Vintage Disneyland Flickr Set

So this is one of my favorite Flickr sets yet. And look at the color schemes found in these photos! So dreamy and nostalgic. I'm going to start using these colors for my paintings. And it's Disneyland. I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with Disneyland.

Naomi

Sand Animation Brings Audience to Tears

Wow this really brought tears to my eyes. From the Ukraine's Got Talent, a story of the Nazi takeover during WWII.

Etsy has fixed my problem and also sent a link to this article about scammers.

The Storque always has some great articles about etsy for sellers. One that was sent to me in an email telling me that fake profile has been deleted, is about the specific scam that was attempted with me.

"This works because the check or money order (typically from an overseas bank) is a forgery. Your bank will allow you to deposit it, and then by the time the bank realizes it is a forgery, you have already sent back the over-payment to the scammer. Once the forgery is detected your bank will hold you liable for the amount, and now that the con artist has their money, you will not hear from them again." Click here to read more.

Happy selling etsyers, and be careful out there! It's a wild, wild, web!

Naomi

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-19-10

More progress on this piece...

Naomi

Etsy Scammer Alert!

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to post this to prevent anyone else who may have been targeted for this scam. This has happened to me a few years ago. I didn't end up falling for it in the end, but it did come at a time when I really needed the money. The fact that these scammers are so heartless makes me so mad! This is a reply I got regarding the purchase of my original painting "The Blue Lady." Don't let anybody send a cashier's check with an "excess" amount. You will be stuck paying for the original price (As the cashier's check will be no good) as well as the excess amount, which they expect you to "transfer" to their "shipping method." Stick to your policies and your shipping methods and make sure that all checks clear before shipping out a product.

I have already reported this to etsy and hopefully they will crack down on this imposter.

Much regards to all of us out there just trying to make it doing what we love and not take advantage of anybody else!

Naomi

Fellow Artists Spotlight 01.19.10

I'm going to start spotlighting other talented artists out there, to help their exposure and also for my own inspiration. These posts will go up as frequently as possible for me to put them up, so stay tuned...

Here is the first go of the year!

Luc Normadin



Gary Stearly


Jenny Kim

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-18-10

With so much going on lately, I'm posting some oldies but goodies today. These were the first painting steps when working on the commissioned painting here: http://beenznrice.blogspot.com/2010/01/taking-requests-for-commissioned.html

Found these today so I thought I'd share. This is one of my favorite steps in the process.

Naomi

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-15-10

More progress on my self portrait for today's piece...Happy Friday!

Naomi

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-14-10 (belated)

Sorry it's late, issues last night...but here it is! And I will have a brand new piece for today later on. HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!

Naomi

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-13-10

The piece of my mind for today is totally not able to create anything new or happy or anything else. Replacing A Piece of My Mind today will be information on how you can help the Red Cross with the disaster in Haiti.

"There has been an outpouring of support from the public. To help, people can make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The public can also help by texting “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. "

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-12-10

I did do some Geisha Muerta sketches last night...and will continue to do more this week, but those will come later. For today's piece of my mind, more progress on my "Gray Self Portrait."

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-11-10

I woke up this morning with pains in my back and neck. I have been stressed more than usual lately, so in pain (even after taking a few ibuprofin) I sketched my imagined captors, the "stress fairies." These beings have tools to pick, push and pull in the neck area until you are in pain and can no longer move. At night, they put on heavy, steel toe boots, and dance on the stressed victim's back. They stomp and kick all night until the break of dawn. At least, that's what it feels like.
I did a quick sketch of my view from a path I walk at lunch and on some breaks, but obviously, it did not come out as well as usual. Such is the day. I wrote down "Organized are my thoughts-so is my capability to sketch properly." Today, being not such an organized day in my mind. But it's still a piece of it!

Taking requests for commissioned paintings...

After spending lots of time (and lots of energy, emotion, tears and joy) with the last commissioned piece, I needed time away from commissions. That was the end of October 2009. I am now ready to accept a new commissioned project, which I will most likely limit to a small number per year, depending on the size and complexity of each painting. So if you have been thinking about having a painting commissioned, please contact me asap, as I am currently available, but once I am snatched up, probably won't be available again for a few months.

Another note, even if you are not ready just yet, but are curious as to what is available and what an estimate would be, feel free to contact me as well.

Thanks!
Naomi

A Piece of My Mind 01-10-10

Two paintings I'm working on, I've experimented with a bit in Photoshop. The top is of course the painting I've already started. I've become quite enamored with fossil bones lately, and will be using that in my pieces. The second is a self portrait I started a while back after coming back from visiting Tombstone. My influence of Frida Kahlo and my love of the old west are quite visible in the direction I'm going in this one.

Thoughts?

Naomi

A Piece of My Mind (belated) 01-09-10

Didn't get to do all the things I had planned to...personal issues...stressing me out...which is no good excuse to not to anything artistic or creative. I will make it up today and post a piece of my mind soon...

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-08-10

Happy Friday everyone! Here is my piece for today. Sketched at the Camarillo Adolfo Ranch House on my morning break. I am left with the thought I had after I finished my break..."I need to start sketching again!" Here's the first sketch of the year. Enjoy.

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-07-10

Just progress today, folks. But what a difference a day makes! Line work is finished and got my base for paint ready. Lots of Photoshop painting fun to ensue. This is going to be for an EBSQart online show with the theme: gray.

Naomi

2 Original Paintings Up for Sale on Etsy!

This is the first time in quite a long time that I've had original paintings up for sale. So, here you have it, "The Blue Lady" and "Tres Corazones" are up for grabs! Prints available as well for all you budget minded art collectors!

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-06-10 and a half!

Here's some progress on a digital self portrait I'm working on. It's been a while since I've done a self portrait (I think maybe even a year since I've drawn myself!) and it's about time. I remember in high school and college constantly drawing myself. I miss being my own muse some of the time. :)

Naomi

A Piece of My Mind Each Day. 01-06-10

Inspired by Amanda Blake and etsy, I've decided to do something "a day." Amanda is a very talented artist who is creating a drawing a day. I had a little trouble deciding what I'd want to do everyday, and what I am actually capable of finishing every day at this point in my life. Finally, I've come up with "A Piece of My Mind Each Day." Since my mind's a little chaotic and all over the place, yet still pretty focused, I think this commitment to a daily post will be good insight to what's goin on in my noggin. This will entail a drawing, or sketch, painting, collage, or if nothing new is going on in my head, progress on a current piece. As long as there's something art related I'm doing every day, I will have reached my goal. Today, I'm posting vector icons of mer-kittens I did for a friend. These were fun to do, too!

Naomi

Beenznrice.com Re-Vamp!

What was I doing New Year's Day? Well, I had planned on starting the revamp of our website, but I ended up starting and finishing it, as well as finishing the entire holiday without even realizing it! I am quite happy with the current format of the site, and there are buttons to link to this blog, our Facebook fan page, and our twitter profile! Please check out the site and look around. I've added quite a few pieces, especially in the Paintings section!

New Painting Progress

Started a new painting during the holiday season, but because of the holidays, didn't get to do as much work as I had planned. I will post daily progress. Here is what I have so far...