Tree of life

Well, you've all been very patient, and now comes the time of the big unveiling! If you can remember back into the far distant mists of memory of last November, dj kirkby asked me if I could paint an erotic landscape for her, and I happily said I would. It was exactly the same week that Willsibob asked me the very same question (although his painting was totally different) so then I had a few problems juggling commissions and getting them ready for the Christmas deadline. After a brief discussion with dj kirkby, she decided she'd be happier to leave the painting for Chopper until his birthday at the end of March. This suited me very well, as I needed to spend a lot of time planning the picture. Because what she was asking for was very challenging to do. She wanted the painting to look like an erotic couple AND look like a landscape. So, to innocent eyes, the painting would be innocent, and to knowing eyes, the painting would be erotic. Mmmm...... Plus, she wanted the couple to BE the landscape as well. So, two pictures in one. Quite a daunting task!!!

To begin the painting I knew I would have to start with the couple themselves, and somehow make them the geography of the landscape. And as I had to check each time that dj kirkby and I were on the same wavelength I emailed her at each stage of production for her feedback. Firstly with the original sketches, then as she ok'd them, with the working drawings, then building up on that, until we got to a final design we were both happy with. From then I had to do a working painting so that I could work out the colours, the lighting, the contrasts and any other fine details that needed looking at. And sent that to dj kirkby to make sure she was happy with it. She was. That took the best part of three months, along with an awful lot of thought in between times! But, once I had a good working drawing that I was happy with, the rest flowed! The final painting was done in only a few weeks, but by then I only needed to follow my working painting as all the thoughts had gone into it by then. I worked hard on it, as I knew she wanted it for Choppers birthday and I was going away in mid March and had to send it to her and know she had received it before I went!

So, the great unveiling! You can see sky, cliffs, sand dunes, rocks, a beach, a tree, a cave, the sea and a phallic looking lighthouse. But, what else do you see..................? I'm delighted with the painting. It is both erotic and a landscape. And the title? It's called "Tree of life" because although the tree in the painting is the womans arm and hand, the tree is also situated where their bodies are joined, where they are creating life.

And I know I shall be painting more pictures like this, as they are unique. And I like painting unique pictures. So, who wants the next erotic landscape.........................?