From Photo to Art--Dana Dicillo

I used to have a membership to the old Playboy Cyber Club, and met many, many models there.  One was a feisty, petite Italian girl named Dana Dicillo, a Special Editions model who had big aspirations to become the shortest Playmate in history.  Dana was direct, to the point, and just very, very cute.

Being the atypical Playboy model, I thought she would make a perfect subject.  I looked through a lot of her pictorials (harder to get online in those days), and finally found this image in the May/June 2004 Special Editions Lingerie issue, shot by Andrew Goldman.

Dana obviously has a wonderful figure; her petite frame and smaller breasts are so different than most Playboy models.  What drew me in was her dark, expressive eyes.  I felt like she was almost looking through me.

I chose a very, very toothy illustration board for this image, and cut in quarters.   I figured that the rougher surface would challenge me to create more shadows and contrasts, since the reference photo had flat lighting.

Since this was a lingerie issue, she, of course, was shown in various stages of undress in her pictorial.  I frankly wasn't interested in the bra hanging below her breasts in the reference photo; I wanted to make this a full frontal nude.  I loved the up do with her hair, and thought about how interesting that could be in the final drawing.

I did get a chance to send it to Dana after I finished, she wrote back, wow, that looks like me!  I took that as a compliment.

You can see a larger version of the art work here.

From Photo to Art--Carlotta Champagne (The Very First One!)

I just recently discovered that, in all the time that I've been doing this series "From Photo to Art," I have never featured one of my favorites---the very first drawing I did of popular Playboy model Carlotta Champagne.  it also represents one of the first drawings where I "removed" the model's clothing.





















I originally met Carlotta online though the modeling site OneModelPlace.com, and we met in person at Glamourcon Chicago 2006.  I remarked how much I liked this photo of her, and asked her permission to use it.  She said she co-owned the copyright with the photographer, Keith Seraphim, but if it was okay with him, she agree.  Keith gave his permission, and I set out to draw.

I absolutely loved Carlotta's hair and expression in this shot; she looked so relaxed and beautiful.  But since she is a nude model, I wanted to try something different, and what would be better than to place her naked in a hot tub?  It wouldn't be all that difficult, since she is wearing a string bikini in the reference photo, I really only had to recreate her breasts without the suit, and I had plenty of photo references for that.  The tricky part of this drawing was drawing the hot tub and the water, I was not familiar with the surfaces, and I had more trouble than I thought.

This art has proven to be one of my post popular pieces, and the original was purchased by a photographer not long after I completed it.  I've used it on my Erotic Pin-up & Illustrations business card, my Glamourcon placard, and frequently as an avatar.  It was also featured in Carrie Leigh's Nude (you can read about it here).   Since the original is now sold, I've often thought about redoing this piece, to correct some things that I believe could be improved.  Any feedback on that?


You can see Vincent Wolff's art on Fine Art America

From Photo to Art--Carlotta Champagne Nude, Part Three

If you regularly follow this blog space, you'll know that I like to write about how I transformed a photo reference into artwork.  This is the third drawing that I created from a photoshoot my friend Rob Domaschuk conducted in my home a few years ago of Playboy model Carlotta Champagne.  I have blogged about previous drawings of Carlotta before, and it's always fun to visit the "before and after" of the art.

As stated in my prior posts, Rob and I booked Carlotta to pose at my house, so I could have some reference shots for future artwork.  Carlotta was a true professional, happily posing nude on my pool table and next to my bar, wearing a tie, a fedora, and nothing else.  We got several great shots, and the first drawing I did was of Carlotta in a power pose next to the bar, removing the tie and giving her a whip for an Indiana Jones style drawing.  I chose a more whimsical photo from this set for the second drawing, which I started at Glamourcon 2007.

The following year, I wanted to do something different, and challenge myself.  I liked the photos with the hat and tie, but I wanted to take one of the images and capture Carlotta's unique beauty, and nothing else.  So I chose a head shot and decided the hat and tie would go.  This proved to be a bit problematic--not only did I have to draw her head with no hat, but also her left breast, which got cropped in the reference photo.   I also couldn't decide on a hairstyle; Carlotta's hair fit nicely with the fedora, but it wasn't to my liking for my drawing.

Truth be told, I have struggled with this drawing for over 3 years (off and on); it was almost abandoned at least 2 times, and as recently as a couple of months ago.  But I got excited about it again,  after finishing a commission, and forced myself to go darker in shaded areas, particularly the hair.  I tend to draw too lightly, and I tried some tricks to go darker, so I'd have more contrasts.  Considering where this drawing was at not too long ago, I'm happy with it.  You can see this and more art at Fine Art America.

WIshing I Had That One Back

Often, when you create art, you look back at a piece and realize that you could have done something a lot different to it to make it better.  Regret is always a part of the game in artwork; you look at a drawing or painting later on, and think, I should have done this.

I first joined Model Mayhem back in 2006, and met some great models immediately  One of them was a curvaceous lady known on MM as Iday.  I was drawn to her portfolio, not only because of her near-nude images and great figure, but her exotic Middle Eastern looks as well.  We messaged back and forth about me using one of her images as a reference, finally deciding on the photo to the right.

My challenge in this drawing was the rope skirt.  I frankly didn't know how I was going to pull it off, so, after thinking it over for a few days, I decided that I was going to ditch it and draw her wearing something sexy (she didn't want to be depicted nude at all).  I decided to leave it until after I completed most of the top portion.

I printed up my reference and got to work, and have to say, I was really happy with the direction that this drawing was taking.  When you are a pinup artist, you don't want to screw up something that God created so beautifully, and Iday's gorgeous form was emerging from the background nicely (see WIP below).

As I got to her hips and legs, I discovered that my original plan just wasn't going to be as simple as I thought.  I had enough of a sense of Iday's hips and legs through the macrame skirt to draw them, but I just wasn't happy with something about it.   I wound up putting a little thong thing on her, but I was disappointed in myself.  I had the drawing professionally shot when I finished, and sent Iday a print as a thank you.


I've had several years to review what I did on this drawing, and I concluded that I should have left the rope skirt on Iday, as they accentuated her hips quite nicely.  I realize now they would not have proved to be as troublesome as I originally thought, and I could have used a design element to make them look kind of cool.  As I said, Iday has a gorgeous, curvy figure, and great camera presence.  I know I could do this over, and perhaps one day I will.  See the full size version at me Fine Art America website.

Work In Progress--Carlotta Champagne

While figure artists usually like to paint and draw many different models, they often find a particular one who inspires them to create, i.e.,  their 'muse.'  According to Wikipedia, the word 'muse' comes from  "the......nine goddesses in Greek mythology who control and symbolize nine types of art known to Ancient Greece, and are associated with artistic inspiration."  

Anyone familiar with my artwork will note that Playboy model Carlotta Champagne could qualify as my muse.  I first discovered her  on the industry site, OneModelPlace.com, in December 2005, and immediately noticed a classical grace and beauty in her not shared by many models.  She has an hourglass figure, a throwback to the Playmates of the 1950's and 60's, and a face that would inspire Renaissance artists.


Carlotta was very kind to allow me to use one of her images for my first drawing drawing of her, and she eventually agreed to a photo shoot in my rec room, photographed by my friend Rob Domaschuk.  The photo shoot has resulted in 2 completed drawings, plus the nearly finished one to the left.


I actually started this drawing at Glamourcon 2008.  While I am using the original photo as basic reference, I am taking some liberties with it to focus on Carlotta's face and breasts.  I am trying to create more contrast in this piece than I have done lately, and also attempting to stylize Carlotta's hair than normal.  What do you think?   Please drop a comment here or on my Facebook fan page

Latest Commissions

I recently completed two commissions for clients, my first in a while.  As much as I like to draw or paint professional models and celebrities,  I really enjoy doing this type of work for everyday folks.  It always seems to come from the heart when people entrust me to create art, especially risque in nature.

This drawing was actually a referral.  The lady who contacted me is friends with former clients of mine, who apparently spoke highly of my artwork of the wife.  She commissioned me to draw her husband's favorite photo from a boudoir shoot she had done for him.  Since it was a large size, I was able to add some detail in the shading, the hair.  I hadn't done this size for someone since last year, and I tend to work in more detail and shading on bigger drawings.







The other commission was a Valentine's Day gift from the client to his lady friend.  Simple pinup job, smaller size....he wanted something to frame and give her for Valentine's Day.  He said they both love it.

I have uploaded both of these pieces on my website, please feel free to take a look, and offer comments.  Thanks.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sabrina B. 

According to Wikipedia, Valentine's Day has been celebrated since 496 BC, but has been associated with love and romance since the High Middle Ages.   Nowadays, we shower our loved ones with flowers, candy, jewelry, cards and more....a "Hallmark Holiday" to be sure.

I just completed a commission for a client, as a Valentine's Day gift for his loved one.  I do like creating that type of art, as I get a lot of enjoyment from people giving my art as gifts.  It means a lot to most artists, if not all, that their work is enjoyed, no matter the subject matter.  Just because I specialize in 'naked wives' doesn't mean that it can't be appreciated as a Valentine's Day present--it just may not be appropriate for all viewers.  Not all of my Nude Wives were commissioned for this holiday, but the thought was always there.

I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Valentine's Day.....treat your loved one(s) well today.