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!!!

Art vs Craft: Part 1178

image by Ed McGuinniss

Hello all.  Greenbeanbaby and Isabella are under the weather so Diego and I are blogging in their absence.  This is her husband, Ramel checking in.  Diego is on our other mac playing some PBS kids games, but he told me he is working too, so he can get some credit on this post.

The topic of the today is one many have discussed, and argued about.  (Hence the part 1178)  I know Ellia and myself have engaged in some pretty heavy debates over this topic as well.

My stance on the issue has been swayed some since marrying a craft person who is also an artist.  I will be honest, in the beginning I was one sided.  As an artist I viewed craft work as a option for people who couldn't create things themselves.  I viewed crafters as second class artist.  You could imagine how this would infuriate Ellia.  My arguments were based on what I knew about craft.  Which was very little.  Craft in my mind was macoroni necklaces and cut out googly eyes.   

For me...this was craft:

Created by Miss Susan from www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/YS/crafts/GRDHOGPT.HTM

Honest and truly that was craft in my eyes.  The even mention of the word craft brought up images of hot glue guns and yarn.  Now greenbean fought hard to convince me that craft was just as important as traditional art, and that people who craft are just as talented as artist.  Seeing my wife work first hand has helped me personally shake some of the negative views attached to the word crafter.  However every artist doesn't have the luxury to be married to and artist and craft-person. 

I mean to say someone is a crafts-person....is that a cut?  Would you rather be viewed as an artist or a person who crafts.  Does it really matter when it comes down to the end product being created?  I believe there are craftsmen and women who take their work very serious who can crank out beautiful jewelery, handbags, greeting cards, etc...that make some so called artist looked "second-hand."  However...as much as I would love their work, it would be hard for me to call jewelry, art. 

example:

from www.orientaltrading.com/products/C342843.jsp

This is beautiful...plain and simple...in my opinion at least...but I would still not call this art. 
The person who created this is very talented, and has a skill above the average person, otherwise they wouldn't be selling these items.  The act of making an item such as this is very artistic, but I wouldn't say the person is an artist based on this item alone.

image by  Alex Ross

  Is there anything wrong with being a crafter?  Craftswomen and men need to stand tall, unite and celebrate the work they create.  There shouldn't be a rush to defend the word craft.

A person who goes out and purchases items such as beads, wire, and other trinkets, and fashions them together in my mind maybe creative but not an artist...once again just my opinion.  Now a person who creates things from scratch, burns and pours the metals, burns and shapes the wire....that person is definitely an artist. 

But wait...what about the artist who buys canvas, and purchases paint???  That person still creates, mixes, blends themselves, and there is nothing you can buy, that will paint, sculpt, or draw for you.  Sure there are tools that will enhance artist ability, but not change what they can create.

So who wins? 

image by Alex Ross

The two categories really cannot be compared. 

I think the debate will rage on forever...but I think new arguments need to arise.  Why can't crafts be crafts and art be art.  Why is there such a need to merge the two different realms in which people  create.  Why can't we all just get along?  (Had to throw that one in there)  One main topic in the discussion should be artist having a greater respect for the word crafts.  I know many artist and craftswomen and craftsmen  read this  blog, so give  me your opinions on this topic.

the dark side of swapping

there are unspoken rules to swapping, or as i like to call them, swap ethics... these rules derive from moral, consideration, and values... while some people ignore them, the end results leave a bitter aftertaste when mentioning "swap"... i thought to write a post about this topic; its my opinion based off of what i've seen in the past year of swapping... so what are these swap ethics?

this one, which i've seen several times, is when you give a swapper a ton of goodies... then that swapper gives them away to another swap buddy... now, i understand that you may have given them 5 yards of beautiful fabric [for example] and they shared a teeny bit to someone else, who will appreciate it too... what is tacky, is when, the person gives away the entire 5 yards to someone else they are swapping with... it makes you wonder why you even bothered giving it away in the first place when you could have swapped with someone who would have actually used it!!! i guess its like re-gifting, which i also find particularly tacky...

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or what about when you give a swapper oodles of vintage goodness... buttons, music sheets, fabric, paper, epherema.... you sent them some lovely vintage items and then you find out the swapper is selling it on their etsy shop for loads of money?? the items are unaltered and just tossed in their etsy shop to gain a profit... even if they put it up for a few pennies, the fact that they even did this, is insulting... often you put goodies in a swap package for a swapper to use craftily and not to sell to someone else... after all, if you would have known someone would pay $10 for 5 vintage buttons, you would sold them yourself instead of giving them away  wholeheartedly and assuming that swapper would use it....

oh, but what about the swapper who asks for expensive items all the time? they want you to make tons of handmade goodness while they barely even send you a handmade card.... they ask for TONS of old buttons and would rather swap than to pay the price for them.... [and it's especially bad when that swapper ends up being the same kind of person who sells them!] after all, we all know how expensive handmade goods are... and we also know how pricey vintage items can be... it is one thing when that swapper cheerfully sends you oodles of goodies... but its another thing when swappers sign up for swaps only to gain goodies they dont want to pay for but will charge someone else an arm and a leg for!

then there is the swapper who never ever emails you...you ask them personal questions so you can send them the perfect package but they never email you! and on top of that, they won't tell you if they received your package, even though, according to the tracking number, they got it last week!! could their computer be down? no, they just uploaded photos yesterday.. the swapper who never emails is often grateful for what you sent them but the fact that they didnt have the courtesy to email you [when you sent it out on time and full of handmade love] leaves you feeling frustrated and confused... while they said they liked it, did they really???

and then you have the swapper who is always late... they send out beautiful packages and their goodies don't look made the night before... the package isn't full of cheap items but they are late... shipping week was a month ago and they have yet to ship out their package... they have five thousand excuses and half of them sound like lies... at the end of this swapping ordeal, you are left feeling as though you were taken advantage of... you ship on time but the swapper fails to make you [and your time] of any importance...

there is the swapper who will never blog or post photos of what you sent them... they'll post of what another person sent them but not you.... you check their blog daily to see if they liked your goodies enough to share with the world but the post is never written... though, this person will email you, exclaiming their love for the package... while it's not manditory to blog about swap packages received, it is a way of showing gratitude... if the swapper chooses to blog of other swaps and not yours, it can leave you feeling as if you [and your swap] wasn't worthy enough to make it to their prestigious site....

lastly, you have the swapper who sent you whatever they felt like... never mind your dislikes!! this swapper fialed to read your likes and dislikes and sent you doggy toys, when you have birds... they send you peanut butter candy bars, when you are allergic to peanuts and diabetic to tiop it... they send you #2 pencils with teeth marks and yarn full of cat hair... they didnt even bother to write you a note! this sort of swapper is cheap, and leaves you full of regret...

i've seen all this and more in the world of swapping... thankfully, i've never had to deal with such issues, other than one which was speedily rectified... there are times when i have fell behind on emailing or posting about a swap, but i always show love... there are times when i was late in shipping, i am not perfect... none of us are, and we all can fall lax in swapping... but we should try to follow some sort of ethics in swapping... this is supposed to be fun, inspiring, and a good way to make new crafty friends... let's not make the word, swapping, a bad one...

*note: these photos are of GOOD SWAPS!! i wanted to use photos for the post but in NO WAY am i saying i DISLIKED any of these... the photo with the dogs, belongs to my mom

how to protect our work

while i do not have a degree on this topic, i would like to take the time to post about how we can protect our creations... i tried to keep it simple and not get too technical but hopefully it will help you all out... and your input is definitely appreciated...

first off, adding a watermark to images of your creations, can prevent people from stealing your images... you hear throughout the blog community of ignorant and tacky people who steal photographs and images... you'd think people would understand ethics... so a simple way to deter stealers from snagging your beautiful and time-consuming creations, add a watermark... and if you don't know how to do so, keep a lookout in november for my tutorial on how to make a watermark in photoshop :)

if you make an illustration or design for someone's personal use make sure to let the person know in writing, what they can and cannot do with that artwork... why is this so important? say, i made a design for natalie's blog... it was made for the intent of her blog and anything pertaining to her blog... she could use the design on her business card to advertise her blog... BUT she CANNOT take the image [or portions] and upload it onto cafepress and stick it on mugs, shirts, etc. and resell these products... why? because i made the design for personal use and not for a major profit... it's important to let your customers know this because you charged them according to what they are planning to use your artwork for... i mean, you'd charge "x" amount of dollars for a person's simple blog and "y" amount of dollars for a design for mcdonald's right? mcdonald's plans to use it in commercials, cups, advertisement, etc. so you SHOULD charge them according to what they are going to use it for...

but what if someone wants artwork for their business? maybe they want a banner for their online shop or an icon for their business... or maybe they want artwork for a brochure they are doing... what are your rights and their rights? again, you have the option of informing that person what they can and cannot do [in writing] with your artwork they are buying... you can say that they are allowed to use it for the specific purpose of their business and anything relating to their business, or for promotional use... in my opinion, i think its a bit tacky if people are buying your art and putting it on paraphernalia solely for  making a profit... i mean, if they put it on a mug and just sold it, what is the mug for? is it to advertise their business? or is it just for people to enjoy your art [without you making money]? a good example is this: i make an image for brenda's cookbook... she takes a portion of that image and puts it on cute little aprons... then she puts those aprons in a local shop and sells them.... is that right?! no way!!!!!! now, if she puts the image on the apron and uses them as give aways with her book- that would be okay... or maybe she puts the image on a mug and it has the info of her book on the mug too... that is okay as well...

now, say you sell an illustration or some works of art on etsy [for example]... that illustration, assuming, is for personal use... this means, the customer cannot resell it for profit... of course, people resell items on ebay all the time... i don't think it's right for people to resell handmade goods but i'm unsure of the legalities on this topic... so for the record, i am specifically talking about a person taking your illustration and reselling it [or portions of it] to a store and giving you no credit whatsoever... after all, i don't buy samantha's sewing goodness and resell them to a local store here... and i won't buy diane's art and resell prints my etsy shop... i don't have that right, even though i bought her work! i can't take her images and make notecards and try to make a profit... you'd think this was a very obvious no-no but it's good to clarify for those who like to bend the rules...

while the creative commons copyright is wonderful for crafters and artists, i think people tend to abuse this form of copyright... it's okay to be inspired by other people's work... but it's also really wonderful to give them credit!!!! and it's also courteous not to use their designs and sell items.... for example, my cut paper kits are all for personal use... no one is allowed to make them and then sell them on etsy or at craft fairs [or anywhere else]... it was merely a tool for enjoyment... you could make a card for a friend, but you cannot sell that card to a friend... it's not like a box of betty crocker cake mix where you make it, bake it, and sell it at a school bake sale...

i hope you found this post informative and simple enough to understand... this info has been put on the side of my blog as a separate page... i will also be adding a tutorial and a FAQ page about my artwork.... in due time though so please bare with me!

a touchy topic...

as creative people, we look for inspiration around us... the world of blogging and photo sharing has given us the opportunity to "meet" wonderfully creative people... seeing their blogs, reading their words, often encourages us and motivates us to bust out our tools and get to crafting- whatever it may be... however, there is a responsibility with all of this... there are ethics to consider in the process when you are making ideas using other peoples ideas...

the line between being inspired and stealing can sometimes become blurred... or using someone's ideas and selling similar item for sale... [geez, i wonder how cocoa cola dealt with RC!!] either way, there IS a difference... personally, i don't mind if someone likes an illustration of mine and wants to mimmick it for their own entertainment.... you  know, if  they want to make a card for someone... but i DO MIND when an illustration is taken, without permission, and used to sell in their shop or to others... that is stealing, and quite insulting... while it's an honor to know that my work can motivate others, it's frustrating to see my ideas being snagged without even a mention! i'm not saying that you have to blog a 4 page dedication, but a simple "this is a card i am making... it is a revamp of one of ellia's illustration" would suffice...

there have been plenty of people who've followed such ethics! and for that, i am grateful... however, there has been a few instances... i don't want to feel as if blogging will be a way for others to steal my ideas and sell them, when i am having a hard enough time selling my own... creative people understand that it takes time, finances, AND sacrifice to come up with ideas and products... how many pots of coffee did i go through to finish one project?  how many tears were shed from the emotions going wild due to lack of sleep? don't my ideas have enough value to not be stolen? i don't want to feel unsafe here... and while i realize that this is the internet, i still want to trust my fellow readers... after all, your support keeps me encouraged and also inspired... your support has helped me get this far...

there are still uncertainties i have too... i don't know all the rules in copyrighting either and am unsure if i've done things that were illegal... i think my superhero kids are pushing it, as well as the video game items... and as far as using stickers, stamps, and special patterned papers, the rules are unclear... so i try not to sell those sort of items much anymore... understandably, this crafting business can be tricky...

anyhow, i have been debating on blogging this... i was quite discouraged in even seeing the fact that the name greenbeanbaby was recently taken for a clothing line... was it coincidence? the line has nothing to do with the work i do, but the name was once my signature... it's even more upsetting because the reason i chose greenbeanbaby was so that it could one day, include a variety of items [YES, EVEN BABY CLOTHES] but now, i wonder... will i have to change my name because someone else has declared it theirs? okay, i am not dr. seuss here who can make up new names and terminology... i understand that green bean baby are three common words- just what are the chances? sigh...

lastly, i must say that all my  artwork is copyrighted... do not take my photos... and please do not steal my works and reproduce them for sale... and if you do want to use something for personal use only, email me... not to mention, i would love to see the end result as it's always fun to see how one idea evolves to another... also, the cut paper tutorial and the cut paper kits in my shop are for personal use only.... they are not to be made and sold...

i would love to know your thoughts on the topic and even your experiences... please share!!!!

what was your dream? post 1

after much frustration with paints, charcoals and pastels, i began working in cut paper the 3rd year into college... i decided the greeting card industry was the ideal life... i even found a job working as a designer at a local greeting card company... and the company used handmade paper of all colors and sorts in their cards! however, i always envisioned my own company... my own cut paper greeting cards being sold in a teeny store front shop...

i saw my shop peaceful with big windows; the sun shining in as the kids rushed through the door from school, waving their backpacks about... i'd send them to the back room, where it was my studio, and make them sit at a big table to work on homework... i'd sit in the front, behind the counter, glueing some card together while sipping on coffee.. after the kids were finished with schoolwork, i'd hand them a duster and make them dust the shop while they'd tell me about school and who did what in class...

later, ramel would come through the door, kiss me, and ask how business was... i'd say slow but steady... he'd grab the kids and i'd close the shop and go home to a very clean house... in my dreams, i never remember cooking for the family or figuring in the time when i'd clean it- hehe... it was a happy dream though- and i thought, quite realistic...

however, once diego came along, the idea of the shop became blurred and bleak... i found my shop void of customers... i'd dream of how my parents would come and buy cards so i could make a sale that day (and that is because my parents really would do that! they are quite supportive)... i'd dream of how ramel would hold me as i'd cry about the shop's unsuccess... in fact, by the end of my dreams, my shop would be empty because i didn't know if the greeting card avenue was the path for me... yes, the idea of a shop became an unrealistic dream with nightmarish realities...

what really jolted me out of the idea of this storefront, was when my buddy told me of a new store, paper boat boutique... walking in there was like seeing MY dream being played by other actors... it was the store front shop with greenish walls (i think) and a room in the back!! there was a lady working on something in the front and the store was full of items handmade by various artists.... my dream shop was owned by someone else... and i must admit, they were doing a darn good job and had a beautiful shop!

so fast forward--- we bought a house, it had rooms for studios and i discovered the world of blogs and creative people... i found mothers who sewed, cut paper, and had etsy shops... i found support and encouragement... i began creating with annewed hope that having an etsy shop would be far more ideal than a storefront in milwaukee... after all, most of my customers are from other states and countries...

instead of my son coming home from school, running through the shop door, it's different... he's running through the kitchen door after a day at daycare... he's stomping up the stairs and rushing to my studio, yelling "hi mummy!!!".... everything is louder, with a hint of chaos... i can hear the baby swing creaking. isabella grunting, as i cut tiny hands and feet for my artwork... shortly after, her grunts turn into wails and diego's asking if we can watch superman, or batman; anything to avoid his nighttime bath...

i wouldn't change a thing right now... my reality is better than my dream, although quite louder with a bit more interruptions... i like having an etsy shop and meeting other creative people... i like mailing out packages at the post office, or stopping by target to pick up supplies... of course, now i dream of how i'd like to fix up my studio and of new products i'd like to make... i haven't given up dreaming, just sort of tossed the idea of a storefront shop, out the window... i've accepted and embraced this reality...

we have all adjusted our dreams in life... so what was your dream? and what is your reality??

a creative stay-at-home mom's story...

well, many of you know i work in the wee hours of the morning... cutting paper away to the voices of scully and mulder arguing over faith and science... or gluing to the voices of lucy and ethel getting into another crazy mess... sometimes, i type away to the sounds of batman or superman (the cartoon) beating up another wild villain... nonetheless, i have my weeks where i can create while the world sleeps... and then i sleep short hours and during diego's nap times... after all, my kind of art does not allow me to really work on it with a loose toddler around... with x-acto blades, hot glue guns, and a curious kid, what mother would feel comfortable and creative?

but some nights, i lose energy... it catches up with me... regardless of the cups of coffee in my system, the fatigue sets in... although i have a set list of things to do, there isn't enough "umph" to complete the tasks at hand... i am too tired to play video games with my husband or to even email people....  it's a lot of work to bathe diego or to cook a june cleaver style meal... on top of that, seasonal allergies kick in and some medicines cause unwanted drowsiness... plus, i take many walks with my child, which aren't of short distance either! i love our outings to the parks and the zoo, but just like diego, i end up taking a long nap after such a day... but can i complain?! who would say no to taking a snooze in the middle of the day in such a clean and peaceful home?!

it's true, i have such days... sometimes, being a stay-at-home mom can seem lazy... all we do is cook, clean, and watch after a kid, right?????!!!! i mean, is it really that hard to vacuum a house? or to rearrange the living room? or to change a few diapers and keep an active kid entertained? is it really that hard to teach a child all that they should know at this age? and feed them the appropriate foods and be 100% responsible for their health and nutrition? can it be so difficult to raise a kid the best possible way, even when you wonder if all that you are doing is right in the first place?! how many times do we have to explain ourselves to our husbands or others that what we do is really a lot of work... that most days aren't filled with naps and watching tv... but in honesty, we have such days to preserve our sanity and regain our strength...

i've debated on returning to work outside of the home... the offers come and i have the credentials and the experience to do so... i mean, i could work at a coffee shop or retail... maybe design or coordinate...  and diego is old enough to handle a daycare... with bills around, another check couldn't hurt... my hopes to make a career out of this creativity and still maintain my normal duties of being a mother, wife, and homeowner can seem distant... it's possible but of course, takes time... in all honesty, i don't think i could work part-time, do my normal duties, and create at night... i almost feel guilty that i cannot do all this... (as if i don't do enough, eh?!)... after all, it's been 2.5 years of not working outside the home...  i am an artist who's finally got her groove back... i am determined to make freelance work a bigger part of our income... with the etsy shop still in progress and investments being made, it's not impossible... ramel fully supports me and understands my plate is full... and that my goal is not selfish; my family is forever on my mind... diego won't be a toddler forever... and our bills aren't out of control... so whatever doubts, frustrations, and fatigue felt now, are only temporary...

i can't say this post ends with a purpose... it's moreso just a ramble of thoughts and ideas... it raises a question of how many other creative moms go through this... who are working hard to raise a happy, healthy child... how many moms are willing to stay up late at night utilizing their creativity for both a stress reliever and a money-maker?!  no doubt, the latter is not the most important, and that shouldn't be what ultimately drives us to create... but how many of us create with a purpose beyond just "for the sake of creating"? how many of us have a vision that goes beyond dusting the furniture and making a meal that isn't from a box?! how many of us relish the days we have with our kid, but yet question if we are doing enough?

regardless of such thoughts, i try very hard... in all that i do, i try hard... and no doubt, you do too...

when is the right time to use something?

i've been saving stuff since i can remember... childhood toys, greeting cards, postcards, and retro goodness... probably between 2000 and 2002, my mom found these old paper placemats and gave me some... i have two of each (the above and below picture)... i've been saving these (along with many other papers) for some really good reason, but when does this really good reason ever come along????


i mean, i do this with most of my papers... i save and save and am utterly nervous of cutting through any of them... afraid that at the end of snipping and chopping, i will realize i don't want to use that color or that pattern for the illustration... not to mention, i have loads of scraps so i kind of want to use them and save the big pieces for backgrounds... but several people suggested (in so many words) that overcome this fear... with all the wonderful gifts i've received from lovely people, this fear outta be conquered sooner than later, don'tcha think?! after all, time doesn't wait for anybody... and by the time i find that really good reason, no doubt, i will have even more paper...

sizzix for an illustrator...

so everyone knows i'm an illustrator who works in paper right?! and if you're an illustrator, everything should be hand drawn by yourself... right?! of course, we all know that is where the debate begins... ad often i feel my ideas fall right somewhere between hot and cold... see, if i am working on greeting cards and each one takes an hour to make, i need to find ways to make my time shorter... and considering i want to sell them as inexpensively as possible without losing craftsmanship (or profit), then i need to find shortcuts... all throughout college, i cut everything by hand, even circles... now don't get  me wrong, i still can do it! but again, to save some time, why not use die cuts or other cutting systems?! does this make my artwork less personal if i do this?
 
this is the debate i often have with myself... for the longest time, my sizzix collected dust... i'd buy simple shaped die cuts because i knew most everything else i would design and hand-cut... but the more i get back into the making of greeting cards, the more i need to find ways to save time... and i just need simple shapes! i love my handy dandy flower paper puncher... and i love the sizzix's flower too... so i use those but some days i feel cheap, or less of a real artist...

however, the circles and ovals i use freely without guilt... i mean, i want quality!  i strive for perfection and craftsmanship... and if my characters have lil pupils, is it so wrong to use a template instead of free-styling it?! and am i still considered a full blown cut paper artist if i don't choose the latter? perhaps, i am over thinking, as i am known to do... however, i often wonder what other artists to do cut time and if they ever feel like they are cheating...  like i said, its only for simple shapes... all my hands and heads and feet and shoes and clothes are cut by yours truly... and the frillies on the dress are done with shaped scissors... but for the most part my work is meticulously cut with my tiny hand and a sharp x-acto blade...

so i admit it! i use scrapbook materials but in an unscrapbooky way... (yes, i know that isn't a word)... i have a sizzix, a slew of paper shaper scissors, and hole punchers that are bigger than the standard... i have eyelets (which i've only used once for a fish project) and beads and stickers i collect because i find them pretty... i even have stamps and embossing powder (and an embossing gun because using my toaster wasn't the safest)... most of these things i collect with an intent to use but often i feel guilty for using them if it's used in a too scrapbooky way...

yes, this post is more to convince myself that i'm a real artist... and not a cheater...

point proven in a frame

both my husband and i are illustrators... we both graduated from dear ol' miad... and thus, we had  similar courses, similar teachers, and mutual friends... we both have a cutesier touch to our work, although mine is far more "awwwwww, how adorable" than his... anyhow, whenever artwork is created here, there are critiques... ways to improve a piece...  and since i've been the only person working on art, my artwork is often the subject... ramel will even rate my illustrations... from his favorite to his least favorite... of course, i get defensive because i wonder what's wrong with the "least" favorite... usually, the reply is, "nothing, but i just like these other ones more".... i value his opinion,  his ratings, and his comments.... even if i get a tad upset...

so why do i bring this up? because i was told many of my recent illustrations look the same... as if they were all from one big huge illustration and cut up and framed... and i usually have no subject matter in the background.... mind you , this was brought up because we were looking at my recent sketches, which were already underway... oh, he liked these illustrations, except the bladder one, which looked like all my other recent work... (that one ended up being his least favorite)... he's right... all my girls look alike... big head, big eyes, skimpy bodies and the same smile...  i've forgotten about boys, cats, dogs, and furniture...  i use green in every illustration and  i work in the same size.... 8x10; standard frame size...(i've done far too many illustrations before where i didn't have standard measures... custom frames were needed and considerably costly)...

now, i collect prints from thrifts and rummage sales... i love the retro illustrations from the 60's and 70's.... and you know what?! these artists did illustrations that looked similar to the next... every female eden painted looked fairly the same, and with a plain background... maio, as well! and lee, and the person that made all those sad-eyed animals... see, look at all these photos of artwork hanging around my house...  and i have many, many, many more...

perhaps, i'm not so abnormal... perhaps, every artist has one style they repeat over and over... miad taught us to avoid this... but admit it, it's not that easy... better to play safe... at least people know what to expect right?! i truly don't know... i don't want to produce predictable artwork, but i also want everything to look uniform... where can the line be drawn? of course, every artist mustn't be afraid to stretch their skills into something more sophisticated, or less in some cases... to be looser at times, or to better their craftsmanship... in my case, i need more subject matter, including the other gender, another species, and some background... yes, ramel is right even though many other artists get away with it... however, i must admit there is room to improve....

note: if you like my retro prints, i'll be posting more pictures gradually...