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.

From Photo to Art--Alicia Burley

One of my all time favorite Playboy style drawings is of Playboy Model Alicia Burley.  Alicia progressed from Cyber Girl of the Week to 2004 Cyber Girl of the Year.  She is a beautiful, curvy woman, who smoldered with such raw sex appeal in each of her photos, without even trying.  This is one of those models that I "had to draw!"

I chose a photo from Alicia's Cyber Girl of the Month photo set, which was an outstanding series of photos.  Alicia has a very curvy, almost voluptuous figure, and and exotic look that I thought would lend well to a portrait.

I chose a 20" x 30" heavy Crescent Illustration board, with a lot of 'tooth' (very grainy).  While this type of board works well on larger pieces, it can be tough to get the exacting detail I strive for in some areas.  On the other hand, it really helps me 'rub' in the shading that I like to do, particularly around a woman's curves.

One challenge was the full front lighting that was used on Alicia---while it was easy to distinguish her body from the background, it really made it difficult to distinguish her hair.  I had to go over the reference pics over and over to make sure I captured it properly, and I'm still not sure if I did.

However, I am very pleased with how her figure came out.  As I said, Alicia smolders with a very erotic pose and gaze, and I wanted that in the drawing.

As for the finished art, my wife liked it so much that she had it matted and framed and it hangs in our rec room.  While I have created other nude  Playboy style drawings, this is the only nude that she has hung.

You can see a larger version of Alicia at my Fine Art America site.  I'd love to hear your comments on this piece.

On Models, TFP's and an Artist's Worth

Usually, when models start out in the industry, they do not charge money.  Rather, they will exchange services with the photographer in an arrangement know as Time For Prints (aka TFP, or Time for CD).   This is a way for them to build up their portfolios, without having to pay the photographer.  Once the model's portfolio is established, she will start charging for her time, and quite often will no longer do TFP, once established as a professional.

I am currently listed on several modeling industry sites, and I occasionally get requests from models to draw them.  Typically, it's something like, oh, I love your work, and I'd love for you to do one of me.  When I ask them if this will be a commission, or what the financial arrangement might be, the reply is very often, oh I just want one, it will look great, etc.   I find it humorous that many models want me to draw a portrait of them for free, when on their modeling site profiles they have this symbol displayed prominently:

Even though I use photos as my reference, it still takes me time, as an artist, to create a piece.   As it takes time for photographers and models to create the fantastic images that they display in their portfolios.  I don't necessarily have an issue with doing TFP artwork, but only under circumstances that I dictate.  Sometimes I want to add a piece to my portfolio, or sometimes I come across a model or image I feel will benefit me.  That's my prerogative, as it is the prerogative of the model to accept or decline TFP.

I have skills, and sometimes I charge for that skill, same as a photographer, or a plumber, or electrician.  What do you think?  I'd love some feedback on this.

On the (Almost) Sudden Loss of .....Me!

"You're having a heart attack, we're calling the cardiac team down now!"

I heard those words two weeks ago today, as I write this blog.  Chilling news--I had gone to the ER that morning, thinking I was suffering from acute asthma or pneumonia.  I felt bad all weekend, and by the time Monday morning came around, I thought that my difficulty breathing was a recurrence of asthma or some lung infection, although I couldn't explain the pain in my right arm.

I had my heart attack while hooked up to the EKG in the ER.  This probably saved my life---my attending internist told me that night I was lucky to be at the hospital, that he's known patients who waited a day or two with my symptoms, and they died.  I had 90% blockage on my heart's lower right quadrant, and 80% on the left side.  I was in the cardio surgery room 10 minutes after my 'event,' where they put in the first stent (the second surgery was performed 2 days later).

I'm now back at work, and feeling VERY lucky to be alive.  What possessed me to go to the emergency room?  I am someone who puts off doctor visits constantly (I postponed 3 check-ups this summer).  I am lucky to be alive, especially considering what happened to my co-worker just a month earlier.

I have some lifestyle changes to make, one is to 'destress' my life.   That means, after a long absence, I need to get back to my drawing board, and just create.  Art can be a great high, and I already have  couple of lovely ladies that I wish to capture.

On the Sudden Death of a Friend

Last week I lost a friend and coworker--Bernie Fansler, the overnight supervisor at the Geneva, Illinois Home Depot store where I work part time, suffered a massive heart attack at home, and finally succumbed last Friday morning.  It's been a very tough time for all of us. Bernie was a true gentleman; he possessed an infectious laugh, was always cheerful, and very accommodating to those of us who worked with him.

Bernie supported his handicapped sister and his seriously ill brother without complaint. Unfortunately, he had no life insurance, leaving the family with no money for a funeral.  Our store is taking up a collection for them, and whatever we raise will be doubly matched by Home Depot's associate charity fund.  I wanted to do something in my position as an artist to help out Bernie's family, so I have  set up a couple of promotions of my artwork.   All the net proceeds of these sales will be donated to our store management for the Fansler family.

One promotion is a special rate on one of my most popular pieces, a drawing of former Playmate Louann Fernald through Fine Art America.  This is an 8" x 10" quality print on stretched canvas, for only $39. My net markup on this is $4, so if you purchase one, you'll be donating four bucks to the Bernie's family.  And if you send it to me, I'll sign the print personally!

I'm also selling some of the prints in my own inventory for Bernie--Carlotta Champagne, Lindsey Vuolo, Farrah Fawcett and others.  Almost all of these are 13" x 19", printed on photo paper, & perfect for framing. They are available on eBay, please see them all.


I realize that things are really tough for people these days, and I understand money is tight.  This is a family that REALLY needs help, and anything that can be contributed by next week will be matched by twice as much.  So besides the personal donation that I am making, I hope that that I can do more for them with my artwork and your kindness. Thank you.

From Photo to Art--Marilyn Monroe

While watching television on Sunday, I noticed that Turner Classic Movies was featuring screen goddess Marilyn Monroe, in some of her best roles, like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," How To Marry a Millionaire," "Bus Stop," and others.

I wrote a blog about her in June,  in recognition of what would have been Marilyn's 85th birthday.  I included images of the two drawings I've done of her.  However, I have never featured her in a "From Photo to Art" entry, and since that blog was posted, I have updated the jpeg of the original drawing.

This artwork is based on a photo taken by photographer Bert Stern in 1962, from a series now known as "The Last Sitting."  Shot 6 weeks before her untimely death, Mr. Stern shot her over 3 days in LA, capturing a flirty, sexy, playful sex goddess (Bert Stern recreated the Last Sitting with actress Lindsey Lohan for New York Magazine a few years ago).  The results

I was greatly inspired by this photograph, as I believe it one of the sexiest, most erotic I've seen of Marilyn.   Who couldn't gaze upon a beautiful screen icon, laying nude on her bed, with just the sheets to partially cover her, and a 'come-hither' look on her face, which is almost post-coital.

Of my two Marilyn Monroe portraits, this was actually the first image chosen, although it was the second one drawn (they were both gifts for family members).  I opted to create this on a buff colored illustration board, instead of my customary white board, and, along with graphite pencil, I also added some colored pencil in a few places to highlight it.

There are some differences between the original reference photo and my art---I added dark tones behind her head because the back light Mr. Stern wonderfully incorporated into the shot, unfortunately took away some of the definition of Marilyn's hair.  I also changed the sheets to make them more rumpled, as if they were "well-used."  I also showed more of the side of her right breast, as a bit of a glamour tease.

I am hoping to create another Marilyn Monroe illustration in the near future. She is the epitome of the Hollywood sex symbol, and her untimely death only made her legend grow.

To see more of my artwork, please visit Fine Art America.

On A Nude Wife Sale....

I decided to run a sale....

or, perhaps the proper term would be a 'promotion.'  It seems that many of the great folks who find this blog have used the search term 'naked wives,' or a variation of those words.  As there is obviously a lot of interest in the subject, and I somewhat specialize in drawing 'naked wives,' I thought that maybe it is the time to promote some special pricing for Naked Wife drawings.

I am offering 10% off the published commission rates for any Naked Wife (or Almost Naked Wife) art commission until July 10, 2011.  This is a great opportunity to immortalize your better half (or ladies, yourself) as the Pinup Goddess that you are.  And 10% off my already reasonable rates can save you up to $65.

I've included examples of Naked Wives in this blog--one commissioned by the husband, the other by the wife herself.  These projects were fun and very rewarding, and I believe the clients were happy with the outcome.

Contact me at vincewolff2004@yahoo.com if you are interested in learning more about this promotion.  I'll send you prices and terms immediately.