Looking back - and forward

Well it's been a funny sort of year - certainly art-wise I've not done as much as I'd have liked and yet when I look back I have actually achieved an awful  lot - I've continued with the Fantasy Fannies abstracts, painting more of the brightly coloured and highly popular Queyntes and Tarses in acrylics. That in turn led on to the innovative "Living flame" style of painting - translucent colours glazed over each other creating pretty colours to dramatic effect. As well as that I explored  making other abstracts, playing with colour and shape and creating fabulously exciting  paintings like "Interplay", "Wishful thinking", "Camouflage" and "Black jacket".

The "Fantasy Fannies" were also featured very favourably  in Jade magazine which helped to raise their profile as did the radio interview I did at Erotica.

I've also done the "S & M" watercolour painting - hiding the initials within the landscape, so only the people in the know know its there - I really enjoy hiding jokes and secret messages within my paintings and the people who commission them love the joke of it too - the ultimate conversation piece on your wall!

I've been told that I have a reassuringly friendly and professional way of drawing people that puts them at their ease, so that first time nude sitters feel relaxed and comfortable in my company - and the experience is not at *all* as scary as they expected!!!! That's good to hear, then!!!! LOL

I've sold paintings to USA and Canada, and exhibited at Erotica at Olympia, London, for the second year running and feel more established there as an exhibitor. It's hard work, but good fun, and I want to do more art fairs next year as I haven't yet found a gallery that I like the look of to sell my work, and who, equally, likes the look of me. Perhaps I need to go to London to seek my fortune in that direction.................like Dick Whittington ........and his cat! :)

I'm still busy with the local art group that I'm connected with, as well as the Guild of Erotic Artists, and get a lot of help, advice, networking, support and satisfaction from being connected with them. Through them I meet lots of artists and photographers and people generally interested in art and the creative spirit, and that helps in turn to feed mine. Plus, I get some intriging conversations, usually of a very non vanilla subject matter!! :)

I've met some interesting people - quite a few men have offered themselves to pose for me, including one from San Francisco who occasionally comes to England on business and is very keen to be part of my creative output. And  a few others who I may be able to use at some point but the most important one was at the end of the year when  my new male model came into my life and after chatting to him for a while I felt that we could do some work together, and I'm delighted that the drawings of him I've done so far are of a high standard and I hope that it continues in that manner. The fact that he likes the same rock music as me, helps considerably!!! (if he's been a Westlife fan, I'm not so sure we could have worked together! LOL).

Stuart with his outgoing personality and desire to help was a good friend to me throughout the year, and through him I did the talk to his local writers group which in turn led to me being offered a solo exhibition at the library next summer.

And added to the interesting people, is the publicist who has recently contacted me. He doesn't live in England but did for a while, and has a lot of contacts. We've had a few preliminary conversations and I like what we've discussed so far but its very early days yet and may not be exactly what I'm lookiong for. But, if it goes the right way, and its too soon to say yet, I may be painting some very interesting and exciting erotic art next year...............watch this space! :)

So, into the new year, and I've already got a very interesting commission to do - for a male witch - a "Goddess" painting - seven heads of the same goddess, in whatever style I like, in whatever medium I like. But.......each goddess has to be recognisable. This one has got me thinking, and now Christmas is out of the way I can spend more time concentrating on it, because this is a big one and needs a lot of deep thought and focus. Also, I want to put some "magic" into the painting, somehow. As this isn't an ordinary painting. It's a special one, for a special person, for an extra-special reason, and that unique specialness should show within it. So, that makes me think that I may end up painting it twice - firstly as a practice painting to get the creative juices moving, and then as the proper one, the one when I dig into my spirit and pour it into the painting, that's when the magic appears........... and that's what I want to build on next year, making magical paintings for people. The sort that talks to your spirit, your soul, the sort that you want on your walls because its an extension of who you are.

That's what I paint.

Joking apart

I was recently reminded of an erotic art joke and thought I'd share it with you..........


An artist had been working on a nude portrait for a long time. Every day, he was up early and worked late - bringing perfection with every stroke of his paint brush. As each day passed, he gained a better understanding of the female body and was able to really make his paintings shine.


After a month, the artist had become very weary from this non-stop effort and decided to take it easy for the day. Since his model had already shown up, he suggested they merely have a glass of wine and talk - since normally he preferred to do his painting in silence.

They talked for a few hours, getting to know each other better. Then as they were sipping their claret, the artist heard a car arriving outside. He jumped up and said, "Oh no! It's my wife! Quick, take off your clothes!"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And whilst I'm in the mood for joke telling........


How many artists does it take to change a light bulb?

Ten. One to change it, and nine to reassure him about how good it looks.

------


How many modern artists does it take to change a light bulb?

Four. One to throw bulbs against the wall, one to pile hundreds of them in a heap and spray-paint it orange, one to glue light bulbs to a cocker spaniel, and one to put a bulb in the socket and fill the room with light while all the critics and buyers are watching the fellow smashing the bulbs against the wall, the fellow with the spray-gun, and the cocker spaniel.

------


How many visitors to an art gallery does it take to change a light bulb?

Two. One to do it and one to say "Huh! My four-year old could've done that!"
--------
 
How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?



Fish.



 :)

Remembering good friends

This is the time of the year when we think of good friends, old and new, and want to wish them a happy time of good cheer...............

And it's always nice to be remembered by those we hold dear........

Today I spoke to Stuart who I drew just over a year ago and who became a good friend through the experience of it - he wished me a Happy Christmas and commented on how "perky" I sounded. He knows I've had a lot of personal problems recently, and expected me to be down, but I'd had a couple of lovely communications sent to me earlier that I couldn't be low in spirits........

The first was a beautiful poem from my new male model, he'd signed it and framed it for me and given it to me for Christmas. Such beautiful words that touch the heart in the way that poems do - the last verse being:

"The power of the artist is to create;
Images for the mind to see.
There is no greater compliment,
The image? That, is me."

How lovely is that? Gorgeous words and much treasured. I thanked him from the heart and said that the framed poem would be proudly displayed in my studio and is greatly appreciated.

The second communication was a long email from someone who really loved the two new drawings I've done of my male model - and was full of praise of the work I've done on them - he says -

"........These drawings show much more than any of your others. There is a warmth and sensitivity that to me represents a genuine friendship, a bond between model and artist. This model is a natural in your company (hard to believe this is his first drawings) and brings out the very best in your work. He trusts you implicitly and you take great pleasure in drawing him. Please do not interpret my next comment as anything other than professional, but the warmth and detail in these drawings, more than the men in your others, suggest that for a woman, this model is sexually very attractive (As a gay man he certainly is!).

......I must agree with one of your bloggers, (Blazing Scarlet) and the description is "stunning". For me, you have captured the beauty and grace of the male form, yet retained the masculinity and the physical strength of the model............"

Aw, I'm really touched that he liked them so much! But I know I put a lot of hard work and effort into them, so I'm pleased that that shows in the work itself.

And it seems that my artwork has inspired others to pick up a pencil and try their hand at art - someone who likes my abstracts wants to see what they can do in turn....so the art flows on into others, a wonderful gift!

And added to that I've received a very welcome present today from across the seas from someone who has bought art from me in the past, and who I know values greatly the artwork I do, and that makes it all the more special too.


So, thankyou to the people who value my art and the work I do. And who take the time to tell me about it. I always appreciate it.

And thankyou to you for reading my words and the comments you make - some to my face, some by private email, and some here on the blog.

So I'll take this opportunity to wish a Happy Christmas to you and yours and may the spirit of the season gladden your hearts as you celebrate with those closest to you and think of friends near and far...................

Feeling the need

The second time he took his clothes off for me he was far more relaxed. He'd enjoyed the first experience so much that he told me he'd found a new hobby! He found the experience of sitting naked in my company to be liberating, and thoroughly enjoyable he said, but I wasn't to think that he would do it for just ANYBODY - it was something he was happy to keep for me alone. And I was very touched by that sentiment. Because I know its not easy. And he's not done it before for anyone else.

I don't think I could do it, and sit still for that time, and I'd  be sure to get an itch or feel a draught. So because of that I'm aware of my models needs, of making sure they feel happy and relaxed and enjoy the experience as much as possible. It's in my interests to do so - because a happy model will sit still for as long as I need them to. But its more than that too - its having a rapport with the model. Since you're sitting in the same room together, albeit one of you naked and the other one drawing the nakedness. It helps if you actually like each other. It doesn't have to be a stony silence. It doesn't have to be clinical and detached. Its better for me if I feel relaxed, and at ease too. A happy artist makes happy art. So, if there's a bit of chit-chat that's nice as well.  If there's some music to help me draw that helps too. If its got a good beat to it, that helps  enormously for me. If the model likes the same music, then that improves the whole thing. And when the model announces after listening to Bryan Adams that it was ok but what he really likes is Paul Rogers then that makes me a VERY happy bunny!!!!!! YAY!!!! We like the same music! And added to all that, it helps if you have a similar sense of humour. Something to smile about, and share the smile together. And having an ease of personalites helps too .............So when you're hesitating over the pose and you're not quite sure how to voice your concerns and the model says "Do you want me to move my cock, Jackie?" that helps a lot too!!!!! :)

The pose this time was a nice relaxed diagonal one, with the model semi lying on a sofa. His weight resting on his left arm, one leg slightly curled under him, his right hand lying on his upper thigh, his face turned to the viewer but the expression enigmatic. He is certainly aware of the viewer. But then you find that the title of the drawing is "Feel the need" and you think "What need would that be then?" and you look a little closer and realise that its that right hand that's about to do something. But what? What need is rising within him? MMmmmm....?

Partying, Erotic style!

There can't be many Christmas parties that involve conversations about swinging.

Or maybe there are.

Perhaps its just the world I live in. It seems perfectly normal to me to be at a Christmas party where there is a gorgeous naked woman in the corner of the room being adorned in a very festive way by a male artist and his palette of paints. As the party wore on, she gained more clothes. Well, technically, they weren't ACTUALLY clothes, but they LOOKED like they were. The pretty red bra, complete with lace. The red knickers to match. The red stockings, and the red suspenders. She CERTAINLY LOOKED dressed at the end of it, even though she was as naked as she'd started the afternoon. It was fun though, as her outfit progressed, and the men stood around watching..... there's something about stockings and suspenders that brings out the men, everytime!!!! LOL

And then there was the singing. Very festive again, with the snow and Christmas presents themes. All very jolly, and a good start to the proceedings, it warmed us all up, and made us think of loved ones, and what we'd like to give them for Christmas.......... and yes, you can be as rude as you like with THAT thought!!!!

There was the swopping of actual presents, and cards, kisses, and hugs, new friends made, and old ones valued. Smiling faces, and laughter. The Christmas tree lights glowed red and pretty and everyone was in a good mood.

The wine flowed.

The conversation flowed.

But the most interesting conversation for me was the one that involved parties that other people had attended. More......intimate parties. With like minded people. People who like to watch. People who like to see. People who like to participate. And maybe..................play a little..................with others.......................And then of course there were the other stories that went with it. The amusing anecdotes. Especially the one that involved a guy.........who had been purchased..................for a whole weekend...........to.................er...............pleasure the lady.......................who had bought him....................whilst her husband..............................watched. The husband had purchased a massive bag of viagra. The guy who had been bought was worried.............................very worried.........................and that can't be good for his.................er.......................morale!!!!! I wonder how it all went............................. Tee Hee!!!!!

Looking for the ideal gift?

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Go on, spoil yourself!

Bit by bit I'll get to you

A big fan of mine appeared in my life yesterday for another reason other than art and mentioned in passing that he'd recently been working in Ethiopia. I know he works abroad a lot in many countries, and I know he tells all of his many male work colleagues to look at my website whilst they're out there for the duration. Lots of lonely men looking at erotic art - its as good a reason as any to look at my website! But the guy made me laugh out loud when he said that he was recently in a local hobby craft shop and saw one of those "paint by numbers" pictures hanging up. He was across the shop from it, so was looking at it from some feet away. His immediate thought was that it was one of my "fantasy fannies" images. And he smiled to himself and thought "Go girl!!!!" On closer inspection................................ he realised ......it was ........a ......woodland scene. That made me laff!!!! A woodland scene!!!! Tee hee!!!! But REALLY wonderful that he *thought* he'd seen one of my fantasy fannies! That he was reminded of my art because of it, was great. You see....bit by bit........my art gets into your sub-conscious. You'll start seeing what I see ............images hidden in other images. Faces in clouds. Unicorns in woodlands. Dragons in patterns in the sand. Fantasy fannies in paint by numbers................secret messages in my paintings..............

Bearing flowers

He arrived bearing flowers. Beautiful white roses. As he walked through the door he kissed me, a peck on the cheek. There was an understanding between us.....

An easiness pervaded  the room as we chatted and I made him tea. But we both knew he wasn't here for the chat or the tea. There was a more pressing reason. One that couln't be denied or delayed any longer.

It was time.

I lead him into the other room. He looked around and knew what was expected of him. I described my desires and he nodded in agreement.

I turned away and by the time I had turned back, he was naked. And ready. And waiting for me.

But I knew it was his first time, and I wanted to make it as easy as I could for him.

I looked at him for a while before I made a move, then I raised my right hand and gently caressed the paper infront of me with the pencil. The first mark was the start, and I carried on, my hand moving over the paper, my eyes moving between the real him and the one I was creating on the paper infront of me. We still chatted, and the easiness was still there between us. And at the end, he stood and looked at what I had created and he was greatly moved by it and told me so. Because his perceived view of himself was not the one I had drawn. But I had only drawn what I had seen. And told him so. He said he had wanted to be drawn for some time, and wanted to see how the world views him. I've heard this said before. And I know he had searched for a while before he found me. But he said he knew he had made the right decision in choosing me. And I'm glad he did, because I think we will work together again. We both enjoyed each others company and I liked the ease between us.

The fact he likes rock and particularly AC/DC helps though! LOL

This drawing is my first of him, but hopefully not my last. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and thanked me for making it so pleasant for him. And is certainly keen to try it again. So I obviously didn't scare him too much on his first experience of life drawing.

And here it is, the drawing. I love doing these white on black images and find them far more sensual because of the effect they create. Its called "Opening gambit" because I feel there is more on offer that may appear at first glance. A naked man. A relaxed pose. But on closer inspection there is a glint of something ......................... a piercing.

With loads of zeros

I had a chat with someone I've known for years earlier on. But he doesn't know me in the guise of an Erotic Artist and was surprised to hear that's what I am. Taken aback, but also intrigued and interested. Intrigued wiht my art, and interested to hear about my website. He said he'd take a look at it later on.

And he talked abit about art, and his interest in it. He's a painter. A painter and decorator actuallly, but he likes art too. He mentioned that he sometimes does work for an interior designer, who had recently been asked to deorate the place he was doing up with some artwork. He was given an amount of £10,000 to spend, and went to London to find the art he wanted. He came back with a painting for £7,000 and four or five lesser pieces to fill the walls.

This little story interested me.

The subject of the art wasn't mentioned.

And probably wasn't of interest.

What was of interest, was the price tag. The £7,000. And the fact he had to go to London to get it.

That was the importance of the tale.

That the person in question could AFFORD a painting for £7,000. It was making a STATEMENT.

And the statement was "I've got money, I can afford to spend ALL of this on art, I have taste, I am refined, I am elegant, and I'm going to tell you about it, so that you KNOW!!!!"

I understand that statement. I understand that a buyer wants to do it. I know I have the standard of work. But maybe my paintings are too cheap................maybe I should put a zero at the end of all my artwork. Or...........maybe two!!! :)

Weary but upbeat

Well it was hard work, but it was worth it. Worth spending  eight weeks working and planning for it, worth spending five hours setting it up, worth chasing up the need for lighting (that I had been promised in the first place!) worth standing on my feet for 10 hour days trying to sell, worth my knees, ankles and feet burning with aching, worth the mental and physical tiredness.

It was worth it for the reaction I got for my "Fantasy fannies" banner, and the fannies paintings themselves. And for the tarses paintings. It was worth it for the conversations I had. It was worth it for the commissions I will get from it. It was worth it for the connections I've made. It was worth it for the promotion I've had. For the radio interview I was asked to do. For the praise I got. For the work I'll get out of it. And the sales I made.

It was worth it for the friends I saw there, particularly the ones who had travelled to see me. I've not seen the Erotic writer Lucy Felthouse since the last Erotica and it was really good to catch up with her.

It was worth it to see the outfits of some of the visitors - women in sexy oufits and tight corsets, men with boobs, women with cocks, the human dalmation, the leather, rubber and fetish gear.

It was worth it for seeing old friends made last year, and new ones made this.

It was worth it to see the other artwork, and meet up with the other artists. To see my various friends from the Guild of Erotic Artists.

It was worth it for the conversation I had with the guy who was only there because it was too wet to play golf that afternoon, he had never been to Erotica before and would never go again, and wondered how a "nice girl like you" got into erotic art. So I explained, with a smile, that I'm quite happy to paint dog portraits, landscapes and houses if he wants to commission me. But I get far more feedback from doing erotic art!

And it was worth it for the convesation I had with an attractive couple of my acquaintance who had been invited to a dinner party and were taking a bag full of goodies they'd bought at Erotica, along with them. The bag, on closer inspection contained three pink vibrators and other smaller vibrating devices. It also came with an invite to join them which I had to decline with regret as I was too tired to be sparkling company. But I am intrigued as to how their interesting meal went, and how well the vibrators went down...............so to speak....................... :)

Its Erotica time......

I'm always hyped up before an art exhibition. The thrill of knowing that now is the time to show the art that I've been working on since the last one. To take the stuff that has meant me working late into the night, and missing weekend fun, to continue working on. The confidence in knowing that the art is the best I can take, that there is something for every price range, that there is a good diverse selection on offer. The joy of looking fowards to seeing my artist friends again. Knowing that I'm going to have some interesting chats with different people I've not met yet. Meeting new viewers. Some will look quietly at my work and walk quietly away. Some will look with lots more interest, poke around for ages in the browser and then will walk off (whilst I've been holding my breath thinking they are DEFINITELY going to buy SOMETHING!). Some will look with more interest, find something they like, and buy it. And some will RAVE over what I do, will tell me that its fabulous art, that I'm a clever girl, and will be REALLY excited about all of it and place large orders for commissions from me.

 But there will also be conversations that I am not expecting. There will be offers for things that I hadn't considered before. Some will take me my surprise. And you can never really be ready for those, because you never know what they're going to be....

Last year I was offered cheap advertising that turned out not to be what it first appeared, and caused me a lot of aggro having to sort it out afterwards. I was offered the chance to hang my fantasy fanny paintings in a selection of international night clubs, and that didn't take off either. I was told I would be painting a picture for a sheik, and that didn't happen either (well, not yet, anyway!). But also I had a long and most interesting conversation about erotic art with a lovely man in a dress. And the best bit was when I met the bloggers who had come along. The ones who had their "fantasy fanny" on the wall. The ones who quietly said "I'm -------" and looked with great interest at the bright and beautiful artwork that was their fanny. They knew. And I knew. That it was theirs. But no one else did. Whether there will be any others who come along this year, I don't know yet. But if you do..............come along and say hi..............

Almost ready and counting

I've spent the last six weeks working towards it. It's so close, I can almost smell it.

The aroma of................................... sex, money, and good fun! :)

Otherwise known as.......................... EROTICA !!! 

YAY!!!

So I'm just sorting out last minute jobs - printing out price lists, sorting out order forms, framing pictures, and the usual job of chasing up the printers. Do they all work to the "last minute" ? When I want to know well beforehand that I've got everything together, and am trying to be well organised. So when I rang them on Thursday to see how my print  printing was going, the guy on the other end of the phone asked me when I wanted it by? "Last Monday!" was my reply, which took him aback. He printed them off last night for me to collect today, only for me to find that some of the stuff hadn't been printed off at the size I'd specifically asked for - to fit into mounts that I've got, so the appature sets the size I need. fortunately, I checked them whilst I was there and the new sizes were done whilst I .........waited.....................

So, that just leaves the last thing. The new thing. The thing that I've not done before, but have wanted to do for many years.

The calendars.

They may only be small, they may only be my first ones, but they're all mine.

But, that leads me to wonder how many I need printing off. Am I going to sell all of them at Erotica? Should I leave some for afterwards? Will I sell them all in the first day and wish I'd ordered five times as many? Although they're NEXT years calendar I'll really need to get rid of them all by February because everyone has a calendar by then................ MMMmmm...................... How.............many?

From the heart

I've just been asked by my sister "Do you know ANYBODY  normal? ".  I laughed, and agreed that most people in my life are not. By that I don't mean that they are abnormal. Just more ................ interesting.......... than most.................................... perhaps.

But perhaps thats because in a way I go looking for it. I like the company of bi-sexual women and gay men. Of people who are interested in spiritual things, of clever witty humour and sexual openness. And in a way that determines my decision to be an Erotic Artist. And by the word "erotic" I actually mean "sensual" - of the senses. But of course there is more depth to it than that. There is the mind. A wonderful place full of fabulous things. Its where we start ideas, formulate concepts, and build on those ideas to form our lives in the way we choose.

And the mind has many depths too. Some things go a lot deeper than others. Some things are such a part of us that we cannot imagine ever not having them in our lives. Like my art. I was born an artist, and I have spent my life building up that talent and skill.

And sometimes it brings people to me who want me to portray something for them that is as vastly important to them, as my art is to me. And it fires me up to hear it when I am asked to do it. Because, I KNOW I can paint  landscapes, I KNOW I can paint pet portraits, and any usual subject matter for a painting. And will always happily do it for anyone who wants it. But, sometimes I am asked to paint more interesting things.

And recently, such a request came my way.

By a witch.

A male witch.

He asked me "Can you paint from the heart?" and I nodded............. "Yes, I can".

He told me his fabulous idea for a spiritual painting, and explained his reasons for wanting a woman artist to paint it - to put the "feminine" in the artwork. I have painted something similar already, and it is featured on my website. But it hasn't got the same mystical qualities that he will want in this new painting. I can see what he wants. And will really love painting it for him. And even though you may not be spiritual I think you will like it ..................too..........

Rose tinted view

Some days are really nice arty days, and yesterday was one of them.

It started when I attended an art workshop. On the subject of ................flowers! :)

Not very erotic, I know, but I still enjoy them regardless of the subject matter. I don't do many flower paintings. Infact there's only ever been one that I've done that I've been really happy with (so, it'll be THAT painting that will be worth a million when I'm a famous artist - and not the erotic stuff at all!!! LOL ). But still, flowers it was, and flowers I did. I had to take my own "subject matter" to paint, and since my mind is full of the  "Erotica" event that I'm exhibiting at in a fortnights time, I just took the first book I could find with a selection of flowers in it. Roses. I like roses. Most people like roses. But I didn't know what I was letting myself in for.......

The tutor started the day by explaining that she covers her canvas in plaster filler to start. I've come across this technique before and was intrigued to use it again. It makes a nice texture on the canvas, and the acrylic paint instantly adheres to it as its like blotting paper, and makes some nice effects as it soaks up the paint. And then you build up the shapes and the colours, and can use a dry brush effect over the paint to make interesting texture as the colours underneath shine through. Lovely! I like it!

But.

(You knew there was a but, didn't you !!)  :)

The problem was my choice of "flowers". The roses. They're difficult to do at the best of times. And I was told AFTER I'd started and was half way through it that I'd chosen the most difficult subject in the class. Ok, I don't mind that, I like a challenge. And a botanical painter friend who was there told me that its always easier to paint flowers "when you can count the petals". Ok, I'll bear that in mind next time. And avoid roses.

So after that I carried on and decided to make the image more abstract, and play with the colours and shapes that were the interest for me in the first place. And I enjoyed the day. But the painting was crap at the end of it. It sometimes happens like that. But, at the end of the day, I'd learnt a lot (avoid roses like the plague!) and had had a fun day with my artist friends. So that was good then!

But later on....... I went to a house party. To a place I'd not been before but I had met the hostess a few times in the past through a mutual friend, and was delighted to be asked to her house for the evening. I wasn't sure how many people were going to be there or what exactly would be the nature of the gathering.

It turned out to be drinks, and delicious food, and lots of chat with a small select group of nice and friendly multi-national people, some of  whom I hadn't seen for a few years, and others I didn't know at all. So, the usual initial conversation of "Who are you and what do you do?". And I answer "Hi, I'm Jackie, and I'm an Erotic Artist" - which seems to be enough to continue the conversation in an interesting way! :) Particularly when they all seemed to be genuinely interested in the subject matter. And vowed to look at my website as soon as they were able.

But..... I think the most amusing part of the evening for me was when the host passed me at one point, as I stood with a glass in my hand, and with no warning beforehand, said out of the corner of his mouth "You're going to have to tell me what a "prince albert" is!". I burst out laughing, as I realised he must have read my blog in the last couple of days. Because there was certainly no other reason he'd have said that to me!!!!

So, to give you a picture to look at. It will be my favourite flower painting of a few years ago. And guess what the subject matter is..........yep, that's right! ROSES !!!

Hit the print button

I saw a newish acquaintance last night, and during the course of our conversation asked if she had been able to look at my website since we last met. Yes she had! And was most impressed with it! Hey, thats great to hear! She loved the tigers particularly. I know, a lot of people do...... but she liked the erotic stuff too and mentioned one painting in particular that she liked - the Tree of Life picture, and  I was pleased to hear it as it was one of my favourites too. And funnily enough, I'd been putting prints of it in mounts earlier that afternoon, ready for Erotica, and mentioned to her that I had a print of it if she was interested? Her face lit up, at the idea, and she nodded, so I'll take it to her next time I see her.

And thats got me thinking about prints....... because there are a number of ways of doing them, and some of them are quite costly. But not all of them. And I'm always happy to do prints of my artwork for anyone who wants them, so just ask me if there's something you're interested in and we can discuss it.

I know, though, that to some people, its the original that matters. Its the original that holds the creative spirit of a painting, showing each brushstroke, each mark of the pencil, the soul of the work. Which is why it always has a higher price tag on it........

And she didn't even ask me to take my clothes off for her!

It was good to meet my new friend the other day, the guy who wants to pose for me. We got on well and both had loads to say to each other on various varied subjects.

And I like the fact he wants to remain anonymous. And his reasons for it.

All of which I can understand.....................

He's always been interested in art, and loves to look at it. He met a woman artist earlier this year who suggested he might make a good life drawing model. He'd never considered it before..... but the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of it. His wife thought it a good joke, which made him even more keen to do it. And prove her wrong.

He found me via the internet, but not in the place I presumed it would be when he first contacted me. It was via another, more.............. subtle link. But the link worked just the same. And after a chat on the phone, we agreed to meet this week. He'd already sent me a (clothed!) photo of himself, so I had an idea of what he looked like. I knew his name, age, and profession. And that he lived quite nearby.

He arrived. We chatted, over tea. And then some more tea. And more chat. He'd seen all my pictures on my website and liked the erotic and non erotic ones. I showed him some of the ones he'd seen, in the flesh, so to speak! :)

He told me why he wanted to pose for me, and I was interested in his reasons. Partly, so that he be part of the artistic endeavour,  partly to show his wife what he's done, but mostly because he'd got this desire to do something about the urge within him to do it.

And I'd like to help him. I know he was nervous. I know others have been nervous when they've come to me to be drawn, and I explained that I am professional enough, and experienced enough, to help him overcome his nervousness and hopefully we'll both enjoy the experience and I'll produce some good drawings of him. He may decide to become a model for life group, but before that great day arrives, he wants to model just for me, whilst he overcomes his nervousness, and learns the ropes. So to speak (that's probably not the right phrase for a model for an erotic artist.......... but you know what I mean!!!!).

And the thing he found most difficult during our initial meeting? The one thing he'd expected, and I didn't ask for........................................?

For him to take his clothes off.
For him to pose for me that day.
For him to overcome his nervousness.

I didn't ask him, because my time was tight, and I knew it was going to take time to set up a pose.  I wanted him to think about it, to think about my words and to be happy about the experience. But, also I wanted to be prepared, so that when he poses, I'll give him the best possible experience of it for his first time. I didn't want him to feel cold, uncomfortable, awkward, or find it unpleasant. And put him off it forever.

So, hopefully, we can do it soon. But not yet. I've got to get the stuff for Erotica done first. there's still loads to sort out........

But I could see his basic body shape, through his clothes. But..................... I still haven't seen the Prince Albert yet.

Maybe...........next time................................ :)

Abstracting the abstract

With Erotica coming up in a few weeks time, I wanted to do a painting to exhibit there, depiciting a tarse and a queyte in a sort of "abstract of an abstract" using only a very limited palette which would make a more decorative generic image rather than a specific one. So after I'd found the image of a fanny and a cock that I was happy with (and that's actually more difficult than you would imagine! Its not easy looking for either, I can tell you!!!!! LOL ). Anyway, after I'd eventually found the images I was happy with, I had to put them together in a design that was pleasing to the eye, but by using only the basic of shapes and tones to get the image across to the viewer. And added to that was whether to put the fanny to the left or the right of the cock. To start with, I thought it would  be better if the fanny was on the left of it, but they looked like they weren't very interested in each other (so to speak!) so the fanny went to the right, but then the image looked a bit more .....er........erotic than I had planned, but it has to be this way to make them look like they are a pair - a "his and hers" of a painting. Then, once I'd drawn out the design I liked, I transferred it to a box canvas - its quite a large size - 40 x 20 inches plus the sides of the canva itself as I like it when the image goes around the corners of the canvas, it makes it more 3-D I think. I knew I wanted to do the  acrylic painting in creams and golds, although I had to have a slightly darker gold to make the depth of the image, and I've used white (well, actually very very very pale cream to look like white, otherwise the white looks dirty against the warmer creams). And the finished result? Well its here for you to view and I love it for its clean crisp lines, simplicity of shape and delicate colours. And I'd love to do it as a "hers and hers" or "his and his" painting too - and of course any colours can be used for it, to match exisiting decor. So.....my first "Tarse and Queynte" painting. But one of many, to come, I'm sure (so to speak!!!!).

Last night I was asked by a woman I know as a new aquaintance what my job was. When I told her I'm an Erotic Artist she was genuinely fascinated. And couldn't wait to look at my website when I started to tell her about the erotic landscape I'm working on at the moment. And I really enjoyed telling her about it....... I think most people are interested when I tell them.................. I just wish I had more buyers. I know I'm good at what I do, I have talent, and skill, people are interested in my art, I just need to sell more. But....... that's always something that I'm looking into. I've contacted the local airport today as they're asking for artists to exhibit at the terminal. Not with a view to selling, just to promote my art. Sounds very promising too!

And tomorrow should be interesting.... I have a visitor coming to see me. Someone I've never met before. A man. Who wants to pose for me. And he tells me he has a prince albert...............Mmm........ its not often that you mention that in your job description, is it!!!! LOL

You are a great read! - 10 things I do every day

Nitebyrd, lovely as she always  is, bestowed me with the You Are A Great Read! award. The rules are I have to tell you ten things I do every day and then pass it to ten others. So, here's 10 things I do every day:

1. Drink copious amounts of tea.
2. Plan my next painting, even when I'm painting my current one. If I don't, I lose the momentum.
3. Think of ways of becoming rich through my artistic abilities.
4. Make someone I care for, smile.
5. Look at trees and admire their beauty. Whatever the season. Or the weather.
6. Talk, to someone who's interested to listen. And also listen to someone I like to hear talking.
7. Learn something new.
8. Enjoy the feeling of warm water on my skin.
9. Create.
10. Feed as many of my senses as possible - taste, smell, sight, sound.........................and touch.

So, I'll pass this one on to......................mmm.......................... :

1.Indigo
2.Luka
3.Spiky Zora Jones
4.Having my cake
5.Curvaceous Dee
6. Lucy Felthouse
7. Sweat shop sissy
8. Carnalis
9. Dantes 2nd inferno
10. Kinda like the girl next door

Tarse 2 and Queynte 20

Well this is a meeting of international proportions..... :)

First we have an English fanny - Queynte 20 - depicted in subtle muted tones but still painted in acrylics. Its a fanny I've already painted, but it has such interesting shapes I thought I'd see what it looked like if I just tried a basic colour range but still incorporating all the tones from white to dark brown to give me the depth I wanted. You can see the full colour version on my website here to see the comparison. I love them both, but think these muted toned ones hide the image a bit more for the less exhibitionistic amongst us.

And secondly we have an American cock in full and very strong vibrant colour making Tarse 2. A lot different to Tarse 1 that I painted earlier in the year, but that was for Fitzy and had to match the delicate tones of the living flame painting it is to hang next to. So that gave me full opportunity to depict this tarse in more vivid bright colours. The photo I worked from had good strong lighting in it which gave deep shadows and I was delighed to use those in the painting to trick the eye a little. Because its very difficult to hide the shape of male genitals as they look so very clearly what they are! So as I started painting, I was aware of that and put as many tricks in as I could to hide that fact, and thought I'd done quite well until I'd virtually finished and realised that all looked fine except the left had side of the painting, which made it very clear as to what the painting was. I found that if I blanked off that first fifth of the painting, the rest of it was so abstract as to be anything. Hmmmm....... in that case I'll incorporate some other shapes to confuse the eye. And that's what I did. Abstract shapes. That meant nothing. Except now I've done them, every time I look at them they remind me of something very particular. Perhaps its the way my mind works. Perhaps you can't see it. But I shall be interested to see if you do! And instead of taking them out, I shall leave them, as it makes me smile every time I look at them...........

And I love that I can always see other shapes within these paintings - various letters of the alphabet, a bird, and shapes that remind me of elephants, fire, dogs, deep space, and witches.......

And the sun always shines

It seems to be that the sun always shines at the Erotic Guild of Artists event days and this month was no exception.

The first and most important thing to consider when walking through the door though, after a warm hello to my friends, was a bacon butty cooked to order and a hot cup of tea. The Guild secretary told me that my artwork had been moved to another position in the studios and I had a quick look at it to see how it all appeared. The whole place looks good now though and I’m delighted to be part of the set up there.

After the food and drink had been consumed, it was time to socialise properly – and Bob and Sandra were the first I had a chat with. It was good to catch up with them and to talk about the various paintings that were on show in the centre of the room – one of which was my brightly coloured “Fantasy Fanny” paintings that looked really striking under the spotlights. There were a number of other erotic paintings by other artists there, and for some reason a large painting by Richard of many ducks. It looked somewhat incongruous against the erotic art until I joked that actually someone had commissioned him to paint a lot of “fucks” and he’d mis-heard! And it was actually an orgy!!!!!

It was nearing time to listen to the guild secretaris usual uplifting speech about how the Guild is progressing, when he decided to practice with the microphone, went outside, came back in to the gathered throng and announced “Sarah Jane’s outside being photographed with nothing on, well nearly nothing” and then wondered why the room immediately emptied just as he was ready to speak to everyone. There really wasn’t much contest, I’m sure he understood!!!! We all went outside whilst she posed very seductively in the warm sunshine, dressed (actually!) in a skimpy black pvc dress that clung in all the right places and showed off her sexy body to great effect. She’d got a number of interested photographers at her beck and call who were making the most of capturing her talents within their cameras.

Time to hear Colins speech, and he kindly thanked me for writing the event day reports as well as mentioning various other things of interest including thanking his brother Paul for NOT being there as he was currently over in Germany attending the Venus event! But poor Colin suddenly lost his power of speech when Sarah Jane in the audience infront of him decided to show off more of her charms than he’d currently seen and took great delight in doing so! I hadn’t seen what she had done, and asked her afterwards, and was as amused as everyone else at her rearranging her top for Colins benefit!

Back to more serious matters again, and Ken showed us all the beautiful sculpture he’d made of Nicoles elegant foot taken from the body cast he’d done last month. Unfortunately she wasn’t there to see it, but I’m sure she will be delighted with it when she does.

Time for more chatting and I was pleased to see Terry who I’d not seen for a while, and catch up with him. We talked of erotic art, and I gave my interpretation of it, and said its the most difficult of art to capture as it is fleeting and subtle, and we all have our own definitions of what is erotic, and what is not. I told him about all the different styles of art I do, and how I’d learnt them from attending many workshops over the years to hone my skills. He was fascinated listening to how my art background had developed and we discussed his interest in various things to do with art.

Meanwhile, two new visitors to the Guild – Caroline and Sheila, were happy to pose for photographers in subtle stages of undress, and must have found the experience pleasurable as they are considering joining the Guild soon.

Over in the corner over the course of the afternoon, Richard was quietly painting a beautiful butterfly on the small of Mel’s back. Apparently she is considering a tattoo there and having her body painted in that way gave her a good idea of how the finished tattoo would appear.

It was good to see Chris again and catch up with him. I’d recently met another artist who used to be in the Guild a few years ago, and was considering re-joining, who Chris knew from his connections with him some years ago, so I was delighted to make the connection with him, and add to the net-working that we artists do.

Later on at the end of the day, I was able to have a longer conversation with Richard and always find him a delightfully interesting chap to listen to. We talked of our various collectors, which an artist always aspires to look for, as its lovely when someone wants to fill their house with your work. Richard has more than me and has some fascinating tales to tell of fish, grizzly bears, an assortment of celebrities, and Royalty! He also showed me the many photos of the female bodies he’s painted with various amusing images. But no male bodies – they’re more difficult to do, apparently, because of copious amounts of body hair!

Time to go, a last chat with Silvee, who was pleased to hear her stand and mine at Erotica are close, because it means she can pull faces at me!!!!

Kisses and hugs as goodbyes are said, and then its off into the fading afternoon light with a warm feeling of a happy time spent with nice people.

Queyntes 18 and 19 seeing double

Well following on from my last blog post - it seems I've got a great success with the "Hot stuff" painting - and the person it is directly aimed at has fallen in love with it......... for all the right reasons! So I'm a very happy bunny! YAY!!!!


And so on to other things - another Fantasy Fanny to be exact. And I thought I'd try to do the painting just with shades of reds. It seemed a good idea when I started and I was confident that the painting would look good. But then it struck me that it might not be such a good idea after all. For....................er, oh, very obvious reasons!!!! So, I looked hard at what I had painted so far and decided that turquoise and yellows would brighten it and enhance the painting considerably, and that's what I aimed at, and think they do, vastly! I love the colours in this one, and the turquoise adds greatly to the image, to me. But then I'm a big fan of turquoise! So, Queynte 18 it is! Ah, but, there's more to tell. Because I liked the shapes and the tones, and thought I'd try and do it again, but this time with muted colours on a block canvas to see how that went - and I'm delighted with that effect too! You can see its still the same image, but its more "decorative" in its abstraction - a sort of "abstract" abstract in a way! Which was an interesting concept to explore. So that's Queynte 19. Instead of naming it "Queynte 18 muted" which it technically is, I thought it should have its own title!

And I had some interesting feedback re the Fantasy Fannies today - telling me that it was a mistake to put the little woman logo within the picture because then it was obvious what the image was. If I left it out it would be more abstract, and considered more appealing too and I might sell more pictures. I disagree. I think she needs to be there to make the point, even if I lose sales because of it. But I'm interested to hear what you think....................

Doubling the living flame with lust

At the beginning of this year I painted the "Living Flame" painting for a woman buyer in America. It was a style of painting I'd never done with this effect before and I loved the way it progressed. I'd used the "glazing" effect for landscapes and still life paintings but wasn't totally hooked on it until I used it to paint people. Far more interesting, I think! LOL

And then I was asked to do another commission for a buyer in England - Fitzy - who loved the effect too, and that was interesting for me to do it as a more masculine painting, darkening the tones and making it stronger and less feminine. And I loved that effect too...

But this then lead on to a collector of my work who lives in America to suggest I paint an erotic couple in this style. It was something I had considered as an excellent idea already so I was more than happy to explore the outcome. He was interested to see how a painting in this style would look. And so was I. I asked him for his ideas on poses and colours and he quietly commented that he wanted to see what I would on my own without much input from him. Ok, that's fair enough. I understand that he wanted to see what was in MY head rather than me replicate the images in his.

I've been thinking of the image since then, and have been considering various poses for the couple. When I first began I had considered they would be lying down and entwined with each other, but as I investigated into the viability of that, I soon realised that it wouldn't work well as a composition that I was happy with. Ok, then what would........................... and after a while I decided that a standing up pose would be better, hands exploring, but that almost made it less sensual and more sexual. I don't mind that, but it wasn't the effect I wanted. I wanted "erotic" rather than "blatant". I also wanted it as generic as I could make it, so didn't want facial features showing. Hhhmmm...... difficult.................

So, after a lot of images were considered and dismissed, I found one, one that showed the eroticism I was trying to convey, one that hid faces, one that was interesting as an image to look at. And I drew it out, and started painting it I was reasonably happy with it until I was nine tenths through the painting and realised that there were various aspects that I certainly WASN'T happy about. Ok. Sigh. And tear it up....................and ..........................sttttarrrrrrt again..................

Second version was a lot better. I was happier with the composition after I'd made a few small changes; I was happier with the rainbow of colours and how they interacted, and I was happier with the end result........... by a long way! So, here it is, in all its vibrant glory. An erotic couple, in love, their colours mingling, the fire from their lust igniting them, their love enveloping them, she pulls him close as he gently runs his finger up her thigh.

I think my favourite bit is that red curve on his bum......Mmm.... absolutely delicious !!!! :)

And the title?

There's only one that it can be...........

"Hot stuff"!!!!! :)


So..... would you consider yourself and your beloved painted as a portrait in this effect? Is it something you'd like me to paint............... for you?

As featured in Jade magazine

My "Fantasy Fannies" are featured in a lovely uplifting article about me in Jade magazine this month. But I'm having problems being able to show it to you by uploading it to Blogger. So, I think the easiest way is that if you would like to see the article and read it for yourself, email me at jackieadshead@btinternet.com and I will gladly send it to you in its entirity.

And will be most interested in hearing your comments on it afterwards.........

Dancing into the light

Well...........the de-clogging's worked so far! :)

I had a really nice arty day today attending a local workshop on the subject of dancers and movement in watercolour. A lot of my favourite subjects covered in that one then - people, dancers, watercolour, movement, and it also incorporated "lost and found edges" which is a definite passion of mine. Strange woman, you think to yourself. Why is she passionate about that? Well, I just love the way that the paint hides and finds the edges of the subject matter - particularly with people, and that in turn makes them look like they are IN the picture, not superimposed on top of it, which always looks stilted and awkward to me when I see it in other peoples paintings.

The tutor certainly knew his stuff and was talented, informative, well organised, and got us all working hard on two paintings over the course of the day. You could tell how involved we all were by the complete silence in the room (of about 20 people - mostly women, so incredible really!!! LOL ).

Here are my two paintings, I'm delighted with each of them. They both convey the subject matter beautifully and I really enjoyed doing them. And I really liked it when the tutor who worked his way around the room coming to each pupil in turn to look at how they were progressing got to me and said "You know how to paint!" "Yep!" I smiled back at him.... I do!

And for once, it was me who was surprised when I had a more general chat with the tutor. I'd not met him before, and knew nothing of him. He and I had a good chat over the lunch-break, and I mentioned that I'm an erotic artist and likened dancers to erotic art because of the interaction of the dancers and their movements. He agreed about the sensuality of that. I hadn't shocked him that much (makes a change!). He paused and conversationally said "There's a guild you can join, of erotic artists". "I know" I said "I'm in it!". "Oh!" he replied "I used to be!" and we compared notes on our experiences of it, the use of networking through it, and a joint connection of one guy in it. Small world? Mmm...... probably not. He did say that he might re-join again, and I said that if he goes to an Event Day I'll see him there probably........ that'll be nice, I'd like that!

De clogging

I suppose we all get clogged up with life some of the time....................Sometimes its the things we have control over, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes its the people in our lives, and sometimes its ourselves. Sometimes we can do something about it then and there, and sometimes we can't. So we have to work through it the best we can.

And the best thing to help me sort my problems out is talking to the close people I care for, and who in turn care for me. Their wise words are invaluable, their support, advice, listening ears, intelligence, empathy, and strength of verbal communications help me to move on through the difficult times and back to the light.

I don't like losing my way. Normally I know exactly where I'm going.

And when I'm clogged up, its not clear, and its difficult to be creative. And yet its hugely important for me so.

But yesterday, I cleared something. The "clog".

My channels are clear again. For the moment, anyway.

A new start. How exciting!

So, when my usual model came to see me last night, to be drawn, I knew I was in a positive frame of mind. She had also decided to declog me - in the throat and nose department at least, with her magical mixture of honey, lemon, grated ginger and boiling water to clear my cold. She also came bearing gifts - flowers and pears from her garden, and the most useful of all medicinal properties - humour. So, we chatted, we listened to music - 80s disco and then put some serious music on - AC/DC, and sat there as the music flowed through us, and I drew her. The pose came to me immediately, I knew exactly how I was going to do it, the lighting was easy to set up, I drew with confidence and the picture worked straight away............ my creative channels were open. And here is the result!

Its called "Open invitation". And is the lovely white on black that is so effective with the light on the body, but with just a bit of red to add interest. I love the feminine curves within this shape, lots of lovely flowing lines and patches of darkness against the light. It depicts a full breasted woman looking openly at the viewer with the start of a smile on her face, inviting you to join her, as she holds her panties between finger and thumb, just about to drop them, or maybe swing them around, as she teases you, as she interacts with you.............and as you join her..........to see what pleasures await...........

Even when you're bunged up, things flow

I've realised its been a while since I last did a blog post. And its been at the back of my mind for the last couple of days to do one. I hadn't realised that it has been a week since I last wrote. And in that week I've had a cold. I wouldn't normally mention it, as I've had colds before and they are usually an annoyance rather than anything else. A cold is a cold......your nose is full of snot and your head doesn't work properly.

But when I think back over this week, and remember that I kept thinking I've got "nothing to write about", I remember that I've been working hard on the "living flame" erotic couple painting which is almost finished, I've attended a meeting for one of the art groups I'm in, looking at the years exhibitions and poor sales (due to the recession) and have looked at ways to find exciting new venues, and have other artists on the waiting list wanting to join the group and hopefully will benefit from any future associations with them. I've had some lovely chats with some of my artist friends, and have benefited hugely from a couple in particular, I have exhibited at two local exhibitions, one a weekend one, and the other a month one, and although I didn't sell anything other than a small print - IT IS A SALE, and proof that someone likes my art enough to want it hanging on their wall. Ok, I may not be feeding on caviar for the next month from the sale, but it is a positive step forward and one that I appreciate and am grateful for.

And I have also been on a shopping spree. One that I thoroughly enjoyed. One where I bought some exciting blank canvas's (when I think of the wonderful paintings I'm going to paint on them!), some mounts, and a large amount of industrial velcro......................

...........................now, why would she want velcro, and not just that, but INDUSTRIAL velcro, in large quantities...........?

HMMmmmmm..............................

Well..................I'll let you ponder that one for a while, and maybe I'll tell you, if you can't guess.

And I shall be very very interested to know if you can................ :)

Socialising with the Erotic Guild

As usual the sun shone brightly on the Guild of Erotic Artists event day, the car park was full, (always a good sign) and a few new faces joined the familiar ones.

There was quite a bit of diverse entertainment for the day - starting with the Jade magazine awards for the top three articles of the year. The next part of the entertainment was a couple of raunchy songs from one of the female Guild members dressed for the part, who then stayed on the stage to have her elegant foot body-cast as part of the days fascinating demonstration. Her foot was angled on a triangular wedge of stone to give it a more appealing shape whilst the body caster explained that the stone would become part of the foot in the finished sculpture to add interest. He explained the procedure as he went along and answered various questions from the audience, although mostly from one source I noted!

During the afternoon, everyone took the chance to be out in the warm sunshine as much as they could and during one conversation with the Guilds official videographer he told me about the 24 minute video he had produced of Erotica at Olympia for the last two years that would be featured in the Guilds next DVD. I was fortunate to get the chance to view it later on, as I am exhibiting again at Erotica in November but this time in the art gallery and wanted to see the layout there to remind myself of the placing of the stands. It was also good to see myself and my "Fantasy Fannies" stand of last year on the video. I discussed with the Guild Secretary where my stand is going to be this year and I picked up a lot of helpful advice and suggestions regarding the show.

It was good to see another particular Erotic Artist again, I've not seen him since last October but I enjoyed the chance to have a chat and hear how his career is going. We discussed the recession and how its affecting us all with lower sales than we'd like.

Towards the end of the day, the Guild Secretary asked me if I'd be happy to write an article about the Guild for "Milk Cow" magazine (featuring the 1940s and 1950s lifestyle) and after a little discussion of the best way of tackling it, was happy to agree. It looks like I've got the job as the Guilds journalist now as well as the the report writer, but that's fine by me and I was delighted to be asked.

It's not possible to talk to everyone as these events but its always nice that even in saying a brief greeting to people that it's done in an affectionate way and that indeed was the case with one of the artists as he gave me his customary warm hug and friendly grin as he passed me as I carried on my conversation with someone else regarding art shows and his experience of them. We talked about doing demonstrations for them and how much the public like them, and how the artist benefits from it.

I only managed a brief hello and goodbye with a couple of the other artists but they were busy chatting to others every time I was hoping for a chat. But these social occasions are like that and hopefully I'll catch them next time.......

And start again

I've been working on the erotic couple in the living flame style of painting all week, solidly. It took me ages to find a pose I was happy with, and then I drew it out, and checked that I was happy with the drawing. Started the painting................ was happy with the way it was going, worked long hours on it, and then when it was almost done, I took a break, stood back.............. and started seeing the things I wasn't happy with........... the woman's arm was too thick, the colours were too strong, her head wasn't right, the hair was too dark, his hand didn't look right, his bum didn't look right. There were some good bits, but too many bad bits for me to work around. Nothing else for it................I'd have to start again. Sigh.

So, again I started looking at other images, but there was nothing I liked as much as the image I'd got. Ok, then. Start again with the image and make it so that you DO like it, before starting the painting. And that's what I did. And made sure I was happy with it before starting the painting. And made sure the colours started off pale so that they could build up in the subtle way that they are supposed to. And you know what? It looks SOOOoooo much better than the original one, already! But that's the way it goes sometimes - that the first painting has the thought processes in it, but the second one is the better one, the one that has the problems dealt with, so all I need to think about is the painting. So much better!!!! its flowing..... and that's how it should be...........................F.............L......................O.....................................................................W

Building an erotic landscape

Whilst I'm starting one painting I am usually semi-consciously thinking of the next one. You may think that's a bit silly to be half thinking of one painting when I should be fully concentrating on the current one. But there is a reason for it. I find that when I haven't got a painting in the planning stage that its far harder to get going on the idea from scratch. Its actually a lot easier for me to have the idea half formed whilst I'm working on another, and then I can flow from one to the other far easier, almost seamlessly.

And that is the case at the moment, as I work on the living flame erotic couple (which is looking really good, so far). Because I plan the next painting to be an erotic landscape, possibly one featuring trees in a woodland setting, and maybe with water.

So, when I attended an art workshop today, on the subject of "landscape in pastel", I wondered what subject matter to take a long as my source material, and decided that the basic "landscape" for the "erotic landscape" would be ideal. Hmmmm........ I looked through piles of my photos looking for something to inspire me, and came across the ones I took in the Lake District last year. Ideal! Well, actually, not totally ideal (can you get "not totally ideal" ? No, I don't think so, but you know what I mean!). Anyway, the subject is ideal. Its the weather that wasn't. It was a dull day. Because it rains a lot in the Lake District (an awful lot in the Lake District!) and the day I was there it was overcast with the threat of rain. And that doesn't make for good photos. But, if you're only there in that place for an hour in your whole life, you've got to make the most of it, and take the photo, even if the lighting is all wrong. And that's what I did..................

And that's what I worked from today for my pastel. The picture I did was ok, not excellent, but ok, but then that's good for a workshop. I enjoyed doing it, I enjoyed the day, I enjoyed being with my artist friends. A couple of them asked me during the day if I was going to hide an erotic woman or couple within the painting, and I smiled. And at the end of the session, when the tutor took his final look at it, I casually said the sentence that usually has a "shock effect" on all the other tutors I've said it to.............. the one that is "I'm an Erotic Artist and I'm planning on hiding an erotic couple within the painting............" And then I wait. For the stunned expression, the look of shock and horror. And this time, it was me who was surprised. Because the tutor nodded in total understanding, and started pointing at various parts of the painting saying "Yes, you could put one here, or here, there, or over there.............."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still, it was nice to have that response, even if it was an unexpected one!!!!! LOL