Monday 9 July 2007

Sex on legs

The minute I saw the photo of Cherrie half-naked, draped in her pink and purple feather boa and fishnets, I knew I wanted to draw it. Such a sexy image, I found it very inspirational for an erotic artist - I just hadn't envisioned how difficult I would find it to do! I started off full of artistic momentum, secure within myself of my own talent, capabilities and abilities, and decided to do the picture as a watercolour painting with a bit of drawing perhaps for the detail. So that's what I did. .......And ....came up against a mental brick wall!! How can the picture look so stilted? How come there's no life to it? Mmmmmmm.... do it again, perhaps as a pastel on black paper, hence I'd get instant colour and the fact it would be on black would make the image more vibrant and colourful and sexy. So that's what I did for my second attempt. And.......... that was wrong too!!! How can it be ? Mmmmmm..... more thinking..... and a couple of days later tried it again using the inktense pencils that I love, instant colour, instant washes, tiny details where needed, and big colour washes elsewhere. Third time lucky, surely? Nope, that didn't work either! What on earth was I missing??? Think. Think......... Racking my brains! Then it dawned on me! What I was trying to do was copy the photo of Cherrie, and whilst it was a clear photo with enough detail, and showed me exactly what I needed to see to produce a painting, what it was capturing was a MOMENT in time. A split second, freezing Cherrie in her movements, into ONE set image. And that wasn't at all what the thing was about. Not for me. It was about her dancing, her movements, her sexuality, her provocative hip movements, her smile, the way she dipped her head, the way she moved her hands sensuously up her body, the way the boa twitched and writhed, and blurred into movement as it was twirled around her body. That was what I wanted to paint - the whole build-up to that very moment, when the camera caught the image. So, I started again, and that was what I painted! And here it is - in watercolour, with the paint splattered on, to show her dancing, grooving, gyrating, provoking and showing her innate sexuality, her appeal and allure, her desirability and sensuality. Hiding her face under a hat, thrusting her hips out, revelling in the sensation of fishnet hold-ups and her sexy high heels, the feather boa a lovely accompaniment to her erotic dance, hiding her skin, flashing part of her left breast and a nipple. Dancing to her sexual beat. Sooo.............. How did I do?

12 comments:

Vi said...

Cherrie will be so proud! (As will Hardin!)

Cherrie said...

Jackie, I know you tried and tried to get it right, but the result was absolutely worth it! I love the use of bright colors and the abstract qualities of the image. They suggest the sensual dance of the moment, as you intended. And the off-center placement of the subject suggests to me the wide world of possibilities that remain out there for me to explore.

Thank you so much for using me as a model for this beautiful work. I am so pleased!

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi - I hope so!

Jackie Adshead said...

Cherrie - I'm so pleased you like it, and I'm delighted to use you as a model - and hope to do so again. I knew I had to incorporate bright pinks (very much your colour!)and purples to portray your colourful and vibrant personality and I'm really pleased with the outcome of the painting. Its a huge bonus that you like it too!!

ronjazz said...

Oh...my God...How much is it and will you make a copy...is that too crass to ask?

Absolutely breathtaking...oh, my...

Jackie Adshead said...

Ronjazz - Wow, what a lovely reaction from you! If you're serious about buying the original or a copy, email me and I'll gladly discuss it with you.

db said...

Great Job!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Brilliant use of all that fluidity! Well done, Jackie!

Sage said...

What a lovely painting of a lovely lady!

Jackie Adshead said...

Hank - thankyou kindly sir!

Jackie Adshead said...

Honoranddesire - thankyou, I love doing these fluid paintings, it gives them far more movement and life (something we as artists are always striving for!).

Jackie Adshead said...

Sage - Thankyou. I knew I had to make it special for Cherrie - glad you like it!