Unfinished business

How do you rate a success? How do you decide whether something has gone right? Mmm... not always by the end result, but sometimes by the journey itself, I think. And that is how I view the most recent painting I've done of Hornymaleuk and my female model. The event was a success, the creative process was a success, but at the moment the finished product isn't wholly a success. It certainly needs more work doing on it, and I can possibly do it without the pair of them posing together for me (because due to logistics it may take a while to organise it). So, I may be able to do it by my imagination alone, but I certainly need to think about how to do that as well.............



So, on to the occasion......... it was good to see Hornymaleuk again, since I've not seen him for a few months, and as he and the model have met before there was no need for breaking the ice between them, they know each others personalities and characters well enough. We had a drink to start, which gave us all time to relax, the mutual telling of dirty jokes also helping somewhat!!


Then, the decision regarding the pose. I had come up with a few ideas before seeing them both so we all discussed the possibilities of using them, the pros and cons, the likelihood of aches, pains, muscle cramps and pins and needles ensuing. Then, since my poses were deemed unworkable in the long term, we worked around finding different poses for them to work with. All this was done with their clothes on, with me walking around them looking for the best angles, composition, lighting and "eroticness" of the poses. There's a very fine line between pornographic and erotic. And in turn, erotic and lifedrawing. For instance, if the man in the composition hasn't got an erection, then it can't be erotic, but if he has then it can sometimes be deemed to be pornographic! And since Hornymaleuk and the female model weren't actually going to HAVE sex, I had to give the impression that they WERE whilst they actually WEREN'T. MMMmm....... so, more thoughts regarding the poses working properly as an erotic image.....

FINALLY, we found a pose we were all happy with. Eureka! But even though it takes time, and I know that it usually does, I have to persevere with it because there is absolutely NO point in going for the first pose I think of, if the models are going to be in untold agonies within three minutes of starting it. It's ok for a photographic pose, because the model only needs to hold the pose for a few seconds, but not for an artists model (and I'm a quick painter!).


So, the pose worked fine, mostly, except the female model had to break quite a bit as there was too much pressure on her hands, but on the whole she did really well, and certainly the pose was easier for Hornymaleuk since he most mostly just lying on his back with a luscious woman sitting on top of him. Sigh. And we call this work!


So, do I like the finished picture? Mmmm..... yeeeessssssss, BUT, (and its a big but), the picture isn't finished. So don't view it like it is. Just count this as a work in progress picture, half done, with the gist of the emotions and eroticness of the image, but it is the under painting, leading on to the finished image. It's *part* of the creative process, and I have hesitated and wondered about showing it to you at this stage, because you're BOUND to look at it and think "that's crap". So, don't look at it as DONE, look at it as part of the journey of getting *there*....... where-ever "there" is! And I don't know where it is, until I get there! So, if you're gonna be critical, I'll listen, but with only half an ear................ cos it's only half done.


There's some aspects of it I really love, and some I really hate, some parts need a lot more work doing on them, on some of the lines, and shapes, on the negative shapes, the divisions of colours, the blending of colours, the lighting, the shadows, well, everything, really!!! I love the use of red, cream, black and gold, so I'm happy with the choice of colours at least! and I think it's a powerful pose, and I think it is erotic as a pose!!


And, as a further comment, it was nice after I'd finished painting, to finally relax (because painting is hard work, and I need to fully concentrate when I'm painting) and sit down and share a bottle of wine with Hornymaleuk and discuss our various worlds and the people who inhabit them. And it was really good to chat with a fellow blogger, in real life.

Seeing eye to eye

I've been working on my latest dog portrait commission this week and am slightly annoyed that I've had to re-start the painting again as the original paper I started with buckled when I was less than a third of the way through the painting. If I'd carried on it might have got worse, it may not though, but I wasn't prepared to take that chance because I know I've got many hours of work to put into it and decided cutting my losses at this point was probably better than carrying on and making a hash of it. So I've re-drawn it and started painting again on line and wash board, but I don't normally use it and I'm finding it far more absorbant than the Bockingford watercolour paper I usually use, so its soaking up every tiny bit of paint very quickly. Still, I'm steps forward now and have done the base painting more or less, so the colour is on and now I need to build up the depth of colours through the fur on the dogs head. I've left doing the eyes until now as well as I prefer to do it when I've got to the mid point. So, I've had a "blind" dog as the empty eye sockets are still blank paper. So, deep breath, and hope to get the next bit right, cos if I get it wrong the whole thing will look bad. And ...............paint the eyes. Stand back and look to see how it's gone and...........................WOW! The whole painting comes alive! The dog can see! The eyes are liquid, with the light shining in them. The eyeballs sit in their sockets and the whole painting comes alive!!! I'm a happy bunny!!!! Yay!!!! But I don't know why I'm surprised, the eyes are the windows to the soul. If they show life, then I've captured the essence of the subject.

And just to add that Hornymaleuk has contacted me with a view to him wanting to pose for me again. Ok, so he obviously wasn't too put off with the last pose (and this is my posting about it here) then! (or the ones before that! - and this is my version of that). It's a while since I've drawn him, and he'll be posing with my usual model again..... so what poses shall I put them in? MMmm...... I need to think. Oh, this is going to be fun!!!!

Horny work

Another drawing session with hornymaleuk and this time I put him through his paces - persuading him to do a full two hour pose with the female model, rather than three shorter sessions like last time. Having said that, I think that maybe the images were better last time! So, if he feels he can suffer being one of my models again, I think we'll be doing shorter poses in the future!! The reason it took so long was because I did a white on black image that I love so much, and find so effective. They always take longer to set up because of the lighting aspect. I'd already got the idea in my head of the pose I wanted to do, before we started the session, because the models had met before and I knew how they fitted together (so to speak!). This pose was of the woman lying back in a state of euphoria, whilst hornymaleuk leant over her inbetween her open knees, grabbing her left buttock as she arched her back. They were lit by a low light to the side, creating interesting shapes and lost lines thereby making the drawing far more interesting for the viewer when you start to consider where the parts of their bodies in the darkness were! Whilst the three of us chatted and I drew them, both hornymaleuk and the female model commented, without moaning, that various parts of their anatomy were aching or in some form of discomfort (my knees were too, after so long in one position, so I could sympathise with them!), but I went on to explain, that for the models the pose isn't always erotic (it can be quite painful or uncomfortable sometimes), and for the artist, drawing the pose isn't sometimes incredibly erotic either, BUT its up to the artist to make it look erotic for the viewer - so on paper it should be deeply erotic - that's my job and what I hope I achieve. That's the plan anyway!

By the way the image is called "Overcome" and its up to the viewer to decide how the title relates to the people in the drawing..........

Getting turned on to drawing

The recent comments by Honoranddesire and Hornmaleuk have made me consider what people suspect happens between an artist and a model during an art session, especially when its an erotic art session. Its always the thought and question, underneath the surface isn't it? What happens when you're drawing a naked person, and you fancy them? Part of me, like most artists, considers that its a professional working relationship, like doctors, when you just happen to work with naked people, and you're trying to do a job........ but, there is the other side, when you get to know the model a bit more, and they become a personality, a friend, and then maybe a lover. But, drawing is using a different part of the brain, and I need to concentrate, arrange the composition, lighting, decide which medium I'm going to use, get my easel up, set up some rock music to paint to, make sure the model is comfortable with the pose, and is warm enough, and doesn't have a spot light shining in their eyes, isn't going to get cramp in five minutes time, whist listening with half an ear to their problems, and trying to organise them into the pose without seeming heartless to their concerns, and I'm not wearing my best clothes, I'm in old jeans and a comfortable tee shirt, so that if I spill paint down me, it won't matter. But if I'm getting ready for sex, I'd dress differently, take more care, and wear something slightly provocative in a revealing or clingy way, something that makes me feel hot, would feel calmer and would be looking for signs and giving signs, in my conversation, or gestures, or demeanour. So perhaps the model is ready for sex, because they have an empty mind, and are sitting there stark naked, but the artist isn't ready for sex because their mind is full of ideas and organising things. Mmmmm..... that's a really interesting thought.

I think we have a special relationship with our models, and they understand that too. And I've definitely had some interesting times and some very non vanilla moments whilst drawing naked models! I think as figure artists we're open to people, and the models are open to the artist, so its a potent mix to start with. Plus I also think that models are a particular type of person too - who like being naked infront of fully clothed people, who are exhibitionists (unless they are just desperate for the money and can overcome their inhibitions for financial reasons), and want to be viewed and stared at and have their sexual fantasies at the same time, so perhaps the poor artist doesn't stand a chance! (smile).

I know at the end of a drawing session I'm mentally whacked, because I've been concentrating so hard, the model is happily chatting away, and I've gone quiet, whilst I'm packing my art materials and easel away, so perhaps that's when there's a shift in the relationship, instead of the artist being in control of the model and the situation, the model is fresh and lively, mentally alert, and can take over and start to control what happens next.........

Drawing hornymaleuk again

Before meeting up with hornymaleuk again to draw him with my female model, I only had half-formed ideas in my head for poses for them, even though I had spent a lot of in-depth time beforehand considering it. I knew I couldn't formalise the ideas until I had seen the inter-reaction of the two of them together. They hadn't met before this occasion and knew virtually nothing about each other, except of their existence! And I wasn't fully sure how they would like each other as personalities. So when they met, there was probably an element of surprise for the two of them and, to enable them to get to know each other, I suggested a relaxing drink and a bit of a chat first, so they could get some social interaction before I threw them together in some compromising poses! Whilst I stood and watched how they chatted with each other, suddenly the ideas for poses came to me and I suggested the first one to them with a little trepidation......... as it involved her on her knees in front of him, whilst he sat in front of her, holding her head as she bent her head and focused on his groin area! They agreed they were both happy with that pose (Well, I knew HE would be, before I asked him!!!), so we listened to some loud pulsating rock music, as I set about drawing them......

I'd decided beforehand to use inktense crayons as I love the way I can use them as a proper crayon, therefore having the ability to draw with a sharp point, but when a wet paintbrush is painted over the top, the pigment immediately becomes like ink and gives instant coverage with enough tonal value to create a very fine light wash right up to intense depth of dark colour, which I find ideal for this sort of quick drawing.

The first drawing went well, which I was pleased about, as first drawings don't always do that, as it normally takes time to warm up and for me to get the right mind-set for figure drawing. I decided to use just one colour for this drawing, opting for a purple, as it gave me enough depth of tone needed for the image. I particularly wanted to see the lovely rounded shape of the female waist flowing down to her buttocks, the line of her back, and her right breast and nipple in profile, her right arm reaching around to lie on hornymleuk's left thigh, his left hand resting on the back of her arm, whilst his right hand rested on the back of her head, drawing her towards his groin as he watched the object of her desire and her facial expression. It was an easy pose for him to hold as an initial starter, as he's a novice to this, and I was delighted with the result which I've entitled "Getting acquainted" and that lead me on to the idea for the next pose.......

They were both happy to go for another pose, so this time it was the woman's turn for some attention.... This situation featured her lying on her back with her head thrown back in rapture, as he kneels below her, his face leaning in between her open legs, as her left leg is nonchalantly resting on his right shoulder. His head his hidden behind her thigh, as his hands grip on her upper thigh. Since this was more of a feminine pose, I decided to use a scarlet colour and again I got enough depth of tone from the inks to give me enough detail. The female model loved this pose and kept grinning at me, as I drew her. She was getting her own back from the first pose I put her in!!! This image I've entitled "Rapture"!

Again, I was delighted with the second image I produced, and was on a roll so suggested a third pose for them! They agreed to go again, but requested a short break first, so of course I agreed, and after that, we set up the third pose, more restful than the first two - the woman lying in the man's arms, her back to his chest, her legs open to the viewer, his arms protectively around her, her right arm resting on his thigh, her left arm reaching back to caress his neck. The image of two lovers at ease with each other, complete and replete. I used three colours for this image - black, blue and magenta - as I wanted to utilise a masculine colour and a feminine one, and to pull the diverse colours together, as the couple cuddle entwined together, the colours merging where their body's touch. I was reasonably happy with this picture but needed to do more work on it afterwards to get the right depth of colour for me to be happier with the picture. I've called it "Lover of mine". I know its not fully finished, but doing three drawings within a shortish space of time, was quite an achievement! I tend to consider my drawings an "idea" and try to capture the sentiment behind the idea as quickly as possible, being fully aware that were I to tackle the image as a full painting, an awful lot more time and detail would be utilized to give a far better working image. And before you start peering too closely at the man's visage, the features are hazy and are not hornymaleuk's, but a generic male face, to add interest to the picture.

So, a very successful first session with hornymaleuk and the female model together. They've both told me they're keen to do it again, so I hope that we can arrange that at some future point. I wasn't sure if he would enjoy the experience of posing, as I know it can be hard work, but he kept the poses beautifully as I drew the two of them, so he seems to be a natural!!

And as a post script to this tale, I must admit to a frisson of wicked amusement, and a huge inward grin, during the evening, to listen to the pair of them chatting with each other as I drew them in compromising positions, especially whilst he had his head between her open legs as she told him rude jokes.............!

I've not forgotten.....

........but its been difficult to arrange the logistics of getting three people together. So finally we've been able to set a date for me to draw hornymaleuk with a female model. And between now and then I'll be racking my brains for poses, ideas, colours and styles, as well as the important one of hiding his body shape so that he's not recognised. Mmmmmm... that's going to be difficult again, but at least I know what he looks like now, so that will make it easier than the first time. And putting two people together, makes for more interesting poses than just one on their own, its just keeping that fine line between erotic and pornographic that I need to consider too. I've got a few ideas for poses, so now I'll have to consider the lighting aspects too, and how long the models can keep the poses for (twice the problem with cramped muscles, aching legs, and cold skin). And until I do the drawing I won't relax, I know I'll be thinking deeply about this right up until I complete the images. Who said art was easy?!!

When Horny met Jackie

As I had expected it was very interesting meeting Hornymaleuk and as you would also expect there’s a lot I’m not going to reveal about our meeting, but as far as the art is concerned ..... we first chatted about which parts of his anatomy he was happy for me to portray and which he wasn’t. Of course until I had actually seen him I couldn’t make many judgements of which parts of him I wanted to draw anyway. I decided that instead of painting the whole body, I would just try for some details, with lots of information missing, vague lines hinted at, and lost and found edges which would hide any distinguishing details of his body. I discussed with him what I considered the essence of hornymaleuk – being, for me: masculinity, faceless, desire, hands, trust, secrets etc, and I explained that I would try and incorporate those into the finished drawings. He was happy to give me free rein regarding whatever I considered were the best poses for him. He stripped off for me and we chatted whilst I drew, although I had to concentrate quite hard on drawing, so perhaps I wasn’t too communicative, other than on paper!

I decided that although I was doing a drawing, I would use paint for it along with water soluble black pen. As far as I’m concerned they count as drawings rather than paintings, as paintings would be more detailed, and I was drawing with the pen but using the paint as a quick way of getting colour and tone onto the paper. Since hornymaleuk hadn’t posed before I didn’t want to spend ages on each drawing and face the risk of him getting tired or cramp, or becoming cold, and make the experience unpleasant for him. I decided quite early on that I needed to paint a very loose painting, with lots of water sprayed onto the paper to move the wet paint, using the pen just for picking out details later on. I chose Paynes Grey watercolour paint as I like the depth of colour it creates and love the bluey tinge of it, and felt that drawings using black/white and shades of grey would be more masculine than using a warmer colour, and would be more stark in appearance which added to the overall effect I wanted to create.

The first drawing was of his torso, with one hand resting on his raised leg and the other leg loosely relaxed infront of him. I worked quickly but kept spending time concentrating and just staring at the image, being critical of how it was shaping up, making informed decisions about the focal point, composition, negative shapes, tone and line. It was only at the end when I relaxed more and took a few steps back from the image that I gasped out-loud and realised what the paint had done in a “happy accident” that watercolourists love so much – the paint had dribbled down the paper leaving a very wet patch of liquid just below the area of his groin! It couldn’t have been a better summing up of a horny man and a delightful piece of serendipity!!!!


After a short break, he was happy to pose again so I started another drawing – this time trying to capture the essence of hornymaleuk, so the obvious pose was for him to stand above me, whilst I drew his genitals from below, with his hands relaxed on either side, resting on his upper thighs. A very masculine pose!!! And drawn quickly and with vigour, giving more movement in the pen marks and making the image more passionate and a whole lot stronger because of it. I think I’m more pleased with this drawing than the first, it seems to have the edge as a sexual image.

Unfortunately we only had time to do the two pictures but I hope we can get together again soon to produce some more creative artwork.

Deeper and deeper

Had a chat with an artist friend last night who was interested to hear what my latest erotic art outputs are. I told him about my forthcoming project to draw hornymaleuk and the challenge its going to be because I can't do a traditional representational image of him. He readily agreed. So we discussed and explored the ways I am going to have to tackle this artwork. He said that I should consider other erotic male images to base my drawing on, but its alright to think of James Bond/Indiana Jones/Gladiator as the basis but they all have a face and I won't be able to show that. Also I don't know what body shape I shall be drawing until I see hornymaleuk. My artist friend also made me think deeper when he said that just a small part of something can be far far more erotic than the whole thing, so I don't necessarily need to paint a whole body, I can just focus on a part of it. I don't know which part of hornymaleuk's anatomy is the sexiest bit (ignoring the obvious answer at this point) - because it might be his tight buttocks (if they are!) his strong shoulder, chiselled jawline, six pack, muscled thigh or long sensitive fingers (if they all are - but what if they're not?) My artist friend also said that I should consider the use of back light, which appeals to me very much, perhaps throwing the full face or most of it, into darkness, and perhaps the use of a fluidly wet medium, to carry on the hot and steamy interpretation of what he is/and does. My friend also said that since hornymaleuk is obviously trusted by women, he has a compassionate/respected/sensitive side to him that I should also consider. So now we get into the abstract! Mmm...... this is getting more interesting the more I think of it.......

And on a slightly separate note I was really pleased with the drawing I did of my usual female model this week. I drew her holding a lit candle in her hand with the hot wax dribbling down over her breast creating lovely shapes as it followed her rounded contours. I did actually offer to imagine the wax for the image but she said she was happy to light the candle and do the job properly. The things we do for art. I've got a lovely title for the drawing - "Meltdown" - I need to do a bit more work on it before I'm totally happy with it though as the wax from the candle has to be smoother than her skin to illustrate the use of texture.

I also met up this week with someone who wants to pose for me. Shes really excited at the prospect as she's never done it before. I shall enjoy drawing her as she's a different body shape to what I normally do.

I have also got a commission on at the moment to paint a house portrait for someone. I know I can do it quickly, competently and easily and hope to start it next week. But somehow its not holding my interest as much as the erotic stuff........ I wonder why.......

The difference between men and women

I'm currently having very interesting dialogues with hornymaleuk about how I'm going to draw him. He's wondering if I'm going to draw him in all his rampant naked glory. If he can keep that pose for the hour or two that it'll take me to draw him I shall be well impressed!!! Until I see the figure I'm going to draw I can't say what the pose will be - it differs for everyone because I will need to find their attributes and enhance them (although with hornymaleuk I've got a good idea what that is going to be already.....). And its also very different as to whether I'm drawing a man or a woman. For women the erotic image will usually be more subtle and feminine, the hint of things unsaid, an item of clothing (because women are so much easier to dress sexily than men) or of footwear or jewellery. For a man to look erotic the image will have to be more blatant (otherwise its just a life-drawing pose). So the challenge is not to draw what I see before me but to enhance it to make it artistic and erotic. The best way to define the different styles of drawing is to say that "life drawing" is a naked figure in an everyday pose - sitting in a chair for example. If that figure is doing something blatantly sexual then its "pornographic" but if the figure is doing something subtly sexual then its "erotic" and I think far more sexy and interesting than the blatant pose. I'm really looking forward to drawing hornymaleuk, because I know already his pose will be blatantly masculine erotic, and very sexy for it!

It gets better

The positive emails continue to come in regarding my website so I'm still a happy bunny. Claire from the erotic woman said "I've just spent an hour or so browsing your site and magnificent paintings...I am incredibly impressed with your new layout and design, it is a big step up in professionalism, usability and look. Great job!!". She also thinks I have a "sublime talent married with artistic inspiration" which makes me feel very humble (but not that much that I won't mention it!). I love the way people are responding to what I do, and how I do it, because that's what art is all about.

And just to add even more excitment to the day hornymaleuk has contacted me regarding me painting him. Now that's an interesting proposition....... cos I don't suppose its his face he'll want me to paint.....

My new social life

I've been playing with the blog today and updating various things on it to improve it. I've had a few communications from friends far and wide with good strong responses to the website which is always nice to hear, including one from hornymaleuk who is fascinating me at the moment (not least because of his name) partly because of his connection of writing fantasy nuggets with Lucy, and partly because of his own fascinating blog which makes very interesting reading - not an ounce of vanilla anywhere!