Well, who else was he going to ask?

In a way, its not a surprise at all - I should expect it really. Because if someone else is interested in art, has a bit of the creative spirit in them, and they have enough of an interest to try to have a go at it themselves, and want to improve on it, they're going to want some positive constructive feedback. From someone they like, respect and admire, who is friendly and approachable. Like any pupil of art, you want to learn and listen to the words of someone wiser than you on the subject. That's what teachers are for.
So, if its erotic art, what do you do? You ask someone who is knowledgeable in erotic art.

That would be......................ME !!!     :)

The new pupil in question has bought some prints of my "fantasy fannies" recently, and told me at the time how much he liked them and the subject matter, and that seeing them had encouraged him to draw some of his own. He asked beforehand if I'd be interested in seeing his artwork, and I agreed I would. He sent them to me for me to give my opinion on his sketches of the pussies (no, I DON'T mean the four-legged meowing variety!) asking for any criticism and my advice for any improvements he could make. I'll take a good  look at his budding artwork and give my considered opinion and hope that he can begin to make the improvements he seeks.

And I'll think about the possibility of teaching art .....................in particular..... sensual  art. And wonder how much of a market there is for it. I know there's a good market for painting flowers, wildlife, landscapes, still-life and portraits. But, how many people would be interested in workshops about sensual art? I don't mean pornography, I mean something tasteful. And that's where part of the problem is. Where does pornography end and erotic start? We all have our own interpretation of what erotic is, and what pornography is - and it isn't the same for us all. I've been to many life drawing classes, and in a way they're a little staid. The naked body is just a vessel, like a still-life jug or vase. And is certainly not a sexual or even an erotic thing. But I think its much more interesting when its a sensual creation - something that invokes eroticism! I just wonder how much other people think that too?

I was looking forward to having a discussion regarding that and other connected matters with the fragrant Lucy Felthouse last night, my friend the erotic writer, but  because of all the snow and ice we had to cancel it and will re-arrange another get-together for when the roads are more accessible. I was looking forward to seeing her again and having a good chat about all things erotic and creative. As far as business meetings go, its as good as any I know of !!!!

 And they call this work.............................. :)

Aftermath resounding bright and clear

Well, What a response!

It seems you all like my Fantasy Fannies then. :)

And I'm delighted that you do.

They're a big thing for me, and something I believe strongly in as an empowerment for women. I've had lots of positive feedback both through the comments and by email. Women telling me that they have had problems accepting that part of their body, but to see their "Queynte" in glorious techni-colour detail has made them realise it is a thing of beauty to be admired. One woman told me she is a blatant exhibitionist and this is the ultimate exhibitionism for her!

A guy I know has said how wonderful the colours are. That he is drawn to bright and well-defined colours and that the similar palette creates a kinship among the portrayals. The bright colours denote energy and emotion, ever moving, ever changing, and focusing on the opening itself. They radiate life, just as a woman does, even though her actual colours are more subdued.
He commented that vaginas are as individual as faces, and drawn in this multi-hued way the features take on added beauty. He particularly liked the detail of the interiors, the folds and the crevices, and the fact that for some women the opening is quite evident, while for others it's hidden, waiting to be discovered. He also really loved the nude woman hidden in the detail of each portrait.

One of the best comments I had was from a woman who referred to the images as "spirited and spiritual" and that I had touched her on a primal level. I really loved that!

Another woman commented that the paintings are absolutely beautiful and that they are a reminder of what makes women so special, being able to give life but also commented on the complex nature of our beings, exemplified in the folds, crevices, curves, texture and smoothness of this entrance to our depths.

I've had interesting dialogues with Having my cake too - since the idea sprung up between the two of us semi-joking with each other a year ago, and then when we discussed it a bit further, we both realised the other was serious! Its been an empowerment for the both of us too. I realised that a lot of women don’t know what they look like down there – infact, only one of the participants has recognized her own from the painting, bearing in mind that I was working from photos sent to me from the participants, so I had presumed they had looked at them first!
We also discussed the fact that some women consider their vaginas to be ugly and the terrible mutilations some religions inflict on young girls. If any of this has helped to empower women, or helped them come to terms with the subject of the beauty of their own bodies, then I’m delighted. I’ve certainly learnt a lot!


And now that other women have seen them, they want their fanny painted too, and I'm delighted to say that already I have another twelve participants who are in the process of sending me photos for the next batch of Queyntes. I hope others do too.

This last week I have had many conversations with many people on the subject and its interesting to note the differences between the sex bloggers and the men and women I have chatted to in "real life". The sex bloggers have accepted it with open arms, and love it. But I've had slightly unexpected responses from other people. A broad-minded, creative and feminist woman wasn't greatly interested in what I consider to be a wonderful celebration of womanhood. A flirtatious and vibrant woman who I would have expected to be greatly interested in the subject, wasn't particularly, and yet most men I've mentioned it to are intrigued with it and want to know more. Am I back to the experiences I've had before of vanilla women not showing their interest in erotic art?

I attended a seminar at the weekend, to pick up more information about making a living as an artist, and found the session very useful. I was even able to ask specific questions relating to my own career and the projects I currently have on the go and how I am dealing with them. The tutor's answers were helpful and honest. Which is what I'd rather hear. But he doesn't think the Fantasy Fannies will work in real life, he thinks they will only work on the internet. I think he's wrong. I think there will be a lot of interest, in the right place. I just need to find the right place. I want these Fantasy Fannies to be exhibited somewhere together, so that people can see them. I know that some galleries will turn them down flat, and I also know that I have to find the right gallery for myself - because a gallery is for ME, not me for them. Maybe I'll have to do it privately then.

But one way or another, I want to do it.

Big big stuff

Well, you're not going to believe this - but after almost a year of talking about it - I've finally done it! And its turned out exactly as I had hoped as well as being far more than I had hoped - if that makes sense......

I've painted something so very close to my heart - something that may well be the "big thing" in my artistic life - maybe even the ultimate "thing" - I wonder, unless it moves me on to other even more important things. Maybe.

I need to explain more for you to understand what I'm talking about.......

I've been painting all my life - all of it - and the majority of what I've painted has been representational - in that it looks like whatever it is, and I've put my artistic talents into painting a good version of it in my own style. And anyone looking at the painting would know what it is and recognise it as such.

But my big dream of last year was to paint something so totally different, it was just a "feeling" - a strong one, but not at all my normal way of painting, and this is why I'm so totally excited about what I've done recently - because its pulled something out of me that I didn't fully recognise was there - its big stuff, this!!!

What I've painted, if you haven't already gathered, as the "Fantasy Fannies" that I've been wanting to paint for the last year since it was first mooted - and now that I've done them, I'm stunned by their beauty, their vibrancy, their life and soul, the very embodiment of them!

And the reason I'm so taken with them, is because of the way I've painted them - although they are drawn from the gynealogical photos I have, and are representational in their basic shapes - the way I have painted them is by "feeling" the abstract colour of each area. Normally, to paint an area in painting, I will look at the colour and think "Well, that's a bit of burnt sienna, with a touch of cobalt blue and maybe a little raw sienna to tone it down" - and that is the colour I'm seeing, so that is the colour I paint. But not with these fanny paintings - I will look at the area of colour I'm about to paint and I might think "Well, it looks pinky with a touch of purple going into yellow, but theres a bit of blue there too" - BUT what I will paint is the colour it feels like compared to the colours around it - and that may well be bright orange or lime green! And since the whole painting is painted that way - it makes for a very interesting and dynamic painting! But now that I've done quite a few of the paintings, when they are all viewed together, they have a HUGE WOW factor!!!!!! Fucking hell, YYEEEESSSSSSS !!!!!!!!

They're beautiful........... Really beautiful.

I've reached down into my soul to paint them - and it shows. Its like nothing else I've ever done before. Ever.

But you're going to have to wait a bit before I show them to you.....................