New Year's Approaching

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I had an interesting one and I am so glad it's over and ready to get back to work! So I completely forgot to post my finished Dia De Los Muertos painting from the show! Please let me know what you think. If you are interested in purchasing the painting, please contact me directly.

N

Golden Girls Shirts in Vegas!

So here's a little picture of me and Carlos (taken by Alyssa) proudly wearing our Golden Girl shirts in Vegas! Yeah, we got a lot of dirty looks and heads down, but we also got a LOT of laughs and a lot of people loved the shirts! Let me know if you want one, we still have a few left! We take money, trade, livestock...etc... lolz

Naomi

Back doing Illustration Friday! Topic: Similar

Okay, so I'm not sure where I was going with this exactly, except for the fact that the girls are similar-they could be sisters, friends, enemies, not sure what they are. Maybe you can come up with a good premise for this sketch? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Naomi

Big changes for Beenznrice are underway!

The Beenznrice Household is getting organized! With the elections over and the big changes happening, we've also decided to start some big changes with some big projects of our own! Yes, this means plenty will be going up on ebay, which I will post a link to later. I've been going through both of our computers for the first time in a year and will be updating the website with all of the pieces we've created and have not had a chance to put up!

Along with all of this, I will be putting older art, original, prints, and digital copies, up on etsy and on ebay just in time for Christmas shopping! I will also make our cafepress link available as soon as I update the content there, as I am unsure whether or not we will keep our cafepress store in the future.

Please keep checking our blog for more, and I will see you on the other side!

The Killers-Human lyrics

OK-I am in LOVE (not like, LOVE) with The Killers' new song, "Human" and have been reading the stupidest people commenting on the lyrics of the song, even to go as far as saying that the lyrics on the actual website itself (which would come directly from the band) are not the ACTUAL lyrics. Yeah, talk about being pompous!

The lyrics in question:

"Are we human, or are we dancer?"

I have read people (and even killers FANS) saying that, no, that is incorrect, it is denser. That would make allright lyrics as well, but to actually say no to the band lyrics to make it more comprehensible for yourself, imo, is only saying that you are dense. Love it when people don't understand something, they automatically make themselves believe, along with plenty of people with them, that there is something wrong with it, and not with their own frustration of it. I like what my husband said about this: "If it's not handed to them on a silver platter in 5 seconds, they don't want it." So true.

So what is the meaning of it then? Doesn't he mean dancers? NO! If he meant dancers, wouldn't he have put dancers? That's what I think.

The way I understand that part of the song is this-first you need to take the word "dancer" out of context. Get rid of the image of a "dancer" (a person who dances) in your mind. Now listen to the first line: Are we human? He could have easily said, Are we humans? As individuals, but this sounds to me if he is asking what species we are. Now if he is saying human as a species, then dancer (as opposed to the individual dancers) would be used as a certain "species" as well. For me it made sense because I am of a very mixed ethnic background. Whenever someone asked me, "What are you?" I would respond, "I'm half Filipina, a quarter Japanese, and a quarter Caucasian." To me this is the same way to say the species of dancer, "I am dancer." (as in I am half dancer.)

Now what exactly he means by "dancer" when it comes to what that species is like, makes sense to me when going onto The Killers website and to see that it was inspired by a quote: "He says the lyrics were inspired by a disparaging comment made by Hunter S. Thompson about how America was raising a generation of dancers." So now that you've got "dancer" in the correct context, you may now truly interpret the song.

It was just making me mad to see how many people are so stubborn about this song not making sense. People really are DENSE-R!!!

<3 Naomi

Dia de los Muertos Art Exhibition

I will be having a painting up, so if you're in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area, please come by and check it out!

Golden Girl shirts printed!

Yes that's right! We got them printed (and my a very talented local screenprinter btw...just contact me if you want her info). Carlos (and a pack of fight fans) will be wearing them tomorrow at the Shane Mosley vs Ricardo Mayorga fight tomorrow at the Home Depot Center! More pics of that coming, but here are some of the shirts in a row and one of Carlos in the middle of them. That last one is a little creepy-but he's just excited.

N

Dia de los Muertos Painting Preview...

This is just a teaser! I won't post any more pictures until the gallery opening, Oct. 10 at Under the Sun Gallery in Ventura, CA. The pictures are from my cameraphone, so they are not the clearest in the world. All the more intriguing I suppose! Enjoy!

Illustration Friday Topic: Memories

A piece I did of my daughter. Inspired by memories of a past life of mine. Enjoy!

Naomi

Lifestyle Changes

So after vacation, I realized I am not where I want to be physically. I "hired" Carlos as my personal trainer/nutritionist, and it seems to be working pretty well. I am still on my first week though, I'll let you know how it goes!

As far as my art goes, getting up early and going to the gym has definitely been helping me mentally. It's also giving me a lot more energy throughout the day, and I've been feeling the urge to paint again! (not digitally, but really paint with oils and brushes and canvases!) Plus I have a group show to prepare for soon...more on that later!

N

Illustration Friday Topic: Sail

Okay, okay, so it's more of a tugboat. Oh well.

This is another one of Carlos' for a client. I believe this one got accepted. Enjoy!

Illustration Friday Topic: Poof

So I've been slacking on IF, but luckily for me, Carlos had worked on a piece based on magic for a client! The piece didn't actually get picked, of course, because it was the coolest looking one.

ENJOY!

Naomi's Artwork in the Ventura County Star today!

Hello everyone! My article is in the Ventura County Star newspaper today! Go out and buy a copy if you are in the area! You can also go check out the article here: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/24/camarillo-artist-gets-some-tv-exposure/

Here's a little snippet of the article:

"A Japanese illustration from her father was the inspiration behind the work of a Camarillo artist whose pieces appear in one of the many extravagant rooms in "The Real World" house on MTV.

"I was freelancing at a company in Camarillo and on my wall next to my computer, I hung a Japanese illustration that my dad brought me from Japan," said Naomi Valdivia, 26, whose three-piece Geisha Muerta series is featured in the Hollywood home where the reality television show that will air at 10 p.m. Wednesdays is filmed."

Etsy Press Club

Yes, that's right, we are now a part of the Etsy Press Club! We were listed under the TV Press section in April's edition for my work on The Real World Hollywood! Check out our links and a lot of other talented artists and crafters here:http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/etsy-press-club-april-2008/1893/

World Vision

So, I decided to sponsor a child through World Vision a couple of weeks ago. I had been frustrated with my kids getting a little whiny over petty stuff, and I thought, why don't we help someone in need while also giving them a little education on how other kids live in other parts of the world. That was probably one of the best decisions I've made in my 7 years of being a mom. Last night we watched the DVD that was sent to us to educate us on the parts of the world that World Vision is helping, and it also showed us how to write letters and send small gifts to our sponsored child. My son really felt compassionate toward the babies he saw that were in dusty and sub standard environments. He kept saying, "Poor baby!" With a sad look and then would hug me as if he understood how much he had. The biggest impact was on my daughter, who just watched silently, barely blinking, taking it all in. She is excited to write to our sponsored child, who lives in Ethiopa, right away. I think I will take them shopping to buy some gifts for our first package to him. And before bedtime, as I was tucking them in, she said she had something to pray about (and she hardly ever prays unless in church-I don't force her to). She prayed for all the families and kids around the world, and she prayed about the AIDS epidemic (in the DVD it really showed how that is effecting kids in other countries) and that we could help people get enough food and clean water to live a healthy life. My eyes were teary upon hearing it, and I am so grateful to have good kids, and grateful to my sponsored child, who we haven't even written to yet or heard from, for showing my kids how blessed they are and that it is necessary to give to others when in a position to.

For any parents out there, I really recommend doing this. For more info go to:

Naomi

Illustration Friday Topic: Baby

A portrait of me and MY baby.

Enjoy.

Naomi

Ventura County Star and Enchanted Web Designs

So this morning, a photographer from the Ventura County Star came to my studio to take pictures of me and my Geisha Muerta pictures for an article. I was so nervous, but it turned out really well. Keep your eyes peeled for more on that-I'll be buying a few copies for myself! lol

Also, I hadn't put this up when I got it, but I am the illustrator for Enchanted Web Designs, a really great web designer specializing in feminine and girly sites. Her prices are extremely reasonable, even WITH custom illustrations done by yours truly, and includes en ebay template and store front, and all kinds of other extras that other web companies charge for.

Here is my page on her site: http://www.enchanting-webdesigns.com/catalog.php?category=7

She's a great person as well, which also makes it nice!

Have a great Sunday!
Naomi

Chinese Madonna Now Available for Purchase-ALL 100% Proceeds Will Go Directly From Sale to The American Red Cross China Earthquake Relief Fund.

Thank you for all the great comments on my Chinese Madonna piece. I am now selling the piece on my beenznrice etsy shop and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the American Red Cross China Relief Fund.

Please take a look at my listing here at http://www. etsy. com/view_listing. php?listing_id=12179487

My goal is to sell 25 and raise $500. If I reach that goal I will list another 25. Help me reach that goal and spread the word of the goodness of humanity in time of crisis.



If you would like to donate directly, the link for the fund is http://american. redcross. org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_china_relief_fund_0508

Thank you for all your support!

Naomi of Beenznrice Art and Heavenly Skull

Beenznrice featured in The Crafty Chica blog!

We are so excited to be in one of my favorite crafter's blog! Diary of a Crafty Chica is the blog of Kathy Cano-Murillo! She is famous for her colorful, day of the dead, latin style crafts---oh and GLITTER!!! Check out our presence on her blog here:
http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com/2008/05/jewelry-making-as-therapy-to-etsy-or.html

and her site (which is absolutely a treat to look at) here: http://www.craftychica.com

Enjoy!
Naomi

Sketches from Big Bear and Illustration Friday Topic: Forgotten

I chose to show these for the Forgotten topic, because most of the cabins I drew looked like they had been abandoned or forgotten. Especially a couple of outhouses. Enjoy!

For Memorial Day Weekend, we stayed at a family cabin in Big Bear. I was a little worried, as I'm not fond of snow, but it was absolutely beautiful. We drove past a white winter wonderland up higher to the cabin, where there was no snow, but crisp cold air, sunshine, and green pine trees everywhere. It was my perfect setting. I woke up early to go walk for miles, and just draw interesting cabins and scenery. I hope you enjoy my sketches!

Naomi

Madonna in the Chinese Earthquake

I read about an officer and mother who has a 6 month old baby in China, but breastfed as many as 9 infants during the whole disaster. She is really an inspiration and when I saw her picture, I instantly thought of the Virgin Mary. Her selfless and prompt behavior and maternal instinct really moved me to do this piece. I will be setting up an option to buy the image (in high res) with 100% of the proceeds to go to the China Relief fund at The Red Cross. More on that later. Read the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/22/china.breastfeed/index.html

Illustration Friday Topic: Wide

An oldie but a goodie. This is the Carlos' Hell Piece. I thought of it when the topic for this week was announced, as the hell fish creature is opening his mouth really wide to try to swallow our valiant angel!

Naomi

Rancho Rosal Native Garden

This morning, I attended a brunch and show at Rancho Rosal Elementary. I got to design the sign for the Native garden. It was amazing to see how appreciative all the kids and teachers were to all of my coworkers who built it. It is absolutely beautiful and charming. It's nice to think that this will be something that will last for generations. I wish I had been able to help with the hard stuff, but am very glad I was given the opportunity to create the sign.

Naomi

More Sketches from the Adolfo Camarillo Ranch House

This is one of my favorite places to be! I feel like I'm meditating when I'm there because I am usually all alone in a breathtakingly beautiful, serene setting. Enjoy the sketches!

Naomi

I found a sanctuary just walking minutes away from my desk job!

So I am a freelance graphic designer for a company that has very gray cubicles and walls. I thought there was nothing but industrial buildings and landscaping all around until I realized how close the Camarillo Adolfo Ranch House was one day while walking with some coworkers. Today I speedwalked to the place after I ate and was just amazed at the beauty and serenity of it. Here is what I drew in the 20 minutes I spent there. I think I am going to start taking hour lunches again and spend majority of my time there, drawing. There are trees, flowers, the Queen Anne style house itself; there is even a Virgin de Guadalupe statue. Oh and a big red barn. Looks like my blog is going to be extra busy with sketches!

Naomi

Illustration Friday Topic: Electricity

I did this very quickly at my desk at work, with a piece of scratch paper, a red pen, and a highlighter. I love it. Enjoy!

Naomi

Official Press Release: Geisha Muerta Art on MTV's The Real World

Here's the text from the Press Release. Feel free to click on the image to make it full size to print out!

Geisha Muerta Artwork on MTV’s The Real World

Press Release
April 16, 2008

Southern California Illustrator Naomi Valdivia was chosen to have 3 pieces of her Geisha Muerta series (below: Geisha Muerta #1, Geisha Muerta #2, Geisha Muerta #3) featured in one of the many extravagant rooms in The Real World house, located in Hollywood, California. The room which the artwork is located in is an Asian style room, with very bold reds and blacks. Links to a picture gallery of the entire house can be found here at http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1583900&view=thumb
This season of “The Real World” will mark its 20th season on air. This will also be the first season to be “Environmentally-Friendly.” The Real World has long been at the forefront of pop-culture as we know it today, which makes it even more significant that they are “going green.” The first episode of The Real World Hollywood will air Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:00 PM ET/PT.
Naomi’s artwork on the show will feature very graphic iconic Geishas with bold colors (black, red, violet). Within each piece, aside from the first impression of “cuteness” is the element of the “muerta” inspired by the very distinctive Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. Skulls are used in each of the 3 pieces to give an interesting mesh of imagery and also a mesh of cultures.
Naomi Valdivia is truly a Southern California artist, raised mainly in Carson, CA. She attended High School in Hollywood at the Fairfax Visual Arts Magnet on Melrose Blvd, and college at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles finishing with a BFA in Illustration. She is currently a Graphic Designer and freelance Illustrator in Camarillo, CA.
Her style is very influenced by the meshing of cultures, as she is a living, breathing mesh of cultures herself; she is half Filipino, a quarter Japanese, and a quarter Caucasian, and within those ethnicities are even more culture meshes. The style of her work is mostly digital, mixing the clean vector quality of Illustrator with the many painterly possibilities of Photoshop. Another main theme often seen in Naomi’s work is the mixing of something beautiful with something that is seen as somewhat morbid, therefore, creating its own haunting and thought provoking beauty. She is the “Rice” factor of Beenznrice, of which her husband Carlos, who is Mexican American, is the “Beenz.”

For more information or to see more of Naomi’s work:
www.beenznrice.com
www.myspace.com/beenznriceart

Contact info:
naomi@beenznrice.com

MTV Press Contact:
Anastasia Lee
Anastasia.lee@mtvstaff.com

Sketches from Jury Duty May 7

Yep, I got caught for Jury Duty. At least I was able to amuse myself by drawing for hours on end. That doesn't sound too bad now does it? I also met a very interesting man named Joe, who had lots of life experience and stories to tell. If you get to read this Joe, you totally made my day.

Enjoy the sketches!

N

Oh this last one is from when they let me escape. I went on Main St. in Ventura and noticed that the Antique Store windows were like giant still lifes! Anyone interested in making a day of it sometime?

Illustration Friday Topic: Seed

Okay, I had NO time to finish this, but I kind of really liked the prelim sketch I did for it. Kind of reminded me of a ghost or LA Llorona or something. Enjoy!

N

Illustration Friday Topic: Wrinkles

This coincides perfectly with a fairytale type book that I am working on. There is an evil old queen/witch whose main characteristic is her wrinkles. So I decided to illustrate it in a somewhat Grimm's Brothers sort of way. I didn't get to finish the background, but will post it once I do finish it. For now, enjoy my character drawing!

N

Illustration Friday Topic: Primitive

So I didn't actually get to finish the illustration, but I loved the topic because I had been reading about the controversial anthropologist Margaret Mead and her studies in the early 20th century about "primitive" cultures, her first being Samoa. There is a lot of controversy now about how true her findings were, but either way, an interesting read. I wanted to show the beauty of a primitive culture with my illustration. I WILL be finishing this one and posting it up later, so please keep checking my blog for progress!

N

Illustration Friday Topic: Fail

This is my third entry for Illustration Friday. I call it Heart Fail. Enjoy.

Naomi

Hot Fuzz Simon Pegg Portrait

Ah, Simon Pegg. My newest celebrity crush. So I had to do a portrait of him in one of my favorite movies, Hot Fuzz (I literally watch that at least every other day). Anyway, I created this portrait in a different style than usual, using Photoshop, but a bit more messy and intuitive, I kind of like how it turned out! Leave comments, por favor.

N

Geisha Muerta Art on MTV's The Real World Hollywood!

Some of you may remember my post displaying my Geisha Muerta pieces (1-5) from a show I had in Downtown LA. Well, 3 of those pieces were selected to be in the house for the 2008 series of The Real World Hollywood. I am very excited and was even more excited when I saw the pictures last night! They got really good shots of my work! Here is the link to the rest of the house: THE REAL WORLD HOLLYWOOD HOUSE GALLERY

Arroyo Vista Optometry Grand Opening!

Yes! Our good friend Dr. Decuir has opened up his own office and we got to do all the identity graphics for him! His grand opening was this past Saturday, and I was very impressed with the office and the selection. I was so excited about all the different places the logo we created for him could be found! Here are some images from Saturday!
Enjoy!