FLiP Magazine Pinup Published

Art created in Color Pencil

Finally, the long awaited FLiP Magazine featuring my art of beautiful model/actress Jax Turyna is available to view online here. 

 The photo photo by Ralph Haseltine was changed quite  a bit, as you can see.  I also tried to create this artwork in the style of Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas.  I'm very happy with this piece, and I hope you are too.

Please watch FLiP Magazine for details on the upcoming auction for this original.  Also, you can buy a print right now, and ALL net proceeds will be donated as well.  Click here to view it on my website.

Original Photo by Ralph Haseltine

Of Models and Men

I recently read a post on Facebook by a beautiful nude model whom I follow there and on Model Mayhem:

"So tired of dudes with their fanboy shit who want to "date,me" or brag they are "dating a model" or have a model "girlfriend". Guess what? I'm an actual person with feelings,with emotions and it amazes me that people expect me to be an emotionless mannequin. Guess what? I cry, I get upset. I get angry because I'm a real person...It also makes me feel like I always have to "be hot" and dressed up..like I have to keep up an image, and that people will be dissapointed [sic] if I don't look "hot"all the time. idk. . I am not my persona. I am not "xxxxx" in real life. You need to like me for who I am as a person, not what I am.. I am not just a smiling trophy you can dust off and take off your shelf when you need to brag to your boys and show off, but then put back and ignored when you don't need to prove your accomplishment. You want to keep a trophy? Then treat her like one all the time..otherwise you don't deserve her. I'm not a damn "rent a gf" lol"

This disturbed me because I have heard similar stories from other models I know.

I realize I'm a lucky guy---I draw and paint beautiful women with very little or no clothing.  I am the envy of many of my friends.  But these ladies are not objects to me; they are my friends, my work associates, my muses, etc.  Like any other work environment, they deserve to be respected for what they do and how they do it, regardless of the amount of clothing they are wearing.

These ladies know full well what they have gotten themselves into; they realize they they will be objectified, that their photos are sued for spank material for many fans.  But there modeling persona is not the real them.  I've written before about how much work a photo shoot is, that even with a nude model, the job site is pretty devoid of any sexual tension.  Models and photographers (or artist, for that matter) are professional, who are doing a job.  It takes a lot of work to create glamour.

Brand New Color Pinup Art!

Finally I can reveal the pinup art I have been teasing on Twitter and Facebook of the beautiful model/actress Jax Turyna. The reference photo was taken by Ralph E Haseltine.

I was approached by Frank Monahan, the publisher of FLiP Magazine, about doing  an illustration as a donation to help veterans.  Jax, who is the editor of the men's side of the magazine, donated not only her modeling time, she also procured the make-up artist and the photographer.  (She is a human dynamo!) 

Jax and I choice one of Ralph's fine photos, and I set to work laying out the photo reference and began to fill in with color almost immediately.  Jax came by my office several times to consult on the art, to make sure it would fit what she wanted for the issue.  My wife was very involved as well, and she insisted on one major change from the original that clearly made the art better (you'll see it when the issue is published!)

This illustration will be published in the next issue of FLiP Magazine, and it will be auctioned off to benefit a veteran's organization, to assist returning servicemen and women. To learn more or to comment on my art, please write me here.