds me of when we were first dating... we'd sit at coffee shops working on a project... we'd talk about what we wanted to accomplish.... somehow, back then we had a lot of conversations which is something i've missed lately... sure, discussing the children can be a good topic but the parents are important too, ya know?!

so that is the good news... fun summer with the family... more time with the family... and now, more paper too!! yes, indeed!!! the other day, lisa said she had some paper for me... when i received the box, i was literally squealing at the OODLES of paper she included... isabella was to be my model for the photo of this wonderful package but she was too busy running off.... lisa musta sent me over 400 sheets!!!! sweetness, eh?! i spent all last morning and night trying to re-organize my papers but that will be saved for another post at another time... [brace yourself- hehe]

sweet patty also sent me some wonderful and beautiful papers that made me giddy with delight! kawaii stationery that is just to drool for!!! there are so many cute illustrations that it was hard to take photos that would do such a gift justice... if this doesn't jar a gal's inspiration and creativity, then what else will? i've been wanting to experiment with some new greenbeanbaby styles that are kawaii-influenced.... i don't wanna be a copycat but it'd be nice to something besides my usual gals with big eyes and a big head smiling away [although, kawaii art is that way too so what am i talking about?!]...

you can see more wonderful photos here... patty was just a doll to send so much beautiful goodness... and lisa too... i am grateful for all the love that has been sent to the hill household and hope that this summer our joy will radiate to your homes :) after all, we are all here to inspire, encourage, and motivate each other, right?!

we cannot forget one of the bestest days in the world is on sunday.... so until then have a happily splendid weekend!

a bit of retro love....

it's 5:30am and the birds are chirping loudly... they almost sound angry.... ramel is in his studio shuffling through papers, getting ready to sketch... the smell of coffee lingers up to my room, giving me hope that this tiredness would shake off... an old movie plays in the background, enticing me to put an "i love lucy" dvd on instead... the kids are sleeping soundly and the day begins quite peacefully... this mode is rare and reminds me of how life once was prior to kids...

nowadays, it seems like everything has changed... blogging and emailing are often done while the children play in their room, only for both to have to go to the bathroom.... or perhaps, isabella keeps stealing his toy... roaming hands try to click on the mouse but both kids want to climb on my chair and my lap... if i don't wake up at 5:30am, this is how the conversations usually go...

"what's that, mami?"

"that's an elephant.... isabella, don't touch"

"that's berry nice! i make a green butterfly"

"yes, and you did an awesome job!"

"oh.... mami your birthday party soon?"

"mm hmm"

"then it's my birthday party?"

"mm hmm"

"tomorrow?"

"no diego, you have to wait a few days... a few months, in fact"

"i have my party another day?"

"yep!!!"

"and people will sing to me?"

"of course we will"

"and i will have cakes?"

"mm hmm"  [sniff sniff.... the smell of a dirty diaper turns my stomach and a giggling girl runs off]

"i want a green party"

"ok diego! but you have to wait!! don't worry, we won't forget about your party... hold on cuz i have to change isabella's diaper"

"baby girl went poopoo?? i wanna see!!!"

"no diego, that's gross... but you can hand me the w---- isabella, stay still!!! hand me the wipes, diego... "

"ewwwww that's disgusting!!! mami, i'm thirsty. i want water"

"ok but how do you ask"

pause... mami, i-want-water-PLEASE-may-i-have-some?"

often my blog post is left in the drafts folder as water is served, a child is put on the bus, another is put down for a nap, a few phone calls to companies requesting money, and some coffee re-warmed 2 times over... while i wouldn't trade my life with anyone, sometimes these peaceful early mornings are to be cherished [even if i just wanna go back to bed]

happy thursday!

eat your meat, baby!

you know, i'm not a big girl... never was... i'm short and not even close to being a full figured gal... the other day i was looking at an old sewing book... late 1950's print... if you take a close look at this photo, check out all the sizes for these females... do you realize that i am considered an "under developed sub-teen?" those are EXACTLY my measurements... while some people may find that to be a good thing, i don't know if i like the idea of having a SUB teen figure... i'm not even a TEEN, i'd be a SUB teen!!!! and under developed???

granted, the way females are measured is differently these days... a size 12 back then is like a size 5 today... so while i have a retro measured figure, i really do look under developed compared to the girls these days... heck, there are 8yr old girls who put my figure to shame... my mom always says it's gotta be all the hormones pumped in the chicken.... and you know, she could be right... that is the ONE THING i didnt eat as a kid... i hated chicken... the veins made me gag... the cartilage made me choke.... the sliminess made me cry....

if only my mom would have told me to eat my chicken for the sake of having a body like a woman, and not a sub-teen... hehe... then i might have mustered up my courage and eaten some.... and maybe i wouldn't be blogging on such an off- topic.... maybe i wouldn't feel like i got jipped in certain areas of my figure...

still, you know, eating and feeding are such a chore at the hill household... i'm allergic to raw fruits and veggies... i don't eat meat... i don't like yogurt... in fact, i am lactose intolerant.... there is very little left on the menu for me to enjoy that is healthy... on top of that, i have a picky son who seems to dislike more foods than me.... and isabella is small but she likes to eat... however, finding something that ALL OF US can enjoy together is like trying to flap my arms and fly... a nearly impossible feat [ok, flying IS impossible]....

my kids are energetic but are considered thin... i don't understand the way measurements are taken these days... we live in a society where thin is good... society complains of obese kids with diabetes... society protests the use of vending machines in the schools... and yet, my kids, who aren't chunky monkeys, are told they are TOO thin... my kids don't eat much junk food, they don't drink sugary drinks, and they don't watch oodles of television... they are more active than i can handle at times [using my couch as a trampoline]... i find this frustrating when society DOESN'T want obese kids but doctors DON'T want THIN kids... society WANTS our kids to eat healthy but yet, when my daughter wants fruits and yogurt that don't contain high calories, i am to feel guilty? maybe i should hand her a donut instead...

this isn't a thought provoking post... just a bit of a ramble slash rant...