On Bears and Packers

The Chicago Bears lose the NFC Championship game to their oldest rivals, the Green Bay Packers, yesterday at Soldier Field.  This football match-up was one of the most anticipated in years.  the Bears & Packers have the longest continuing rivalry in the National Football League, going back to 1921.

The Packers prevailed over the Bears 21-14, and advance to the Super Bowl.  I originally wanted to write about how great it was that these long time rivals got to play each other in the play-offs for only the second time in 90 years, but the big story in Chicago today is the questioning of Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler's 'toughness.'   Cutler was removed from the game early in the second half, after hurting his knee late in the second quarter.  Ultimately, an MRI on Monday revealed a knee strain.  However, because no one was sure which play caused the injury, and the Bears only listed him as questionable (meaning he might return), many thought he gave up on his team in their most important game of the season.  Other NFL players, analysts and fans began to question him in tweets, causing his teammates to rush to his defense.


Cutler is not popular among fans and players; he displays a 'who cares attitude' when dealing with the media.  But in 17 games this season, he has been sacked 57 times, and hit about 130.  He missed one game due to a concussion, and that was because the NFL requires concussed players to pass tests by the medical staff before being cleared.  On Sunday, it was reported by the Chicago newspapers that he lobbied to go back in the game, but was pulled by the Bears medical staff.  Cutler is also a Type 1 diabetic, which means he must take special care of his body to battle his disease.  


To question his toughness is ludicrous--if he were to quit on his team, I believe he would have done so months ago.  I'm sure he was understandably upset that he could not continue, if though he was having a poor game.  But the amount of criticism that Cutler has received- even from players on other teams- is inexcusable.  Football is a violent game, and the types of  injuries players endure are remarkable.  I would think that his brethren would understand that. Apparently, from the comfort of their own homes, they don't.

On Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has always been a favorite holiday of mine.  Even while we are in the midst of winter here in the Chicago area, I always tried to embrace the romance of the day, and do something a bit special for my wife. Believe me, we don't have a lot of money, and I wish I could give her what she deserves.  But sometimes it's just some flowers, or a massage, or little things to help you remember the romance.

Valentine's Day isn't even celebrated in Catholicism anymore as a saint's holiday, and it's romantic heritage seems to have started from Chaucer.  Yet, it is one of the biggest "Hallmark" holidays of the year.  Cards, flowers, candy, dinners, even engagements all are given on Valentine's Day to loved ones.

I have often received commissions for Valentine's Day.  Many husbands like to give their wives custom boudoir or nude artwork of them--we all like to think of our women as glamourous.  And many women commission me to do something like the attached for their men.   It's a great was to feel sexy, and often it doesn't involve nudity.

Currently I am working on such a piece for delivery later in the spring.  And we are talking to a couple of other husbands  regarding commissions of their wives in sexy attire (or no attire) shortly thereafter.

I am running a special for Valentine's Day....8 1/2" x 11" custom black & white drawing for only $125.   It's a nice gift for someone special in your life, and it's a great deal.  But I need to know by Saturday, Jan. 22 to get it to you in time. 

What is the wildest or most memorable photo shoot you've ever had, and what made it so?

What is the wildest or most memorable photo shoot you've ever had, and what made it so?

Answer here

On Chiaroscuro and Nude Art

While looking up art related stuff online yesterday, I came across one of my favorite art terms, something I try to use in my own illustrations.


The word chiaroscuro is defined as the strong contrasts between light and dark.  By exaggerating these contrasts, you can create the illusion of 3 dimensions in a 2 dimensional piece, which makes it more dynamic, and more interesting to the viewer.  


For me, that is often easier said then done.  I struggle sometimes with being too literal in my art, and not taking 'leaps of faith' with the exaggeration of tones in the reference photos.  And, graphite is not always the best medium for getting real black tones; since the darkest you can get in most cases is with the Ebony pencil, and that is still just a dark gray.  


To the left is probably my best example of chiaroscuro--it is an illustration of Playboy's Miss June 1979, Louann Fernald.  Although the reference photo was already a dark black & white, I really had to be conscious of recreating the dark tones, and press down as hard as I could to achieve this final result.  Must have come out okay...Louann bought one last year!


I have new commissions starting this month, and my goal is to really work on these contrasts, and make the ladies 'starring' in them pop!


I'm very interested to learn from other artists how they achieve chiarascuro in their own work.  

From Photo to Art--Farrah Fawcett

One of the most popular non-nude pieces I have ever created is actually one of my oldest---a portrait of Farrah Fawcett.


This artwork was actually created when I was in college.  We were to create a drawing based on a photo of our choosing at the beginning of the quarter, and then reproduce it at the end.  I have no clue what happened to the first one, but I was pleased with the second.  So was my wife---this hangs in our rec room, and we have had several people ask for prints..


The drawing was based on Farrah's iconic Playboy cover from December 1978.  At the time, she was one of the most popular celebrities in the US, but had not yet posed nude (that came in the 1990's, also in Playboy).


I was really attracted to the tease pose used on the cover, and the way she wears the man's shirt very provocatively.  At the time, I was striving more for an artistic recreation of the original image, although later on my wife asked me to change the wine glass to a martini glass with green olive.  


Farrah's hair was all the rage back then, and I really tried to capture that in the artwork.  I also tried to overemphasize the smoothness in her legs, as I thought it looked like she was wearing nylon stockings, which are very sexy.


But, it always comes down to making the drawing look like the subject, especially when it is a celebrity. Everyone knows what the person looks like, and any mistakes or imperfections can ruin the art.  It must be recognizable. Judging by the feedback I've received, I think I achieved that.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a Happy & Prosperous New Year,  and great health for 2011.


I'm personally looking forward to 2011, as 2010 was very 'challenging,' to say the least.  I realize that most New Year's Resolutions are never kept; however, I've established some personal goals and will work hard to keep them.  And a couple of commissions to start off the new year always help out too!


Please be safe in your celebrations this season.  

Marisol, a Christmas commission from 2008

On An Artist's Self Promotion

With the early, growing commercialism of the Christmas season, is it wrong for an artist like me to market his artwork and/or services?  Usually I'm very busy each holiday season with commissions, until this year, probably because of the economy, the limited appeal of my subject matter---who knows?


I recall when I decided to leave the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in late 1981 to attend Northern Illinois University to purse a commercial art degree, several of my friends called me a 'prostitute,' as I my goal was to have a 9-5 job creating art (remember, this is before PC's, Macs and Illustrator).   I only wanted to have a career in art, to somehow create things. I didn't originally intend to even do female nudes!


Now, working a regular job in marketing, learning art programs on the fly, I still get great satisfaction creating images of female nudes----what I consider the most beautiful of God's creations.  And while it's very nice that people have purchased art from me, I still just enjoy  drawing!


Please forgive my shameless self-promotion.  As it is the holiday season,  I do have some art available for gift giving this year.  I have a couple  13" x 19" photo prints available of Lindsey Vuolo & Carlotta Champagne for only $10 (plus $3 shipping).  Limited supplies available. Contact me www.erotic-pinups.com for information.  Happy Holidays, all!