greenbeanbaby art

looking back...

am i the only one that has lost the desire to blog? the only one that has run out of time in the day to sit down and record the millions of thoughts and countless events that take up such time? am i the only one that hasn't time to read other people's blog, and if a blog is stumbled upon, the pictures are soaked up, the posts are briefed over like a student studying a james joyce novel?

time has flown by and my hopes of posting at least once a month seems feasible but lacking the greenbeanbaby enthusiasm that kept this blog glittery... not to mention, the illustration jobs are keeping me busier which one cannot complain, eh?!

so here is diego.... five years old and reading.... doing math, drawing, and talking your ear off... and missing a baby tooth, already!!! he's happy, full of inquiry, and quick to make his sister happy... he's at the age where he says he doesn't want to be married because it's disgusting... and if you ask him why, he'll say "because being married means you have to kiss"... hehe

when i began this blog, he was 18 months and not talking as much as i had hoped... since then, he's made up for that... he was still taking naps and carrying around mario party game cases and watching justice league... it was me and him all day and all night while ramel worked 2 shifts... 

and what about isabella? a lively and loud 2.5yr old fulla spunk... she has a enough hair for two kids her age and enough energy to pass around... she's eager to be artistic and  just as eager to be heard... if you can't hear her, your ears must need checking...

but since that time, i had announced my pregnancy to the blogworld... isabella was born in early 2007, screaming loudly from the second her lungs took in oxygen...  this blog has recorded her first moments of sitting up, of crawling, walking, and her continued love for her brother...

can you believe that in 4 years all that has happened? artwise? where do i begin??? i never thought so much could get done with two kids and if you ask me how, i still couldn't tell ya... with being married and maintaining a healthy relationship, cooking, the massive amounts of cleaning, emailing, networking, school meetings, homework, kids refusing to sleep, a bit of gaming, and the other jobs that are included with being on this planet, i don't know how i've managed to illustrate... and with illustrating comes an etsy shop, advertising, more networking, blogging, tweeting, updating the fan page on facebook, taking pictures, shipping, contacting people, updating my portfolio, and  i can't even think what else... it's no wonder i'm tired these days- HA!

so may you all have a wonderful and successful new year... i know i will :) if i could get this much done in in a couple years, what will this new year hold?!

hugs!!!

autumn event today

The event is being held right NOW right here! from Friday, November 13, 2009 to Sunday, November 15th, 2009 you get the chance to purchase handmade embellishments for your personal needs. You can also purchase special designs by Blake Himsl Hunter and Eric Hancock. You can even get some goodies from Fun Old New's stash!!

 
Most of these items are limited edition and in short quantity so get them while you can. And enjoy!!!!

fairytale event TODAY!

 

in just a manner of hours [7pm central standard time] a ton of embellishments will be uploaded in the shop... mostly fairytale characters, including edward scissorhands...

now, i couldn't make so many at once, but i do want everyone to get a chance to buy what they want... so in this event, i will have a special listing called "sold out items here"... in that listing, you will be able to purchase whatever embellishments sold out right away...

i'd like to say that all proceeds are going towards getting diego a puppy... after the incident [which i haven't shared but nonetheless sadly experienced] our family is in hopes of giving a teeny pup a good home here with us... diego wants another "bruce" and i am willing to take on such a responsibility to make my son happy!!!

the rest of the proceeds will go towards applying for my master's... so all the etsy funds will go towards a good cause... have fun shopping!!!

heart to heart

if we could see beyond the blog posts, and into the blogger's life, we'd see much more than those written words... perhaps the blogger has had a rough week, full of tears and frustrations, full of doubts that are sprinkled with discouragement... and who could really blog on such intimate details? it makes you realize that while we all have hard days, we never know how much one of us may REALLY need an encouraging word... and yet, sometimes without having to share such details, there are those who still encourage and uplift, not knowing how those few words can make a blogger feel less frustrated or less doubtful....

yes, we all can relate... we all have moments too tiresome to post about... or sometimes we know that tomorrow will be better so why dwell on today? perhaps we feel that if we share the details, it will make us look insane, or unable to maintain our emotions in a mature manner... who wants to admit when the bills have them too concerned to create artwork that is not paying those bills? or admit that their spouse has managed to boil their blood leaving them feeling like the incredible hulk but only not so strong, merely angry and at a loss of intelligence? who will ever post on how lonely they feel when they choose to pursue the truth? who will ever express their doubts on their success or lack, thereof?

sometimes, it's better we don't post the many perils of a blogger's life... we each have our rough weeks and we each need those light-hearted posts that fill us with inspiration and hope again...  we rely on each other's good week to make our own week a lil more manageable.... we are there for each other without ever really knowing the details... and that is okay... i love it that when there is no one around to listen to me, someone online has left a sweet comment... or when i feel most lonely, someone wants to "friend me"... does that sound silly? on the day where i feel most frustrated, someone sends me paper, caffeine, and chocolates... and they make something beautiful and precious for my kids... the day where i feel my artwork is becoming merely a hobby, i'm bombarded with compliments...

we shouldn't RELY on compliments, but its wonderful when they come when we need them!! and this post is a thank you to those who make a gal feel swell, even when you didn't know... and of course, i thank those close in my life, who never doubt or question who i am :)

ps. these cut paper embellishments will be available on friday 7pm, central standard time...

what's on your plate, greenbean?

wow, my blog has been neglected just a tad... we all know that it isn't because i'm taking a vacation, sipping on ice cold coffee drinks and lounging at the beach with my two kids and husband... while that seems ideal, the closest we get to this picture is the coffee part... sipping on coffee... HAHA...

main course- family:  over the weekend, we had diego's birthday party... i think we celebrated diego's birthday for a month... presents the week before, staying up late and playing games, toys, more toys, more games, sleepover at the cousin's [despite him falling ill yet again], then the party... this kid is not lacking in the love, affection, and toy department! his birthday party was simple, relaxed, peaceful, AND fun... yes, it's possible to have a peaceful 5yr old birthday party that includes fun, candy, and melting ice cream cake.... him and isabella seem to be growing so fast; their personalities sprouting like a well watered plant... with all the work that it takes to raise a family, i'm grateful that so many people agree that my kids are well behaved and loving :)

pasta side- freelance: within the past week or so, i've been working on the rest of my imagezoo illustrations and revising the rubber stamp illustrations... i've only a few more illustrations to complete for the holiday set, which i'm excited about... the rubber stamps seem to be coming along, with revisions being made so that they will be sellable... i've also been putting my portfolio online on several spots including behance, jacketflap, and coroflot... my theory is that the more my artwork is shown online, the less people will steal it since the more people will see that it is greenbeanbaby art... [whoa, that was a mouthful!]

vegetable side- master's degree: yes, i've been looking into getting my master's degree in creative writing recently... i've only a couple of months to get my graduate application in, along with my english requirements in... recommendation letters, 30 pages of fiction, a TEST, analytical writing, and my personal statement...  there is a chance that i could get a full ride since i'm a "qualified student who is a member of a group underrepresented in graduate study"... i'm a first generation college graduate and i'm puerto rican so that qualifies... the thing is, i'm nervous of getting accepted... i've kept up with my blog but other than that, my writing has been sparse and perhaps not enough to get into the master's program?! however, i'm confident enough to try!!!!

dessert dish- etsy love: i don't have a date but i will be having an event in my etsy shop... it will include discounted original illustrations [although to forewarn, they will be higher than my usual prices but lower than i plan on selling them in the future...]... there will also be some NEW items that i cannot tell you about right now... why?! because surprises are fun and because i want to make sure i have the time to do it before i say it out loud... i will say it will allow people to USE my art :)

beverage- more freelance: lastly, i'm still considering sending my stuff out to publishers... i am getting my portfolio underway and trying to figure out how to describe in my resume what i've been doing for the past several years... i have ideas for MY OWN children's book since the one i talked so much about fell flat... another story, another time... however, it's not to say those illustrations won't be discarded but rather revamped to suit the greenbeanbaby world :)... since i'm rusty on writing, i also hope that going for my master's would mean more opportunities in the children's book writing and illustrating world... i don't know how many publishing jobs i can take during the year 2010, while i [hopefully] get my master's degree but i'd like to still send out my work beforehand!

well, that is all folks! quite the read, eh?! i just want to thank everyone who's been supporting my blog over the years, as well as all the encouragement, feedback, and support you all give on here, flickr, facebook, and twitter!

a VERY wonderful sale

right now, all prints are on SALE in my shop... yes, they are older prints from ©2008 but they are only  $6.00 each... and if you buy two, you get ONE FREE!!

all proceeds go towards a mother and her baby... she's not in dire need but i'd like to send her a big box of goodies... would you like to help by purchasing some greenbeanbaby goods?!

have a wonderful weekend!

after thoughts...

thank you all for supporting me through yet another situation of being ripped off...  the situation was resolved and the image was taken down [after over 3,350 downloads]... there is nothing else that i can do... it's been a roller coaster of emotions and trying to make the best decision i can for myself, my art, and my career... i don't think some people understand the feelings an artist has when this happens and might consider me as over reacting... but hey, no one likes to be robbed- it is a violation...

as for the watermarking, i have been doing this for quite some time... most of my images have a copyright symbol of some sort... some of my older pieces might be missing it and there is so much on my plate now that i cannot re-edit my images... BUT i have been adding text to my latest works and most of my art is riddled with copyright symbols... regardless, if people really want an image, they will find a way to get it... so again, despite that fact, i'm trying to make the best decisions without losing my network of friends and supporters...

my theory is that the more i put my artwork out there, the more chances to get seen by clients willing to pay... and the more sites that carry my work, the more people will know that it is, indeed, my work... is that a good theory to have? i hope so... i've uploaded my illustrations on a few portfolio sites which has been work but fun... i've dived into getting the greenbeanbaby/ellia hill name out there... will anyone grow tired of this cut paper illustrator?! hehe, hopefully not!

thank you all for the personal emails, the comments, suggestions, and links... my goal now is to remain focused on my portfolio, my freelance, and start writing again... yes, once upon a time i was a creative nonfiction writer... perhaps a few of my quirky motherhood moments along as well as life with super diego and miss isabella can become a children's book masterpiece :P

here are pictures of the kids in case you are interested.. diego's post might be postponed longer than expected but you can always enjoy the flickr page! have a wonderful week everyone!!

ripped off yet again

how many times does it take to get ripped off?

i've had my panties illustration stolen... i have had people take my art and SLIGHTLY revamp it to call it their own, with no mention of who the originator is... i have had someone from the u.k. steal my art and make it into digital stamps to sell it [and she had MANY customers]...

and now, i have people taking my art, calling it theirs, and using it to GIVE AWAY AS SCRAPBOOKING ART!!! oh yeah, i'm not even giving this person a chance to justify or apologize because i'm THAT MAD!!!!! so at this point, what happens? do i continue to show my art online, just as i am about to put MORE art in online portfolio sites????? should i shut down my blog? should i stay skip it to facebook and flickr?

i dunno, i'm just mad... some folks may not think i have a right to be upset... but i'm tired of everyone taking my stuff and getting the credit except for me... ugh!!

[diego post still to come once i'm not steamin' frustrated]

wee hours

 
it's 2:45am and i'm munching on my kids' graham crackers while trying to post on my slightly revamped blog... this past month has been filled with so much sickness, the greenbean household has barely seen daylight... everyone but ramel seems to lack a sensible skintone complexion... actually, he's the only one not to have been sick or riddled with congestion...

there's so much to do in this upcoming month.... i've yet to complete the entire set for imagezoo but am pretty close... you can see most sneak peeks right here until they are uploaded and for sale on the official site... the only one completed and not shown yet is my christmas one...

i've also a few drawings to vectorize for rubber stamps... exciting, challenging, hopeful.... sadly, i'm behind on the freelance work AND the custom gifts planned for friends... after all, i didn't expect people to fall ill in JULY... however, it has lead me to some serious contemplation... and reorganization...

yes, i've been rethinking the future of greenbeanbaby and the art produced... while i still want to have a shop filled with greeting cards, this might be the season to pursue the publishers... i've dusted off a few reference books and read up on freelance illustrators who are also full time moms... after all, freelancing is hefty but when you are a full time mother in the same house as your studio, it's quite another arena... not that i haven't been doing freelance for all these years, but i kinda want get that children's book from dummy to printed... i'd like to go the professional illustrative route, rather than stick ALL my eggs in the handmade basket... does that make sense?

anyhow, i'll continue to blog on the latter subject in depth as more goals are in clear focus [and not hazed with tylenol]... for now, my midnight oil is burnt out- actually it evaporated an hour ago... so i'm off to bed...

have a wonderful wednesday and see you all on the flipside!

hypoallergenic and pig free

 

so a couple little ones around here are slightly sick... fever come and gone, belly aches, throbbing pains, etc.... not as bad as it sounds but enough to be medicated and homebound... between allergies and the swine flu, there's a lot of caring and relaxing...

in the meantime, i've been up late at night playing mafia wars working on art, while watching season 3 of heroes... i have 25 illustrations to complete and only 5 completely done for now... this one took the longest... the mummy boy's upper torso took an entire hour!!!!

yes, i handcut each lil bandage wrap around his miniscual 2" body... was it necessary? probably not but it looks cool, right?! his arms were most difficult though...

in less than 7 days, we celebrate 6years of marriage... i cannot believe how fast time has flown... it's not to say i haven't felt it and loved it... we've done a lot in these years and i cannot imagine how the next six will be... diego will be nearly 11, isabella 8, ramel and i, 34... wow, lemme not even think that far ahead when i have 20 more illustrations awaiting completion... after all, these have to be done before we celebrate our anniversary

this is a brief post but happy monday!!