From Photo to Art--Carlotta Champagne

This popular feature was actually started in my old email newsletters with this image of the wonderfully talented and beautiful Playboy model, Carlotta Champagne.  Since I use photos exclusively as reference for my artwork, I'm often asked how many changes I make to the original photo in the final drawing. 

There is no one answer; it really depends on what I want the final drawing or painting to look like.  Sometimes, except for some minor changes, the reference photo is very close to finished piece.  Very often, however, I make major changes from the original photo to create the illustration.  


Here is an example of how I made some major changes to a photo for a portrait of Carlotta.  The reference pic was taken by my good friend, photographer Rob Domaschuk, in my rec room.  On some of the shots, we set up Carlotta by my bar, posing with a fedora and one of my ties, to capture some whimsical nudes.

I fell in love with Carlotta's pose and expression, but I did not like the tie in this particular image.  Also, I didn't want a drawing of her next to a bar stool with that hat, as it just didn't fit the scene.  The hat reminded me of Indiana Jones' fedora, and it gave me the idea of what to do with the hand that was leaning on the chair.  The photo reference eventually turned into the art to the right.

To complete the drawing, I found some reference photos online of whips, and used my own hand to approximate the one holding the whip.  Then, the fun part--getting this drawing to look like the beautiful Carlotta!

I recently ordered some 13" x 19" photo prints of this piece, and they came out really well!  I still have the original drawing, too, and take to any shows where I happen to exhibit.

I enjoy posting these examples, and your feedback is always welcome, so feel free to drop me a line at vince@erotic-pinups.com, or on my Facebook Fan Page.

On Nude Art and Prints

A short time ago, we posed this question on the Facebook Fan page: Will You Hang Nudes In your Home?  We had several people write back that yes, they would do so, which is encouraging news, to be sure.  All artists like to be recognized, and there seems to be a bigger hurdle for nude figure artists like me to jump over because of the subject matter.


My good friend Unbearable Lightness has been touching on the subject of fine art nudes in her blogs recently,  about the connections between fashion photography and fine art, and the eroticism therein.  So much art today is deemed not acceptable to be displayed, yet we see constant images in the media of an overtly sexual nature.  Why the double standard?

This image of Alicia Burley hangs in our home

My wife has several of my pieces hanging in our home, one of which is a nude.  So far, there have been no issues.....our 12 year old nieces are wonderfully bemused by "Uncle Vince's" art, and our seven year old nephew is too young to notice.  And our assorted friends have not menitoned being uncomfortable at all.


Besides, we must understand that fine art nudes are just that---fine art.  Just because an image depicts a woman in the nude does NOT make that image sexual in nature (do you hear that, Facebook?).


So, it was nice to hear back from some people on my discussion thread that, yes, they would hang nudes, as long as they are tasteful.  


Let me hear from you---would YOU hang nude art in your home?  What kind of art would you hang?  This is intended to be a discussion opener, as so many people would like to, but may not be able to do so because of circumstances.  Please comment below.

On Women and Curves

I suppose it's no secret that, as a pin-up artist, I love women's curves. It's probably a prerequisite for the job.  The curves of a woman's body are one of God's greatest creations, if not the greatest.


The female form has been celebrated in art since man first began painting on cave walls.  Women are the child bearers, the nurturers, the gender that really keeps everything together.  A woman's physiology is beautiful, in part, because of the way it was designed.  Men are attracted to a woman's soft, flowing, sensual curves (which is scientifically proven, by the way).  


The circle is the perfect shape in nature.  A woman's shape is based in large part on a circle, unlike males, which are angular.  They are the ultimate subject of any artist or photographer, in my view, because of their unique beauty.  Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo & Botticelli, pinup artists like Elvgren & Vargas  were on to something in their work.  Nowadays, one can look at the art of TC Cor, Dave Nestler & Olivia, or the photos of Carrie Leigh, and see how beautiful they depict the female form ---erotic, sensual, powerful....


The ultimate subject.






Fineartamerica.com has set up a Discount code for its members to offer our clients.  Save 25% off the cost of a print.  Check it out on my page there  

On Facebook & Censorship, Part 2

My friend and fellow artist, Joel Adams, blogs today on how his profile was deleted from Facebook, after  he posted the cover of the newest edition of Carrie Leigh's NUDE magazine, due on newsstands shortly.  Joel explains his difficulties and position very well in his blog, so I won't repeat it here.


However, when you read Joel's issues with Facebook, it goes back to the same issue I had--the ambiguous "Terms of Service."  They plop all of the violations into one blanket statement, including "drug use, violence, and nudity."  Now, with the number of people under the age 18 on Facebook, I feel that we ALL must be responsible with the content on our pages, and I have edited my nude artwork accordingly.


But Facebook doesn't define nudity.....is it nipples?  pubic area?  implied nudity?  We have very clear rules on modeling industry websites such as Model Mayhem on what images can be displayed in the public areas, like avatars.  But clear rules don't seem to exist on Facebook.  Joel's page is private, so he can't get random visitors to his profile, either.  And, as he points out, no live person responded to him to explain why this image violated the terms of service.  


The cover that Joel uploaded is a great photo of a beautiful girl, photographed by Carrie Leigh, one of the most prominent fine art nude photographers in the world.   I emphasized fine art for a reason.....it is NOT porn, it is not eroticism---it is a celebration of the beauty of the female figure.  Not unlike Da Vinci, Michelangelo, even Vargas and Elvgren.  And there is no explicit nudity in the photo.  This magazine is sold openly in bookstores like Borders, where young kids easily have access (it's usually stacked in the "fine art/photography section at my Borders).


I have no issue with blocking inappropriate material on Facebook......we need to protect young people from adult images and content.  But please, give us the guidelines as to what can and cannot be posted, Facebook.  And apply them equally.

On Holiday Specials

So, after I wrote my last post, I decided that I would, in fact, offer up a promotion on custom prints for the holidays.  The two most popular sizes, 11" x 14? and 19" x 24", are now $50 off ($250 and $350, respectively).  


Even though it gets busy during the holidays around our house, I do enjoy creating art for people, since I think it is a truly special gift.


Let's hope I spend the month of December on my drawing board! 


And many thanks to Dr Unbearable Lightness for her great support! 

On Holiday Prints & Commissions

Every holiday season for the past couple of years, I have offered a reduction on my commission rates (or, for lack of a better word, a "sale").  That has made Christmas at the Wolff house a little busier than usual, and I have to thank my wife for allowing me the time to complete these sometimes numerous and massive projects.


While I love working for clients, commissions can be a double-edged sword.  Will the client be satisfied with my final work?  Can I make my deadlines?  I always try to keep my clients as happy as I can, but it can take lot of emails, phone conversations to make the best art possible.  There are different challenges that arise with commissions than those associated with my 'fun' work.  

Example of a client commission

So I am struggling with offering a discount this year for the holidays.  I did order prints of 3 of my favorite pieces, which will be inexpensively priced.  But I realize that many people consider an erotic pin-up a wonderful gift to give. 


Your thoughts are appreciated!

On Beautiful Women and Modeling

It's no secret that I love women; as an artist , they are the single most beautiful subject that God created.  I enjoy meeting these lovely ladies, particularly the ones that I have had the pleasure to illustrate.  To most of us , they are just images, but when you finally meet, you realize that they are real people, like you...they just happen to look better than most!


I recently hosted an industry get together, and was very pleased that it was attended by Rachel Jay, Christie Gabriel & Jennifer Bollinger (That is Jennifer seen in the accompanying art), along with entrepreneur Alfred E Shirtman.  It was a truly wonderful evening -- a lot of industry talk, gossip, laughs, and a dissection of scenes from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off").  

The truly cool thing for me is to see these ladies in a relaxed setting, away from cameras, lights, etc, just being themselves.  Often people ask what celebrities are 'really like.' Models and photographers are my celebrities, and I can tell you, they are really like...you and me.  


I can't tell anyone enough how much I enjoy meeting people in our industry, and learning about them, how they approach their jobs.  This even I hosted is a semi-regular event, and I look forward to the next one with great anticipation.