Put me in my place!

Chatting to a male aquaintance we got onto the subject of my art and the erotic side of it and he said that if I asked him to look at my tiger paintings, out of politeness he'd show a bit of interest, but if I was to ask him if he wanted to look at nubile young girls with no clothes on - he's come over straight away via Edinburgh, if need be, to come and see them! So, perhaps I'm kidding myself that people like my art after all - perhaps it's the subject they're interested in, regardless of my talents!

He did also say that he'd be very reluctant to take his clothes off infront of someone to be drawn, and I agree that a lot of people are of that opinion. I think they think that they would be laughed at and would feel uncomfortable. But an artist doesn't look at a body any differently than they look at a tree, or a flower, they're all just a subject to be painted, and that's how an artist views them - considering the best angles, lighting, composition, tones and colours. He also said that if he had the body of Brad Pitt, he'd happily pose for me and I replied that he could have that though! - I could paint his head on the body of Brad Pitt and he'd be happy that he hadn't posed - and everyone would think that that was his physique. Anything is possible!

Metamorphosis

It's been an exciting week setting up my new website, especially as there will now be more emphasis on the erotic stuff, and now it's official, I've had far more interesting reactions from the people in my life - particularly the men - when I state I'm a Erotic Artist rather than just saying I'm an artist who paints figures. There's that widening of the eyes and automatic grin followed by the "Oh really? Tell me more!" reactions. Then I find they start telling me about their sex lives and secret desires and somehow they feel more at ease in my company. My good friend Peter, who has known me well enough for many years, and shown only a polite vague interest in my artwork, has suddenly, today, requested to come and see my erotic artwork! And he made the comment about getting older and perhaps not so happy about his body shape than when he was younger (so what chance do we women have if MEN think that!) and I said that was the whole point of an artist who's used to looking at naked bodies - I can add to the bits you're happy with and take from the bits you're not (thighs and bums, usually!) and produce the fantasy figure you wish you were and you can hang it on your wall and your friends can admire it for ever more - and no-one knows its not the real you with the lumpy bits underneath! Beats being vanilla, anyday!