The unique gift of paper, in a very sexy but elegant manner

She came to collect her drawing yesterday, as we'd agreed, and to see it for the first time. Up to then she'd only seen it as an email attachment on her blackberry but was very pleased with it she told me over the phone.

I welcomed her in to the house, out of the steadily pouring rain, and ushered her through to my studio and went through my work process as I showed her the photos I'd used as my source material, two of them she had sent to me set in her bedroom, and the other two were ones I'd taken whilst she was with me in my bedroom  a couple of weeks ago (since that was the best setting in my house to use as the basis for drawing her in real life), and then I showed her the drawing I had done from them.  It looks like a simple drawing, but it was actually difficult to pull all the information together to make it look simple! But I suppose that's the secret to good art, when something looks appealingly simple, regardless of whether it was to create it or not.

I unveiled it for her, and watched her face as she viewed herself and the picture I had created for her.  And watched her as she looked and looked at it, drinking in the image of herself that I had created for her to give to the man she loves. She bit her lower lip as she looked at it, and said "Do you think he'll like it?" and I smiled at her, and said "Why wouldn't he...?" and then went on to say in more depth "It's a lovely image, regardless of who is in the picture. Most men would find this a very appealing picture, because of the way you're standing in it, the nape of the neck is very sexy when its revealed like that by lifting the hair up, its a lovely drawing, and the two versions of you are pulled together through the use of the mirror, its set in your bedroom, infront of your mirror, with you, doing something you do naturally, and which your husband loves to see you doing, and you're lovely, so why would he not love it...?"

She nodded at me, still not fully convinced I could see, but I know a lot of women have doubts about their body size, and appealing desireability, but those doubts are mainly in their heads.  I have asked her to let me know her husbands reaction when he sees it, and she has agreed happily that she will.....

She's happy for me to show the  image on my blog, but wants her name to remain off it, which is a fair request, since its a private picture. But a very sexy and charming one, I think.......

And an absolutely perfect idea for a first wedding anniversary gift from a wife to a husband..... the gift of.....

Paper............

Not infront of the children

Discussing the subject matter of the painting with the person who has to live with it is always hugely important. I always ask questions to make sure that I am in total understanding of what they want, and why they want it. This conversation started with various questions from me - and one of them was whether she wanted the painting to be erotic? The answer came back that she would really LOVVVVVE it to be erotic, but because she had youngish children living in the house with her, she couldn't possibly consider it as an idea. I thought about that, and realised that the basis of an idea was forming. I suggested that it may be possible to make it erotic, but keeping it innocent too. She replied "That'd be a challenge!" "Yep," I happily replied, "And I lurve a challenge!" - let me have a think about it, and I'll come back to you with some ideas.

I spent the night ruminating (as you do!) :)

And the next day rang her to discuss my idea.

She had already provided me with some photos for me to work from. I spent some time going through them searching for the ones that would let me put my idea into practice. And I had found a couple that were ideal for my purposes.......

I explained what I had in mind. She listened at the other end of the phone, and agreed that it should work, and would achieve exactly what I described to her. And she happily gave me the go ahead to do it! YAY!
The idea of it excites me. And better still, it excites her. I'm totally fired up with it, and can't wait to get started on it!!!! I just had to ask her if there were any colours she particularly wanted in it - and she said her bedroom colours of cream and brown. Because this is definitely a bedroom picture! And I think it will look great in her bedroom, and asked if she wanted to add any more colours to it - suggesting red may be good? She agreed, caught up in the idea "Yes, red would be good, it's the right colour for it!" And then went on to suggest two other colours she likes - purple, and silver. "Was silver going to be a problem?" She wondered, and I said "No, I've got some silver acrylic paint, it'll work well with it!". And said that I might incorporate some black in it too, to balance it with depth of colour, which she said was quite acceptable. And we agreed that adding the extra colours to the cream and brown meant that if she changes her colour scheme at some point in the future that it would still go with various other decors.

So, as far as her children are concerned, it will be an abstract painting. There will be lines, and blocks of colour, shapes, and tones. It won't look like anything but an abstract.

But, to those who know what it is, it will be far more than that. It will be lines, and blocks of colour, shapes, and tones. But they will definitely mean something. Something very special.

Because it will be personal. Because she will be be in the picture. But, more than that............

There are actually three people in the picture. And they are all naked. And they certainly aren't being innocent.

Truly erotic. And yet, at the same time, not.

The sort of picture I love to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as an example of what it will look a little similar to - here is my "Tarse and Queynte in gold" painting - a simple abstract in creams and gold...................

Not all QUIET in the library

Before the exhibition was EVEN set up, it was a success!

A success because of a phone call I received a couple of days beforehand......

My contact at the library had rung with a piece of good news for me - she was setting up the programme of events for next year and when she got to the "International day for Women in Arts" she thought of me and said I was top of her list! And asked if I'd be interested in talking to a group at the library about my erotic art and taking along some pieces to show them. I said I'd be delighted to! She said that there would be a woman photographer, sculptor and textile worker there as part of the session, so it all sounds very upbeat and positive and I shall be delighted to be part of it!

And that was before I'd even set the exhibition up!

I set it up on Monday, on my own. I've set up exhibitions before, but they've been part of a group so I've not had to do all of it on my own before. When I've exhibited at Olympia for Erotica I've had a smaller stand and some help, so this time was  more involved. But, other than the carrying in of the artwork (heavy even without the benefit of a hot summers day!), it was ok. And the caretaker was a great help in letting me stay after the library was shut for the night, which gave me the extra time to put up my title cards, and the bio about me and my work. I was weary though, when I got back home, mentally and physically.

I'm delighted with the way it looks, it's my first proper solo exhibition and its one I'm proud of. It's a lovely light exhibition space and right by the front door so people can see it when they go on.

The decision about putting erotic art in was always going to be a moot point. I'd got the exhibition in the first place because of the brightly coloured vibrant abstracts I'd done. But, it's still a public place that children can go to and its not appropriate for them to see erotic art. But the library knew that and left it to me to decide what I felt I was happy with. To that end, I decided that it would be better for me to show all that I do, and not just the erotic stuff, whilst making the most of my brightly coloured abstracts as I know they are popular, regardless of the subject matter. So I took landscapes, animals, still life and dancers as well as the more acceptable erotic stuff.

Whilst I was setting up on Monday afternoon, a little girl of nine and her father passed by me. The child darted past each picture saying "I like that one, I like that one, I like that one" as she pointed to each in turn. All good, if she finds the art appealing. She said "Who painted all of these?" and I said "I did!" her father hadn't heard me say that, and he replied to her "Lots of people, darling" and I turned to him and said "No, I did them ALL". He looked taken aback and replied "In that case, you're very talented" and I smiled at him in his understanding. 

And later on, whilst I was putting up the brightly coloured erotic abstracts an older woman came in search of her husband who was looking at the art, and said to him "I like THAT!" and I turned and said a heartfelt "Thankyou!" as we made eye contact and smiled at each other. The art has valedation.

Yesterday when I popped in to see how things were progressing there were two youngish women there smiling at the "naughty picture" the "Tree of Life" picture that I'd taken as a framed print. It seems to be the most popular thing there, and they were smiling in understanding of what it was and what it depicted. The chief librarian was there, a man in his forties, and they pointed it out to him, and I smiled and asked him "Are you ok with hanging that picture in the library? Innocent eyes only see innocence in it, but adults see it for what it really is" He looked blankly at the picture and said "What? I don't know what you mean" I smiled, and the two other women smiled and pointed at it. He still looked blankly at it and it was obvious that he couldn't see it - one of the women pointed it out to explain it, and I smiled to myself. Children are obviously not the only ones with "innocent eyes"!!!!!!!

My Eternal Quest for Eroticism of the Highest Order

During some of my interesting discussions with Xanthropy, I am struck by the thought that although I am an Erotic Artist, who paints, amongst other things, erotic art (I’m stating the bleeding obvious here, but bear with me) I am also on a quest to find out what IS the true definition of “Erotic”. Simple, you would think.............. and yet it isn’t. I am constantly on the search for erotic things. But do I become too desensitised from erotic images because I analyse them so much, as its “work” for me. I hope not, but maybe....

Because it is slightly different for each of us, there is no “definitive erotic”, there is only a “specific but mirage erotic”. What on earth do I mean by that? ............Well, as erotic is slightly different for all of us, someone might find one image erotic but someone else won’t, they may find it too tame, or too pornographic for their tastes.

When I talk about “specific but mirage” - erotic IS specific, I could state various specific things that I would find erotic, but it could waver off the erotic in a mirage will-o-the-wisp sort of way, if something else is involved that I don’t find erotic. And sometimes it's actually the background to it that makes it erotic.

For example, the other night in the pub I was standing chatting to Xanthropy and he nodded towards a girl he referred to as “a Paris Hilton lookalike”. I looked over at who he was referring to, and realised I knew her very very slightly although I don’t know her name, I know a little of her background. Xanthropy’s opinion of her was low, because of the outfit she was wearing, plus he thought her too thin, he prefers a more curvaceous woman. My opinion was higher as I knew she wasn’t the tart he took her for. I thought her outfit was stunning, although outrageous in an acceptable way for a nice pub. Certainly she got away with it as she was very slim and young. A fatter or older woman couldn’t have carried it off. You’re now wondering what she was wearing, so I’ll describe it for you. She was wearing a black sleeveless tee shirt, which covered her breasts and came just below her bottom. But over the top of it was a shocking pink very loose singlet that hung down as far as her mid thighs, but because of the low slung design of it she was showing about an inch of pale thigh at the outside of her body between the black top and the pink singlet. She wasn’t showing anything sexual at all. But that little bit of pale thigh was very visible, sometimes a little more depending on how she was moving, and I found it very erotic and thought she looked great. Xanthropy disagreed with me and thought it tacky. I went over to her, she’d had a lot to drink, was in a group of people, and had her boyfriend and mum with her. I told her how much I liked the outfit and she thanked me. Her boyfriend said I was the first to say that to her, and I felt they both appreciated my comment. I went back to stand with Xanthropy and told him that I thought she looked really good. But I think that it was partly because I knew she had her boyfriend with her, (who couldn’t keep his hands off her and the gap in her dress by the way!). She wasn’t on the pull. She was having a nice night out. And for me, that made the outfit acceptable. And sexy. And erotic.

Its frissons of electrifying interest that make things erotic, for me. The odd word, or group of words, a look, an elicit touch, or all of those things put together. There is certainly a deep sensuality about it. I always describe erotic as subtle, and for me it is. Its not quite everything you want, its the chase but its a little held back, its a tease, a waiting, something that increases the wanting, a promise of something delicious and desirable on its way soon..... That’s how erotic is. For me.

It sounds like a Burlesque performance, and maybe it is.

And that’s what I try to draw.

The perfect orgy

He stood alone at the bar as I walked in. I saw him straight away. He may have been waiting for me, maybe.............

I went over to him, smiling, and said hello, then "Well, how did you get on at the orgy?
He grimaced and said "It was awful!"
"It was?" I wasn't expecting this response, "Why?"
"It was like being at the House of the Grotesques" he said.
"In what way?" I wanted to know, intrigued at his use of words.
"Grossly overweight people, all of them. Loads of tattoos. No teeth! Loads of swearing, Common, really......" He said in a sad sort of way.
I felt sorry for him "But you were so looking forward to it! There must have been SOME redeeming features?"
He didn't need to think about the reply "No", he said, "It was awful, I left early, and as I left, I thought to myself 'thank goodness she didn't come', it was horrible! " looking directly at me.
I looked back at him appraising and said "This is what happens in real life. We all imagine that orgies are going to be fun, full of slim, happy, appealing, co-operative, sexy people doing really erotic things to each other and to us, and the reality just doesn't live up to it". He agreed, looking a little sad.
I looked at him, and spontaneously said:
"I know, lets make up our own orgy! I don't know who you know, so think of a celebrity, who do you fancy inviting?"
He didn't need to think for more than a couple of seconds "Mmm..... not Nicole Kidman, she's too thin, er, I know, Sophia Loren! and Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida...........
"And I bet you like Michelle Pfeiffer?" I asked
"Oh, yes!" he said, with a glint in his eye, "And............ Jane Mansfield......! He thought a bit longer as we discussed various names, adding them to the list as he found one he liked. There was a pause. "And ......who are you inviting? he said.
"Ooooh...................... Oh, Orlando Bloom, the guy who played Aragorn in 'Lord of the Rings' the young Paul Newman like he was in 'Cool hand Luke', Robbie Williams, Pierce Brosnan (sigh).............Antonio Banderas "
"I bet you like the young James Garner? And what about Hugh Grant?" he said
"No, not James Garner, but yes, Hugh Grant's ok.And I want to pick some women, too!" I said grinning "That gorgeous woman Rebecca Romijn in the film 'Femme Fatale' and Maria Bello the blonde woman who played the bar owner in the film 'Coyote Ugly' and Stephanie Beacham, and Amanda Burton............"
We warmed to our game, and thought up various celebrities as we talked, then I said "Now we need to pick a venue, where do you think?" He thought for just a moment and said "The large suite of a classy hotel" I nodded and said "Or, a flash hotel by a beach, no better than that, what about a large private country house in its own grounds?" He grinned, and obviously liked that idea! "But, who's going to pay for it all?" he wondered. " I smiled at him and said "A rich Arab sheik will pay for it all, he will sponsor the whole lot, so money is no object!"
"Ok, then" he liked that idea.
"And everyone can arrive in the afternoon before the party starts, and can relax and have a massage before it all starts, and then they can go and view all of my erotic art in a special gallery, just to get them in the mood for later on" I decided.
"And there's got to be a spa bath" he said, and I nodded and added "With a hunky well oiled guy in just a tiny black G-string pouch serving champagne just for everyone who is in the spa". He liked that idea again, and nodded.
"The staff should be scantily dressed" he said. I nodded in agreement and said "Yes, the maids in tiny French maids outfits, and the butler definitely in a smart tuxedo but...." He finished the sentence for me "With the back cut out showing off a tanned back, and taut buttocks!" I agreed, laughing, and picturing it!
"And the food should be served off a 'lady table" I said.
"What's that?" he looked intrigued.
"Its where the table IS a naked woman and the food is served on her, and you help yourself" I said to explain it to him.
"Ah, yes, and it should be served 'no hands' like they do at that restaurant in Singapore, where you sit down to eat and the food is put in your mouth by gorgeous Asian girls"
I'd never heard of that place but agreed that it was indeed the best way - "Soooooo sexy to eat like that, truly erotic! like in the film 'Nine and a half weeks' when Kim Basinger was fed that way whilst she was blind-folded.....MMMmmm................"

We looked at each other, the time had flown, and we'd designed the basics of our orgy, and hadn't even got to the sex part! And our *fantasy orgy* was FAR more sexy and erotic and appealing than the real life that he had experienced, and that's what erotica and erotic art is all about, I'm used to it, its what I do. He and I may have been creating an erotic fantasy, but it was a lot like the way I design a painting for someone. They tell me what they want, and I paint it for them. I take out the warts and unappealing parts, and make the image beautiful. That's my job........ creating beauty away from the mundane..................

So.............................what would you have in your fantasy orgy.......? :)

An embarrassment? Me??

I forget sometimes that I can inadvertently cause embarrassment to people - especially some people I know.......

On Saturday I went out to dinner with some close friends, well actually they are more like extended family, and as we did the "How've you been? and how's the family?" catch-up questions, I was told by the woman that she had had to side-step some difficult questions that her father had asked her recently. He knows me well enough too, and she had told him, in passing, some weeks ago, that I was exhibiting in London. This caused her a lot of problems. Because she wasn't expecting him to be SOOOO interested! Where in London? he wanted to know? Which gallery?What sort of subject matter? What sort of paintings? and then after the exhibition, he asked how I'd got on and asked what sort of people went there? And which paintings I'd sold? She found herself changing the subject quickly, to get him on to something else. Because she knew, and HE didn't, that I was exhibiting at Erotica at Olympia, and the art was erotic, and the buyers were buying erotic art, and I'd taken my "Fantasy fannies" paintings to show. This made me hooooowwl with laughter!!!!!!! Because, this is an extremely capable and confident woman in her late 50's who is suddenly side-stepping the awkward questions from her father in his mid 80's!!!!!!!!!!! Of course, he didn't know ANYTHING about the erotic art, and presumed that my art was of the landscape, portrait, animal type, that he probably, vaguely, thought I do (Well, I do, as well, but I DO DO the other erotic stuff TOO!!!!!!).

And that reminded me the other week when I was with another close woman friend, and she said that she had had her parents over for lunch recently, and her mother had gone around her house to view some new decorating she'd had done. And as she had had a look around, my friend had SUDDENLY remembered that she has one of my paintings hanging on her wall upstairs. And a cold wave of panic enveloped her as she thought of her mothers reaction if she saw this painting. So as they walked around upstairs, she quickly changed the subject, and managed to manoeuvre them downstairs out of harms way so that the picture couldn't be viewed. And this made me howl with laughter too - because this is also an extremely capable, confident woman in her late 50's whose mother is in her early 80's!

But whereas these tales are amusing me, I can also understand that its easier for them to avoid the subject to avoid the embarrassment.

I think I sometimes forget that others get embarrassed at some of the work I do. They like my art, and are happy with it in their lives, its just that its easier not to involve some others in it (like elderly parents!).

Sometimes I draw people, and they are embarrassed at the thought of the image I'm doing of them. But I've drawn a lot of non vanilla subjects, its the nature of being an Erotic Artist. But the thing is, I don't think "This is sexual, and maybe a bit kinky and maybe I'm a bit embarrassed" - I think "Mmm....... where is the composition with these items, where is the light coming from, where are the negative shapes, what colours should I use, where is the focal point, and would it be better if the feather was stuck in her hair, rather than where it is................?

Which reminds me of a joke:

What's the difference between erotic and kinky?
Erotic is when you use a feather during sex, kinky is when you use the WHOLE chicken! :)

Erotic Art Auction

Right - now on to the Art Auction I promised you the other day. We'll start with three erotic drawings. All of them are white conte pencil on plain black card. They all pick up the light on the models skin whilst leaving the rest of the image in darkness. They are all unmounted and unframed. I think that they would look equally appealing in a pale or silver frame, without a mount, or, if you prefer, a pale cream mount with a black frame would look stylish, or any other frame that fits in with your colour scheme would enhance them.

The first one is called "Remembering the day" and is 15 x 11 inches. I think its quite poignant, the woman is sitting upright in her underwear, just about to remove her stockings and suspenders, and she turns her head as she gazes off into the middle distance as she remembers the day - was it with her lover? That's for you to decide........

The second drawing is 14 x 10 inches and is called "And then" and shows a woman in a state of arousal - the erect nipples illustrate that. Her left hand reaches around to the front of her body - is it about to go higher..... or lower? And the other hand is behind her back - does it hold something that the viewer can't yet see? What could it be? The viewer can't quite read the expression on her face, is she being coy? Its for you to decide what happens next, but it looks like it might be fun.....

The third drawing is called "Dressing" and is 16 x 11 inches. The woman in it is busy putting on her stockings, she rolls them up her leg, her face hidden by her long hair. Her breast not yet covered by her clothing. Who is she dressing for? Herself? or her lover?

So, now, if you are interesting in making a bid for any (or all) of the drawings, email me at jackieadshead@btinternet.com stating which image and your bid. I will accept bids in English pounds (which is probably good for everyone else in the world at the moment, the way the pound is!). The deadline is midnight on Wednesday 28th January- so you've got a week to think about it and make your bid. Whoever is the highest bidder for any of the images, will receive it by post. I will pay the postage. There is a (reasonable) reserve on all the drawings, and if that reserve is not reached, then there will not be a sale. Once a bid has been accepted, I will require payment for it - by Paypal preferably, or a cheque. Once the payment has cleared, I will send the artwork to you.

Any questions, please ask.

Right, its up to you now..... who will start the bidding?

Bringing in the new year the right way!

Well, first post of the new year, and I can certainly say that I brought it in the right way - for an Erotic Artist!!! :)

I attended a New Years Eve party locally, and along with some people I knew there, there were a lot I didn't, which is often the case with parties. And this party had more than 300 people there, some dressed up to the nines, some had come in fancy dress, and some just in smart casual clothes, so it was an interesting mix of all adult ages and all styles. So, as is the way with parties, you walk around abit with a drink in your hand, and a smile on your face, and talk to people. And some people stand there, looking enigmatic, some are extrovert, some more reserved, some smile back, and some you interact with. And I love people watching, because I'm an artist, and I particularly like looking at people - gorgeous girls, sexy guys, erotic women, appealing men. And sometimes I'll make the first move, and sometimes they will......

........but there were two guys at this particular party that caught my eye..... two tall, dark and handsome men in their 30s, who I had never laid eyes on before. They stood there quietly at the blackjack table, playing confidently, the occasional word to each other. I stood on the other side of the room to them and the minute I eyed them from behind, I KNEW I had to go over to speak to them. So, like a moth to a flame, I went over, and stood quietly behind them. And when one turned to me, I looked him straight in the eye and said how much I liked his suit. He, like his companion, was dressed, like a lot of men in the room, in a black suit, white shirt and black tie, and looked as dashing and sexy as most slim men do in that get-up. (MMMm...... oh yes!!!! Think James Bond!) He was happy to hear that I liked his choice of clothing for the evening, especially when I told him and his companion that I was an Erotic Artist - and we chatted a bit and they suggested they might like posing for me. I agreed that it might be a good idea.... for you see, unlike the rest of the men in the room, the back of their jackets, shirts and trousers had been cut away..... to reveal that they were both wearing ......black bras, black stockings and suspenders and black panties underneath!!!! What AWESOME fancy dress outfits they were!!!!

I LOVEEDDDDD ITTTTTT!!!!!

I've never seen anything like it it before!!! No wonder I had to speak to them!!! Tee Hee!!!!! MMm.... there's something devilishly delightful about a sexy male body in something so naughtily erotic as womens clothing - although the taller of the two said he found Primarks panties chaffed a bit.........

A change is as good as a rest

Since I first started doing the Fantasy Fannies a couple of months ago, all I've been thinking about is them . Female art. Very abstract feminine female art. But this week brings with it the wind of change, and I am now involved in some masculine art. I have been asked to draw a guy. He's never been drawn naked before, but he's interested in art and has decided that he would like to be drawn. He's led an interesting life, and I think he will enjoy this experience. He wants a woman to draw him, rather than a man. And to start with, when I heard that, I wondered if there was an "ulterior motive" - because I am very aware that some guys might think that if there's a woman who's an erotic artist drawing them, then they might get more than a painting out of it! So I have to make that clear from the start, that it is "work" for me, and it will be "hard work" for them. He understands that. He says he is feeling some trepidation at meeting me. I can understand that, its a new experience for him. Its all quite normal for me. But drawing him will be a first for me - he's a chap in his 70's, and when he asked me if I'd ever painted a pensioner before, I had to say I hadn't!

And to add to this, this morning I had a younger guy ring me wanting me to do a "bedroom picture" for him. We were on the phone for an hour, and it took a lot of gentle chit-chat to find out what he wanted exactly. He probably has never had the sort of conversation we had, before, and I must admit it struck me as amusing and novel! Because his "bedroom picture" was more than just a sensual nude sitting in a chair, artfully lit. He was a bit more specific than that. He wanted a woman in the picture, a woman with very large breasts, and he wanted her "doing something" - ok, I agreed, I could do that. What exactly did he imagine she was doing? Well, it seemed he wanted her doing something quite specific, to a man to be exact. And he wanted the man to be himself. Ok, I see, well yes, that was possible, I could do that, and agreed it was indeed a "bedroom picture"! He said he was happy to pose for the drawing, which helps, because if I'm drawing him, it might as well be him. He's never posed before, and thought that the opportunity would be "good" for him. I can see that he might think that! But I made it very clear that it was highly unlikely that I was going to find a model, a) specifically one who fits his description of the woman of his dreams, who was b) going to pose, and c) going to do what he specifically wanted. But the point is that I can take various images from various sources and put them all together, to compose the image he wants. So I probably deflated his fantasy, in reality anyway. But I know I can create it on paper for him. And that's what I do. I paint peoples dreams. He's come to me with an idea, and we've discussed it, I can picture it, he can picture it, so now I have to get inside his head, and draw that image on paper so that everytime he looks at it on his bedroom wall, he feels hot and horny, looking at that image................................. Should be fun! :)

But I get the impression from the conversations with these two guys, that they feel happier being drawn by a woman artist , than a male artist. And I can understand that, most hetrosexual men don't seem to be happy being naked infront of another man. They feel more comfortable with a woman.... it makes sense....... and gives me more work!

Striking a chord

I don't think you can be boring if you're an erotic artist. The two don't go together. And part of the joy of being one is that you have interesting conversations with interesting people.....

I went along to the Guild of Erotic Artists event day yesterday since I'm still guiding myself in there and getting to know names and faces, who the different photographers/artists/models/are and collating all the information together. I'd also taken along some of my business cards so that if anyone is interested they can contact me, and I'd taken a couple of erotic paintings (Naked desire and Venus of Timaru) to hang on the walls there, since its a gallery and a good place for me to sell my art. The guild secretary, asked me where I wanted them and at my request of "Somewhere prominent and well lit", did just that, much to my delight! So now people can relate to me and my work and when they say "And what do you do?" I can nod in the direction of my paintings and they know instantly. If a picture tells a thousand words, two pictures should do two thousand. Mmm.... I'm not sure if it works quite like that, but you get my drift......

And then onto socialising, except its far more than that, because its networking and listening to ideas and concepts and other peoples suggestions and experiences, and passing on your own tips and experiences and comments, its an exchange of ideas and support. And in any organisation some people are more helpful than others, its always the way, as much as you know yourself that you can help some people more than you can others. But when you meet someone who you just "click" with, its a delight, a pleasure, and it feels absolutely wonderful. When they seem to feel the same as you too, its even better. And that's the way it was yesterday. I got chatting to a woman photographer, we talked about our work, and interests, and had an in depth conversation about using models and what we expected of them. And also talked to some degree about the dominant/submissive scene and also how women depict erotic art in a more sensual and seductive way than men do. It always fascinates me this difference, and I love to explore this subject especially with other people who work in the same genre of erotic art. And it interests me greatly the difference and parallels and similarities a photographer will experience compared to me as an artist. And women also think differently to men on this subject too. It all adds to the vast and rich erotic art that we all produce in such different ways. You'd think erotic art is all the same, and it certainly isn't!

And I was really touched that whilst we chatted, my new friend told me about a vision she had for some erotic images. She discussed them in depth with me, and as she talked I could feel that chill on the back of my neck when you just KNOW you're hearing a good idea, a concept that is inspired and exciting and you want so much to see it come to fruition because its clever and part of someones life work. Its connected to their soul. I felt honoured that she told me about it, because we'd only just met that afternoon, but she trusted me with it. I'm not going to tell you here what it was, because I don't want anyone stealing her idea, its for her to do. And she said to me "But, its not the sort of erotic art that I normally do, what if it doesn't work out, what then?" and I said to her that she's got to try it, she's got to explore the idea she has, because even if it only works to 70% of what she's expecting, that's ok, but it might be 80 or 90% or it might even be 150% better than the idea in her head and at least she'd have tried it. I could see how important this idea was to her, this vision. And I told her that if she doesn't do it she'll regret it for the rest of her life - that my philosophy is that we don't regret the things we do, but the things we don't do. And even if we try them and afterwards think "Well, I wish I hadn't done that", we still learn from it, and it might lead on to other better ideas. Its gotta be explored for us to find out. I could see I'd helped her, and she said that she was going to go for it, and I was delighted to hear that I'd helped her to formulate the decision to at least try. And she jokingly said that if it didn't work for her, I could paint it instead! Now, that would be an interesting subject, and challenging to portray.

I liked her as a person, I liked the way she works, she seems similar to me in being forthright and focused, but friendly and fun loving. She's offered to help me with my art, not in producing it, but in the offer of props and helpfully suggesting any models should I need them. It looks like the start of a promising friendship. And I also liked the fact she made me laugh out loud a couple of times, especially with her facial expressions whilst describing her touching up a female model infront of a guy, knowing full well the impact she was having on him. I loved that playful touch..... !!! (And I'll leave that comment there as an inadvertent pun!!!!).

The afternoons entertainment was the erotic version of a beauty contest - except it wasn't faces being judged, or even legs - it was a boob. Just the one! The contestants stuck their chosen breast through a gap in the curtain, and the four male judges had to choose one from the five they viewed. Hard work getting the judges to decide (you decide if that's a pun or not!) and eventually they chose the winner. Her prize is to have the winning boob done as a body cast in plaster. The thing is its a 44G cup, so I think they're gonna need an awful lot of plaster............. !!!

When it was time to leave, I said goodbye and hugged my new female friend and kissed her on the cheek, and then I went to hug the Guild secretary as I always do, and he made the most of it, pulling me close to him and flirting with me as he does - always nice! - and did it a couple more times as we were both enjoying it so much. Then my friend said "My turn now" and I stood to one side so she could hug him, and she went for me instead! Another hug! Aw, that's nice! I feel like I belong there now, I'm part of the group.

I walked away with a big grin on my face, and one of the other guys there was walking towards me, he's been a member for many years and he asked me if I'd had a good time. I agreed with a big smile that I had, but said that everyone I've met through art has been nice. He said that the Guild of Erotic Artists are a good friendly group, and I agreed with him - they are! But then, you've got to make an effort to be part of it - you've got to get in there to get something out. And I'm getting a lot out of it already, and this is only my third visit!

When I got home there was an email for me from my new photographer friend, saying "I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say how much I enjoyed chatting with you today. It was a real pleasure to speak with someone so alive and focused with such a clear view of where they are going" - and then she went on with more information for me on subjects we'd discussed earlier. I was really touched, we'd struck a chord!

Black on white, white on black

I've finished two drawings this week - and although they are very different in subject matter, they are similar in technique. The first is a Christmas card design of the three kings done as a black pen drawing on white paper. I was asked to design a card using which ever I felt was best regarding the three kings/stable/Bethlehem skyline and decided in the end to use all three, mostly because I fancied doing the star! It didn't take long to come up with the design and after a couple of preliminary sketches I knew what I was looking for - the darkened forms of the three kings on their camels, heading towards the stable, and pointing to the star above lighting their way. Plenty of dramatic interest and lighting. I drew it out in pencil first then the outline in black pen, but realised that if I was going to draw in the night sky and every star it was going to take me hours and hours. So the obvious thing was to speed up the process by using a paint brush instead! And that decision meant I finished it all in one sitting rather than half a dozen which meant the finished image worked better as a flowing image rather than an over-worked laboured one. I'm pleased with it, I'm pleased with the effect, and hopefully the people who have commissioned it will be happy too! Although I think the image perhaps should be entitled "camels bum" since that's what's in the middle of the foreground!

The second drawing was a white on black erotic one, using just a bit of red in the detail of the underwear. I'm half happy with the result of the half naked woman. I like the pose, and what I've drawn, but, there's no "oomph" in it. It hasn't got the wow factor. The woman in the drawing isn't alluring enough as she pulls down her panties to reveal her bum. I think she needs to be more aware of the viewer, and the fact she's got short hair makes her look too boyish. Perhaps I'll have to buy a wig for my model or ask her to grow her hair!! So I haven't named the drawing other than "red nix" as I don't think its fully worthy of a name.

And I've just had a thought - There can't be that many blog posts featuring the backside of a camel, a half naked woman, three kings, and a pair of red knickers! Still, who wants to be boring!!!! LOL

Here she is!

Here it is - the unveiling, at long last! You've waited a long time to see her, but I wanted her to be right before I showed her to you.

As I said recently, I wasn't happy with the original acrylic painting that I did a couple of years ago. It just wasn't "right" somehow although I couldn't work out the reason why until only a few weeks ago, it was just an undefined feeling about it. So, I decided I had to change it because I couldn't live with it in the state it was in! The decision was made - it needed to be overpainted in oils. Big decision, but certainly the RIGHT one, because as you can see in the new painting, it is SOOOOOOOO much better for that change! I've put both paintings here so that you can see the difference, and even I am amazed at the difference in the two paintings of the same subject matter. Whereas the acrylic painting is harsh and has sharp colours and tones, the oil painting is just so much softer both in colour and tone, and in blending the paint. The woman blends into the background better, and is so more softly sensual for being in oils. She oozes sensuality for me now. Her skin colour and tone is far more realistic. Her breast has more weight and shape to it, the nipple is more the focal point and is aching to be caressed, I love the line down her spine and particularly I love the soft shadow at the top of the crack of her bum. Her buttocks are round and inviting, and I ADORE the lost and found edges of her right arm, the way it merges in the soft light of the background and disappears behind that gorgeous curve of her back. I much prefer her hair in this picture, its more realistic, and the way you can JUST see her fingers under the hair as she runs her fingers appealingly through it. And you probably can't see from this photo but there are subtle fine splatters of white paint around her bum, her hair, and her right arm, so the viewer is aware that there is a little movement there, she's just shifting slightly on her legs which has moved her bum abit, so then you think well what's that right hand doing, the one you can't see fully. What's she up to? And is that why she's moved her bum, shifting her weight on her folded legs. Is that ........why................?

And that is one of the reasons I've renamed the painting too. It was originally called "Without a care" because the thought was the woman in the painting was "carefree" but now it's not enough of a title. I wanted a different one, a better one, one that summed up her voluptuous temptress pose and after a while I came up with the new title - it's "Naked desire" and I much prefer it as it's far more ambiguous!

Well, I for one think she's gorgeous (but then I'm biased!!) ........what do you think?

East to West

I've not blogged recently because I've been away - on holiday - to Japan and Dubai. A bit of an odd mix I know, but Dubai was a stop-over on the way back from the main trip to Japan. I had planned and expected that I would be able to blog whilst over there, BUT found that I had limited access to computers and the Internet and typing on a Japanese keyboard is extremely frustrating when it keeps reverting to Japanese characters and I wasn't sure which key I'd pressed that had done it! So, I had to keep my blogging limited to comments only!


Anyway, I'm back, and ready to tell you my tales, especially the bits that relate to erotic art! I love seeing different cultures and how other people live. And I think the Japanese are perhaps one of the most interesting cultures I've ever experienced. They are extremely polite people, entrenched in their respect for everything and each other, and totally efficient in absolutely everything they do. They know Westerners are different to them, both in looks and attitude and accept that. But as a visitor you try to fit in and adapt as much as possible (and I look about as different as you can do to any Japanese person!!!). But even though they are perhaps more reserved than some cultures, they still have their quirks, and some of them surprised me! One of them was their obsession with heated toilet seats. I know this is going to sound strange, but virtually everywhere I went as I travelled around Japan had heated toilet seats with a built in bidet where you could adjust the temperature, and pressure of the water, and reach all sorts of strange places with it! (And I'll leave the rest of THAT to your imagination!!!!). During my travels I stayed in a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) walking barefoot on tatami matting, eating at low tables whilst dressed in a yakata (light cotton robe tied at the waist) sleeping on a futon, eating very odd things (I'm not so keen on raw fish or cooking my own octopus I've decided!) and it also included communal (but segregated) nude bathing in a scalding hot bath as part of the experience. I had read up about this before I went because I knew it was very important to follow the rules of showering thoroughly before hand, allowing the water to get hotter and hotter so that when, after at least ten minutes of showering, scrubbing, washing hair, soaping, and getting as clean as was at all possible, it was then time to walk over to the communal bath and immerse in the scalding hot water to feel invigorated and relaxed. The purpose of thoroughly cleansing first due to the fact that everyone sat in the same water, and it was deemed rude to not be scruptiously clean first. But, for me as a Westerner I found it more fascinating, because I was ignored. Even though I knew they were probably watching me from the corners of their eyes,when I wasn't aware of it, as they certainly knew I was there, but wouldn't have openly stared at me. Not for any reason, other than their innate politeness. It was like I didn't exist, and that I found strangely erotic, like being a voyeur. And it was certainly fascinating as an erotic artist to see the communal scene of women washing themselves, the spray of water, the steam rising from pale wet skin, the long black hair, flash of nipple and dark pubic hair. To hear the chatter and laughter amongst themselves as they washed their hair, and soaped their soft skin. I have certainly added it to my list of erotic scenes to paint at some time in the future!


I also knew that when I was in Kyoto I wanted to go in search of the Geisha girls, if they still existed. I wasn't sure that they still did. But having read "Memoirs of a Geisha" and seen the film, I wanted to see if I could find any last vestiges of this most erotic of Japanese womanhood. I know the Geisha are entertainers, not sex workers, but I still think there is something very erotic about them in a doll like, non sexual way, if that makes sense? So, I set out to Gion, the area of Kyoto where they are reputed to be, and found that the area is now just nightclubs and backstreet bars and dubious signs over dark doorways. No sign of anyone there at all during the day. Sigh. What a pity. Never mind, it's not to be, I tried, at least. So, to explore the area further I crossed the main road into a labyrinth of quiet lanes of tiny houses with minuscule and immaculate bonsai gardens next to small dark wooden restaurants, and there I turned a corner, and before me was...... three Geisha girls, with their painted doll like faces, their elaborately tied kimonos, tottering down the street, hanging on to each other's arms as they chatted on their way to a local tea house to entertain the business men. Wow!!! Double WOW!! They do exist after all! I was entranced. How wonderful. How sexy. How erotic they were. And as I explored that area of Gion more (as that was where I still was, I was just in the wrong part of it before) I came across other Geisha, and was delighted at my find. So gorgeous, with their white painted faces, and red vermillion lips, the makeup so carefully applied, their kimonos a vibrant mix of exotic colour. I can understand why the Japanese men find them so desirable. But, do Western men? Tell me what you think - are they attractive to your eyes? Do you find them sexy? Or erotic?


So, it seems, the Japanese are more restrained than I'm used to, but I very much respect their culture. I certainly would have been very circumspect about telling them my profession if the subject came up (it didn't) so it was some surprise to me to find the egg cups. I wasn't expecting them. Particularly where I found them. I was just meandering through a tourist type shop on Miyajima Island, which is considered a spiritual place for relaxing holidays by the Japanese, and where I was delighted to find a new wooden trick box to add to my collection of wooden puzzles when my eyes fell upon the egg cups....... and widened in surprise! Because the images on them were certainly erotic! I smiled in delight! And had to buy them!!! What a wonderful find!!!



So, on to Tokyo, via Hiroshima (an incredibly poignant place, as you can imagine). And Tokyo was so delightful as the cherry blossom was out! Wonderful! And one of the reasons for going to Japan at this time of year was in the hope of finding the cherry blossom in bloom. I know the Japanese hugely celebrate it and can understand why now. It's the herald of spring, the end of the dark days of winter, and so stunningly beautiful to walk under the trees, with the sunlight catching the pale blossoms, the scent of spring in the air, and people promenading and picnicking under the trees, celebrating their natural and delicate pale beauty.

Whilst in Tokyo I had dinner with an architect and his psychologist wife. They're both English, live near me, and happened to be in Tokyo on holiday at the same time. I knew them both slightly and had not socialised with them before but found them both delightful dinner companions. They both work in subjects I'm deeply interested in - she with people, and he with creative design, so was delighted to hear more about their work, and their opinions on the Japanese, and they were more than happy to discuss erotic art! But I think the thing I found most exciting was listening to the architect and how he described his creative energy for designing his buildings. It was exactly the same way I work, except I'm an erotic artist working in 2 dimensions, and you would think totally different to him. But we were so similar in our thought process and how we came to the finished product. I loved the way he described the way that his work is not designing with bricks and mortar but is sculpting with light. How wonderfully exciting to do that!


And then, on to Dubai. A totally different place to Japan, with new cultures to be aware of, and since it's an Arabic country, it's expected that women cover up and don't flaunt themselves. No excess flesh on show. So I spent most of my time in public in light trousers and short sleeved tee shirts, no cleavage on show. And since it was extremely hot and sunny, sunglasses and a hat. I had forgotten what it's like to wear sunglasses.... because although you can see everything clearly, anyone looking at you cannot see your eyes. At all. They have no idea where you are looking, even when standing close to you. And because of that it means that they look at you differently. Because they presume you are NOT looking at them. How interesting, I found. Because, again not looking like the locals, I was looked at. Quite openly. And was very aware of masculine eyes on my body, and that because their women are covered, that they perhaps found looking at me erotic because they could see more of me, even though I wasn't dressed in the least erotically by Western standards. How interesting again, that different cultures find things erotic that other cultures don't at all. MMmmmm.........


So, all in all, I've learnt an awful lot whilst I've been away, and have come back with some fresh ideas. Oh yes!!

Am I that scary?

........ So, my friend said to her friend:

"I'm seeing my friend later, she's an erotic artist".

"Oh, a neurotic artist?"

"No, an EROTIC artist"

"Oh"

....... and then she changed the subject.

(Why does this amuse me?!)

Attributes

A good start to the year - my one hundredth blog post! Yay!!!

Getting back into the mind set of being an erotic artist, after doing two dog commissions, and I've been thinking about what makes an image "erotic". I know when I look at someone I see various attributes of their persona that I would enhance to make my image erotic, but, would another erotic artist see necessarily the same things? Perhaps. Perhaps not. And would the person being drawn consider the attributes I see as their own best features? Perhaps. Perhaps not. I might think their eyes are striking, especially the written invitation in them, but the person in question might think their mouth is their best feature. MMm........ So considering myself, I think I know my own "best attributes"..... but do others see in me something I don't see in myself? Perhaps. Perhaps not....... So, do we need to be drawn by someone else for them to pick out our essence, the part of us we might feel inside, but we don't see in ourselves when we look in the mirror? Perhaps we do. And, maybe, there will be some pleasant surprises................

Back to what I love best

Well....... Christmas is over. I find it an artificial time, for various reasons. But now its gone, I can get back what passes for normality in my life! So..... what would that be then? Oh, yes, I remember! .......... Naked women!! And better still, naked erotic women! So, I've done a new drawing. Something that is arty and erotic. But the thing I like about this drawing is the title that makes it so. The image is of a naked woman lying on her back, with artistically draped fabric arranged around and along her body. All very tasteful. The fabric is a nice contrast and the fact that its a different colour accentuates that contrast. Even when you see that the fabric is pulled between her slightly open legs. Yes, you think, that's arty and nice. Then the eye follows the fabric up along her body, and sees that her hands are clasping it quite tightly. And that her head is turned to the viewer, with her mouth slightly open. And you think, yeh, thats ok, its arty. Then you look at the title. And ...............smile. Because the title is "Exquisite friction" and you realise, that there is movement in the drawing. Not that you can see it, but because you can feeeeeeeeeel it. Because of the title............. you know .....exactly..... what she's doing!!!!

Yep, I'm EROTIC!!

Incase you're wondering why I've been quiet in blog land this last week (and maybe the thought hadn't even crossed your mind, and you haven't missed me in the slightest!), I've been very busy and involved with many other things, a lot of them relating to art and my future in art........





Oh, and I've got some MEGA news.....................!!!!!





I wrote a few weeks ago about the businessman who offered to go into partnership with me for a large share of my profits. His offer came totally out of the blue and really made me consider my position and future and the way I want to focus on my art. I knew very quickly after hearing his offer that I wasn't going to go into partnership with him. Or give him half of my hard earned money. But what his offer made me realise, was that I'm a viable proposition, someone who is worth investing a lot of money in, someone who can turn a profit. And I listened to his advice - that I needed a gallery in a big city to showcase my work, for the people who like the sort of thing I do, to come and see my work, and hopefully like it enough to buy it. This made me think deeply. And consider my options, and the costs of finding such a place to showcase my work. My concern was that large amounts of money would be involved, as it would be a massive investment. And the worry is whether the large overheads would reap the sort of return I was looking for??? Mmmmmmmm. Big thoughts.........




So, after a shortish time, it came to me what I needed to do, and also how I should do it. I should look for a group of artists who do what I do, erotic art, and have their own established gallery with a strong client base, their own website, who promote themselves well and have a good following and are respected in the world of erotica. So, the very OBVIOUS place to start looking was....... the Guild of Erotic Artists. So, I looked into it and I applied.............



And last week I had a reply.



I've been accepted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



So, I'm now a member of the Guild of Erotic Artists! How wonderful is that??!! It means more people will see my art, better promotion of my work, that I will be able to work with other erotic artists, have a higher profile and that others will value my artwork more in future.



And today my details have been added to their list of artists...... here they are if you wanna take a peek................



And let me know what you think. Is this a good thing for me........ or....... should I just go back to doing the dog portraits!!!!!!!!!?????

Its in the blood

People often ask me how long I've been an artist and are usually surprised when I say "Always". I think they expect I'll say "Oh, only the last year or so". But I was born an artist. We all are. We all want to paint as very young children - brightly colourful drawings of houses, mummy and daddy, brothers and sisters, trees, dogs and cats, on large expressive sheets of paper where we can swish the paint around and get thoroughly messy. And we creatively scrawl on the walls, caveman fashion, to the annoyance of our house-proud parents who shout and scrub it off; its within us to create, and be artistically expressive. The only difference between the majority of the rest of the world and me is that I never stopped. I've always painted and drawn things. As a child I painted and drew houses and people and animals. As a teenager I painted weird and wonderful surreal fantasy paintings with a macabre edge to them, that used to perplex most of the adults who viewed them. Then as I reached adulthood, I progressed, and went away from the weird fantasy drawings and perhaps lost some of my creativity because I started to paint the pictures I thought other people wanted. I painted family dogs and cats, other peoples houses, flowers, other peoples favourite scenes, and put the fantasy pictures to one side. I was trying to please, but didn't please myself, or my creative side.

But now, as I've gown older again, I've progressed further and become what I want to be, I've found my creativity again, I'm painting the pictures that please and excite me - the fantasy pictures, whether its fantasy landscapes, even of "normal" scenes when I add interest with splatter or pour-on paint, or highlights of bright sunshine or deep purple shadows. Or fantasy pictures of wildlife - the ferocious tigers or prancing horses, or purely fantastical creatures like glistening mermaids, magical unicorns, glowing angels and fiercesome dragons. Or, best of all, the erotic fantasy paintings, where I depict someone in the image they want for themselves. Their creation of their own fantasy - making them feel sexy, tantalising, erotic and ultimately desirable.

I wonder what I'll be painting should I live to old age. Will it be fluffy kittens and landscapes. Somehow....... I doubt it.

What's in an image?

Ever since I started this blog, some months ago, I knew I wanted an image on my profile (well, I AM an artist, after all!). But what image to have, was the problem. It had to be the right one, and thought about in some depth. I'd looked with interest to see what other images people used, to describe themselves - some delightful parts of their bodies, usually some sexy footwear for the erotic ladies, or a succinct image that described them in some way. But how to find one that suited what I advertise to the world? And then, as is often the case, it dawned on me that it was quite easy! I'm an erotic artist, therefore the image should, quite obviously, be something erotic I'd painted (Yes I know I'm stating the obvious, but it sometimes takes a while to get to that point!). So, here it is, the unveiling of the image that succinctly describes me - my hand painting a pierced female nipple. It had to be pierced of course, because a nipple is just a nipple, until its pierced. Then its loads more erotic! And therefore far more suitable for a female erotic artist!

So, what do you think?

Giving people what they want

Chatting with a male friend the other day, he made the comment that everything I do is sexy. "I wish" I replied and he said that as far as he was concerned, it was the case (and he's certainly known me longer than most people). So perhaps I am, I'd like to think I was (don't we all??) but he went on to say that I was "Psychoerotic" and since I was pretty sure he'd made that word up on the spur of the moment, I questioned what it meant - "Having the ability to plant the erotic in someones mind" he said. Mmmmm..... ok, interesting thought - I certainly like the description, so I'll keep it! So I've been thinking about what he said, and the thoughts appeal to me, that I have an ability to plant the erotic in someones head through my art. That's certainly what I strive to do. I like people, I like the interaction of people, I like to hint at sex, the erotic, the suggestion of pleasure.



But I can see what he means when I look at my latest drawing (done a couple of days before his comments, incidentally). I wanted to do a sexy image of a woman inviting a lover to join her. I particularly liked the idea of just a hint of interesting and intriguing bright red on an otherwise black and white image, it makes the image far sexier! The white high-lighting the skin of the woman's thighs and buttocks, as the rest of her body fades into the black background. She languidly lies back looking at the viewer, her smile an invitation to join her, as she gently raises a leg and pulls off her red panties. I loved doing the drawing, and needless to say it's called "Invitation"!!

So maybe he's right - I am psychoerotic - what do you think?