Creative Inspiration: The Cowboys at the Rodeo

On Saturday I headed up to Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos with my friend Mark.  We had such a great time checking out all the handsome men. 

It was very inspirational, to say the least. 

Pigskins and Foreskins

While “Pigskins & Foreskins” is not my best work, it is the piece with the most emotions attached to it, both happy and sad.

As I mentioned in one of the previous posts, I had been shopping my artwork around to some of the gay publications in New York City.  It was early summer 1996 and one of those appointments was with the art director at Maverty Media Group, Ltd., which published numerous gay magazines such as: Playguy, Torso, Honcho, Inches and Mandate.  I didn’t leave that appointment with any freelance work, but I did receive a phone call a few weeks later regarding an assignment for Torso magazine.  The art director told me about a manuscript (aka erotic story) that needed an illustration.  I jumped at the opportunity to have my work published and went into Manhattan to meet with him.  The name of the story was “Pigskins & Foreskins” and dealt with a coach and his football team.  I was thrilled!  Not only was I given an erotic story to illustrate, but it was a full page / full color assignment.  WOW!  I had landed my first homoerotic illustration job and it was fully loaded…literally!  I was so excited to have this opportunity…I couldn’t believe what was happening. 

At that time, having spent nearly a decade employed as a full time designer, I was working from my home studio in Northern New Jersey as a freelance artist/illustrator/designer. I shared that beautiful home with my then partner of nearly 8 years.  While I was so excited to create the work you see above, I had no idea my world was about to be turned completely upside down.  As we approached the end of the summer, the illustration deadline was drawing near, and unbeknownst to me, so was the end of my relationship.  With the money earned from the Torso illustration, I took us out for a wonderful dinner overlooking the Manhattan skyline to celebrate this milestone in my career.  The illustration had been handed in and I was ecstatic, however, it seemed like I was the only one at our table who was celebrating.  I noticed my partner was miles away from the conversation and even further from celebrating this incredible moment with me.

As much as I wanted to pursue a career as a homoerotic illustrator, sadly I needed to find a full time job, pack up my belongings, pack up my studio and find a new place to live.  The joy I had for landing my first homoerotic illustration quickly turned into sadness beyond description.  My relationship was broken beyond repair, as I began to discover my partner preferred countless anonymous encounters in the woods of the South Mountain Reservation over what we had worked so hard to build together.  As the weeks went on, I was repeatedly stunned at the scope of his transgressions and infidelity.  Heartbroken was an understatement.  You see, years before we had made a monogamous commitment to each other…but I was unaware of the change in status he had brought upon our relationship.

Needless to say, this was a very difficult time in my life.  I had to pack my belongings, move from our beautiful home, leave my relationship of 8 years and find a job all at the same time.  I started working as a full time designer on Friday, November 1^st and moved out on Saturday, November 2^nd. 

As they say, that was a lifetime ago.  Yesterday, September 15, 2012, was the one year anniversary of this blog!  Woo-Hoo!  I’ve posted much of what I created, getting me to the point of having my work published in Torso magazine.  I have tried to give you an idea of my creative process and my peaks and valleys that I have traveled to get me to this point.  “Pigskins & Foreskins” was printed in the December issue of Torso magazine in 1996.  I was beyond thrilled to see my artwork published along with my name next to that work.  I had great joy and was very proud.  All the painted pieces (Princess, Nagel Boy, Tex, International Male) motivated me to hire a model which inspired me to create all those hybrid pieces (The Sweat Shop, Vested, Treasure Trail, Gay Pride, Scruff and Blue Collar).  And it was those early works that prompted the art director to offer me the magazine illustration.

Hybrid

You’ve all read about my “hybrid” pieces.  Those are the works that were created traditionally (with pencils, paints, brushes and on actual paper) back in the 1990’s and either completed or modified recently using Photoshop.  Some of the original works were taken to completion with full color, while others just remained black and white line paintings (India ink on bristol paper) waiting nearly two decades for color to be applied. 

Probably the most modified painting from the 1990’s is “Blue Collar”.  I thought I would show you the (untouched) before (1994) and the after (2012).  You can see just how much the piece has been changed.  The most obvious modification is color.  Then perhaps comes the details such as facial hair, body hair and tattoos.  Almost 20 years later, I went back into the piece to correct the original painting, making the drawing more accurate.  I made his hand larger, lowered the placement of his ear, put more detail in his ear, tweaked his nipples making them larger and made the profile of his face more accurate to the model’s facial structure.   

There are many benefits to using Photoshop during the creative process, but one of my favorite uses is applying color.  As you can see from the 1994 painting, sometimes the color does not always dry even.  This was always a big concern for me.  Being a perfectionist, I wanted the color to be flat, even, consistent and flawless.  You could mix the paint to the perfect consistency, you could make sure your best brushes were cleaned and ready to go, but that didn’t guarantee a flat and even finish to the color.  With Photoshop, the color application is flawlessly flawless each and every time. 

Blue Collar

It’s been a while since I posted anything, not to mention the last time I posted some artwork.  So, I thought I would show the most recent hybrid piece.  Everyone remembers what I mean when I say hybrid, right?  The artwork was created traditionally in the mid 1990’s, but updated recently using Photoshop.  “Blue Collar” is a piece that was conceptualized for the December 1993 photography session with the model.  When I say it was conceptualized for the photography session, I meant I actually put thought into the poses, clothing and props I wanted the model to wear and use.  While he supplied the baseball cap and shirt, I supplied the chain.  I really wanted to use chain in some of the poses.  To me it’s a very industrial and masculine element and I thought it would be a great prop to use.  The fact that it additionally symbolizes bondage didn’t hurt either. 

The photos that inspired this illustration are probably my favorites from the session.  As part of my contract with the model, I cannot publish any of his photos.  Sorry, that was part of our agreement.  But trust me, when he put on that baseball cap and barely-there shirt, he was adorable beyond description.  He was very handsome, possessing (what I like to call), all American good looks.  I guess the best way to describe that look is the male models from Abercrombie and Fitch.  There is a boyish charm to them, but there is also a sense of collegiate sophistication.  They are not only text-book handsome but they also look intelligent, collegiate and prep-school-like.  I really lucked out when he posed for me.  He got a few hundred bucks for a few hours work and I got some amazing photos to inspire my creativity. 

He was in his mid thirties when these photos were taken and he still looks just as good today.  Almost 20 years have passed since December of 1993, but I checked out his facebook page, and he is still just as handsome.  Time has been very kind to him.    

As I mentioned, this is another hybrid piece.  The black line work was painted with a fine sable hair brush and India ink.  I would paint the ink onto hot press bristol paper or illustration board.  The design would be drawn and painted double the size of the final presentation (in my portfolio).  If the finished work was shown in my portfolio at 8.5” x 11”, I would paint the original at 17” x 22”.  It was easier for me to paint larger than actual size.  I also loved how “tight” the finished work looked when it was reduced.  The imperfections were less noticeable and the line work became thinner and more delicate.  I would then take the original black and white painting to a graphics photographer where he would use a stat camera to photograph the art at half scale onto a sheet of clear acetate.  I would head back to my studio and mix the colors needed to finish the piece.  Once the paints were mixed, I would lay a sheet of semi-transparent waxed rice paper (artist’s paper called waxed masa) on top of the black and clear acetate and carefully paint in-between-the-lines to add the color.  The type of paint I used was gouache.  When finished carefully painting between the black lines onto the waxed paper, I would then switch the positions of the paper and acetate, placing the acetate on top of the painted waxed paper.  After lining up the black line work with the under lying painting, I would then securely tape the sides of the two together creating the finished piece.  The hybrid part comes in with Photoshop.  How I use Photoshop varies from one work to another.  But at the very least, Photoshop is used to smooth out the paint, making the colors flat and even.  During this process, I usually re-color the piece, changing the colors some.  I may also go in and rework some of the black line work.  On “Blue Collar” I reworked his facial structure as well as giving his ear more detail.  I added the tattoos on his arm as well as the facial and body hair.  I also reworked his nipples from the original artwork. 

There were a lot of steps to this traditional process, but I truly loved the end results.  I very much enjoyed painting the precise, even line work.  I know this might sound odd, but it was somehow relaxing.  I’m sure it would drive other artists insane to paint such precise and even line work, but I’m part German and very much an Aries, so that might be part of the answer.  Every artist has their own techniques used to create their distinctive style.  This is what makes art so interesting and different.  It would be very boring if all artists produced the same style of work.  

Chick-Fil-A...Hating in the Name of God

Well, I really tried not to get political on this blog.  My original goal was to keep the posts strictly creative, but these days, there seems to be a lot that is raising my ire.  I suppose much of this comes from the fact that it is a Presidential election year, which naturally brings out the divisiveness in this country.  Also, the recent admission from President and Mrs. Obama that they support gay marriage has sent the haters and hard-core religious extremists into holy seizures.

The fact that the Chick-Fil-A “buycott” was so successful this past Wednesday was, as one gay Chick-Fil-A employee put it, “very depressing”.  I felt the need to vent and create a new header for my facebook page and thought I would share it here on my blog. 

To me, this piece shows just how hurtful and cruel it is to deny anyone the simple right to marry the person they love.  It should not be a privilege that most of the population can take part in, it’s a right.  It was wrong when African Americans could not marry each other and it was wrong when African Americans could not marry outside of their race.  It is wrong to deny this right to gays and lesbians, and the President said so. 

The black and white images are shocking and certainly bring up many terrible memories of how minorities have been treated in this country.  The images of people lined up outside Chick-Fil-A restaurants the day of the buycott is just as painful as the other images.  In my opinion, they should have been wearing white hoods and burning crosses in the parking lots.  The obvious display of hate this week by these Christians is both sickening and disgusting.  I was actually ashamed to be American.  It was shocking to see just how many people in this country hate gays and lesbians.  To be willing to wait in line for hours, baking in the scorching Summer heat, really drove home the message that many Americans honestly, truly and sincerely hate gay people.   

The Wisdom of Aang

Time Cast A Spell On You, But You Won't Forget Me...

One of the best versions of my favorite Fleetwood Mac song, 

"Silver Springs".

Seems Fitting...

Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

Life is so much sweeter when you share it with folks who nurture, affirm and support you.

Scruff

“Scruff” is definitely a favorite of mine.  It’s a favorite because I love faces, especially handsome ones.  Beautiful bodies are great, but there is something about a stunningly handsome face that can stop us in our tracks.  That iconic look, like Pete Kuzak’s look, takes your breath away.  Well, it takes my breath away.  Striking facial features, like those of Kellan Lutz, Jason Statham, Chris Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Worthington, Matthew Fox, Shemar Moore, Bradley Cooper, Cameron Mathison, Rock Hudson, Marlon Brando and John Gavin are the fantasies of wet dreams.

While “Scruff” does not look exactly like the model, it does resemble him.  Because my work is stylized and graphic, it makes portraiture less convincing, to some.  I hope to get better, with practice and time, at creating more accurate or convincing portraits.  That being said, I think capturing the likeness of someone’s face is one of the most difficult tasks an artist can take on. 

“Scruff” was drawn and inked back in the mid 1990s.  It has been updated for the blog, with the color applied using Photoshop.  Back then it was painted with gouache and the line work was, of course, India ink.  The updated Photoshop coloring is very similar to the color feeling from the mid 1990s.  The major design changes are: the dot pattern over the blue field was added as was the stripe pattern on the seafoam green field.  These patterns were added because I felt the piece was lacking.  It looked boring.  It definitely needed some activity in the background, but not too much to take away from the model’s face.  While the 1990s piece did have very dense facial hair, I added additional scruff creating a soon-to-be-completed goatee.  I also revised his lips some, making them fuller.  I think a man’s lips can be one of the sexiest features on his face.

Working From The Heart

Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put into his heart.

 Djalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi 

Gay Pride

“Gay Pride” is another hybrid creation that was started back in the mid 1990’s.  Like all the other works I created then, “Gay Pride” was painted using fine Sable hair brushes and India ink.  I did complete this piece in full color using gouache, but in order to update the work for the blog, I re-colored it using Photoshop.  I stayed true to the original gouache coloring, but using all the Photoshop bells and whistles is certainly a lot more fun than using paints and brushes.  Sorry traditionalists, I still love to sketch and draw using pencil and paper, but applying flat color to my graphic works is easier, faster and more fun using digital means.

While my model did not pose nude for me, that didn’t mean I couldn’t make him naked in my mind.  I did ask him to poses in certain ways knowing I was going to make it a nude illustration.  He was aware of my intentions, he just didn’t want naked pics of him floating around.  And I don’t blame him.  I wouldn’t want naked photos of me out there…even if I looked as good as him! 

Everybody Has A Calling...

Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it.

Every time we have seen a person on this stage who is a success in their life, they spoke of the joy, and they spoke of the juice that they receive from doing what they knew they were meant to be doing...

We saw it every time Tina Turner, Celine, Bocelli or Lady Gaga lit up the stage with their passion. Because that is what a calling is.  It lights you up and it lets you know that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing.  And that is what I want for all of you and hope that you will take from this show.  To live from the heart of yourself.  You have to make a living; I understand that.  But you also have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world.

from The Oprah Winfrey Show finale
May 25, 2011
Oprah Winfrey 

Gay Games

In June of 1994, the Gay Games came to New York City.  I had been shopping my illustrations around to the various gay publications, so some of the art directors knew my name and the style of my work.  I was asked to donate as many illustrations as I would like to “The Official Guide to all Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival Events”.  The black and white spot illustrations were divided between another illustrator and myself.  I was honored to have been asked.  I was even more honored to have my work appear alongside the other artist’s work, as he was very talented and very well known.  Each illustration was credited to the artist and had the potential to be seen by many, both locals and tourists. 

My spot illustrations were used for the following activities: country & western dance competition, flag football, diving, comedy performances and music.

Risk

If you risk nothing,

Then you risk everything.

                                   

From Kobi Yamada’s Book “Live Good”

Author: Geena Davis

Treasure Trail

“Treasure Trail” has to be one of my favorite pieces that came out of the photography sessions with the model.  Again, a bit of a hybrid, with most of the black line work being completed in the mid 1990’s using that same triple zero Sable hair brush and India ink on hot press Bristol board.  “Treasure Trail” remained a black and white piece until recently.  The color was added using Photoshop.  It also remained a smooth piece.  The body hair and facial stubble was also added recently.  I definitely approve and think he looks better as a muscle bear.   

Dream

Twenty years from now

You will be more disappointed by the things

You didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.



From Kobi Yamada’s book “Live Good”

Author: Unknown

Vested

“Vested” is also a hybrid design.  All the black line work was completed in the mid 1990’s using India ink and a fine triple zero Sable hair paint brush.  The black and white artwork was scanned and the color was added recently using Adobe Photoshop.  Not all the artwork generated from that session with the model was taken past the black line work stage.  As I said, “Vested” was black and white until recently, but I always knew I wanted the vest to resemble the American flag with rainbow stripes.  I actually like the creativity behind the modification of the American flag into becoming the gay American flag.  It’s creative and I guess this is my homage to the person who originally came up with that idea. 

The next several artwork posts will be the results of my photographs from the session with the model.  All the photos came out great; however, all the poses were not that good.  The model did a great job and so did the camera.  And at the time of the photo session, the poses seemed “cool” and “very interesting”.  Well, they were a little too interesting; as I felt I could only use a handful of the photos. 

The Sweat Shop

It’s baffling how challenging it was finding a model back in the early 1990’s.  I was living in North Jersey, working in Manhattan and it was still difficult.  You might think gay men would jump at the opportunity to take their clothes off, be paid for it and do nothing more than be photographed, right?!  Not the case.  I took advertisements out in all the Manhattan gay weekly publications and had flyers hung at the gayborhood gyms, which turned out very disappointing results.  Where were all the good looking men who would lose their clothes in a New York minute??

After receiving one disappointing submission after another, I was literally wiped out, frustrated and ready to throw in the towel.  Some submissions had amazing bodies, but not such great faces.  Some guys had handsome faces, but the body wasn’t what I was looking for.  I could not find the total package.  I could not find my Pete Kuzak.  One afternoon, I was in a bar in the West Village when the bartender’s boyfriend showed up to bring him dinner or something.  The boyfriend was stunning.  He had an adorable face.  He was also handsome and rugged.  The bartender introduced us, we said hello and after dropping off whatever it was he was there to drop off, the boyfriend left.  Since I knew the bartender (my then partner was the weekend manager of the bar) I asked him if he thought his boyfriend might model for me.  He said, “I don’t know, but I’ll ask him.”  As it turned out, the bartender’s boyfriend did model for me and in the next few posts, you will see what I created based on that photo session.  A contract was signed and the photos were taken in early December 1993.  It was a legitimate business transaction where the model was paid for taking (most of) his clothes off and then photographed.  I was very happy.  I had found my total package.

This post, “The Sweat Shop”, was originally painted back in 1994.  However, what you see here is a bit of a hybrid.  The black line work was painted in 1994, but the color was applied recently using Photoshop.  The coloring was kept the same for nostalgic reasons and also to keep the original copyright in place.

Creative Inspiration: Pete Kuzak

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International Male

Simply titled “Man #2” back in 1991 for the United States Copyright Office’s Visual Arts Form, I decided to call this painting “International Male” for the blog.  Since the inspiration for this artwork came directly from the pages of the International Male clothing catalog, it seemed fitting to somehow acknowledge the original reference.   

With many of my creations in these first posts, there are aspects of the paintings that I like and aspects that I don’t like.  When coming to terms with a creative style, there is always a period of time when the artist must “work out the bugs”.  It’s an experimental time.  It’s a time for trial and error.  In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, my main concentration was to solidify my creative style.  Being raised watching cartoons from the 1960’s & 1970’s and aspiring to be a comic book illustrator, I was heavily influenced by flat color that was defined by solid black line work.  Coloring books, animation, comic books, they all had one thing in common: the flat graphic color was defined by the black line work that surrounded it.    

With the exception of “Princess” I have relied on published photos for my inspiration.  “Princess” was inspired by a co-worker at the time that was both statuesque and beautiful.  I simply had to paint her.  “Tex”, “Nagel Boy” and “International Male” were all inspired by published photos of some kind.  But I was quickly getting to the point where I wanted to own the inspiration as well.  I wanted to be able to select and mold my inspiration and not be limited to what was already out there. 

The definition for the word muse is a source of one’s inspiration.  In Greek Mythology, the Muses were the goddesses who inspired the creation of literature and the arts.  I needed a muse.  I needed someone who was so idyllic, his beauty would inspire me to produce greater work.  I needed a model.          

Creative Inspiration: Lumberjacks

Each year in early October is the Autumn Timber Festival in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains.  The main attraction are the lumberjacks.  Although it’s the same show year after year, it rarely disappoints.  The crowd is also loaded with eye candy, again, rarely disappointing. 

This past weekend was the annual event and the photos posted above are largely from this year’s festival.  There are a few photos from the previous year, but the important thing is that all the handsome lumberjacks were present and accounted for.  WOOF!

Deforestation 1991

As I mentioned in my previous post, “Deforestation” was originally painted in 1991 using India ink for the line work and the background texture and gouache for the color areas.  I digitally scanned the original art and what you see in this post is essentially that art as it was painted twenty years ago.  That being said, I did use Photoshop to brighten the colors some, add my signature and copyright, but other than those very minor changes, the original art remains unaffected. 

Deforestation

Originally painted in 1991, what you’re seeing now is a bit of a hybrid.  The black line work and background texture was painted twenty years ago, using India ink and brushes.  And although it was colored similarly back then, the color you see in this version has been applied using Photoshop.  The original colors were painted in gouache. 

This “Nagelesque” style is firmly taking hold, as seen in “Princess”, “Tex” and “Nagel Boy”.  My artwork has always been stylized and graphic.  But after seeing Patrick Nagel’s work, my commitment to this style, which I have often referred to as “high tech coloring book”, is unwavering. 

I have been presenting my work somewhat chronologically, indicating something of a progression.  Hopefully, this progression shows some level of improvement.

Creative Influences: Steve Jobs

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of

other people's thinking.

Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary."

Steve Jobs
1955-2011 



Nagel Boy

Simply called Man #1 back in 1990 when it was painted, I thought I would update the title for the blog.  This was called Man #1 because it was my very first stab at emulating Patrick Nagel's style and applying it to my vision.  As you can see from the checkerboard background, I was influenced as well by the Memphis design movement.  The reference or inspiration for the man was from a black and white newspaper advertisement, most likely the Sunday New York Times Magazine.  I like the design of the leather jacket's lining, pseudo Memphis design-y.     

Memphis design originated in Italy in the early 1980's and held on tight for most of that decade.  The bold geometric shapes and bright primary colors that were the foundation for this design movement could be seen everywhere from music videos to home furnishings and decor items.

"Nagel Boy" is painted on illustration board using a combination of gouache and India ink.  This painting measures approximately 20" x 22".