I'm Published (Again)!

Rocket Science Productions, the publisher of Flip Magazine, (a title that has published my art in the past) has just released a new book called For the Boys: Pin-ups for the Troops, a collection of photos inspired by the pin-up art of Gil Elvgren. Elvgren is a personal hero of mine, as I loved his flirty and exaggerated, yet realistic depiction of beautiful women.

According to the company website, "...this is the 2nd Edition of full color book of Gil Elvgren re-creations from photographers and models across the nation...specifically created to entertain our troops overseas and those wounded in VA Hospitals all over the world!"

The nice thing about this is that. for every book that is sold, Rocket Science Productions will send one to the troops!  An outstanding deal, and an outstanding cause.

The art that is published is to the left, a commission piece I did for a client several years ago, titled  An Ode to

Elvgren.

I'm excited to be included in this book, and this great cause.  Please purchase a copy if you can.  Thanks.

Ride 'Em Cowgirl!

Several years ago, I was commissioned to do some preliminary artwork for the owners of the license of the World Famous Mustang Ranch in Sparks, NV.  Having just purchased the license, the client wanted me to create some art for various pieces of merchandise to be sold under the Mustang Ranch name.  The art was to be sexy, with a cowgirl theme. 

I first had to create a preliminary sample sketch, something sexy and provocative, to see if I had the skills for the project.  (Drawing on left)

 
The art was based on  a beautiful Playmate, Jennifer Allen, who portrayed a Western theme in her pictorial.  I liked how she held the gun, her pose, and her expression.  This is a flipped version of one of her photos. (Photo to left)

After the initial sketch above was approved, the client asked for a full color version, but in a more 1950's style stylized garb and feel (think Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future III.  This was the art that was to be used for the merchandise.

Like with many projects, I don't know what happened to the art.  It was fun to work on, and I think I got a couple of good pieces out of it (a copy of the top sketch hangs in our bar).  Comments are always welcome, please email me.

The Naked Wives

Over the past few years, it seems that I have received more and more commissions for "The Naked Wives;" i.e, women who very happily want nude or semi-nude art of themselves for their spouses, or husbands looking to give their wives the same. 

I recall how I got started drawing nude wives.  The first commission was a depiction of a husband's wife for tattoo art; she didn't pose nude, we took a number of reference photos and 'pieced' them together to create the artwork.  Since then I have received numerous requests to create this type of nude art.

Personally, I love working with women over the age of say 30 or 35.  I find that it takes a lot of confidence for them to pose or be depicted in the nude, and they are always so pleasant to work with.  Some of my most challenging, yet rewarding, artwork has come from these commissions.  I hope you enjoy them

Why Draw Nudes?

I recently had someone come up to me and ask me, why do you only draw nude women?  The tone of the question threw me off quite a bit, as if I was being judged because of my choice of art.

I have been a figure artist since I was a youngster, drawing my own versions of Spider-Man, The Hulk, and other Marvel heroes.  When I got to college, I naturally gravitated to figure art. I excelled at life drawing class, and found that drawing female curves and muscle tone was challenging, yet rewarding. 

I cannot tell people enough how much I love my choice of subject matter.  I consider the female form God's most beautiful creation, and I am not alone.  Artists throughout history have constantly depicted the female nude in many different media and forms.

I especially love creating art of nude women, especially commissions of wives for their husbands.  I've had the pleasure to work with so many couples, and I realize what a special gift a nude portrait is for a loved one. 

So, to answer the original question, I draw nude portraits because I like it, I'm good at it, and it gives enjoyment to people.  It celebrates one of nature's most beautiful forms.  I hope you enjoy it too.

Updated Nude Art

I always like to post new artwork here, and in this case I get to post 3 that, to me, are like new.

I was very happy that my good friend, Master Photographer Thom Rouse, agreed to shoot some of my artwork once again, including reshooting some of my older work of Playboy Cyber Girl Carlotta Champagne and Playmate Lindsey Vuolo, as well as the final, professional quality shot of the most recent art of my friend Misty Dawn.  

In order to show my art as close as it really looks, and to sell prints on my Fine Art America site, I have to get them shot by a professional like Thom--a small digital camera just won't work.  And, in the case of the art of Carlotta, I made significant changes to it after I had it shot in 2007, for showing at Glamourcon.  For 7 years the images I posted just never looked as it does hanging in our house, and it bothered me.  So I'm happy to present it as it really looks here.

As for the art of the voluptuous Lindsey Vuolo, I always thought the original was a bit fuzzy, and not very sharp.  Now, I used a lot of tissue to create a very soft shading technique that I used when I redrew it (see how it first looked here).  But I told Thom that something seemed off, and needed it redone.

Of course, the primary reason for Thom's shoot was for the drawing of Misty Dawn, the project that took me nearly 10 years to complete.  At the time I started, it was the largest drawing I ever attempted. I really tried to use a lot of shading on this piece of art, as it creates more interest, and more eroticism.

I hope you enjoy these updated images.  Please, please, please, leave any comments you wish.

After 10 Long Years, Brand New Nude Art!

Finally, after nearly 10 years, I can officially unveil this portrait of Playboy Cybergirl Misty Dawn, based mostly on photos taken by photographer Sam T'ang.

I met Misty online at the old  Playboy Cyber Club when she was first published as Cyber Girl of the Week in August 2004.  She impressed me with her down to earth honesty, her sarcastic and self deprecating sense of humor, and of course, her beauty.  I decided create a large portrait of Misty, and took several of Sam's photos as reference that September.  Then life got in the way.

Besides going through some life-changing events over that time, I was getting a lot of nice paying commissions, and this piece was just put  aside time and again, sometimes for a few years.  I did refocus on this piece recently, however, and in between some other work, I was able to complete it this month.

The above photo of the art will be re shot and uploaded here in a couple of weeks, and then prints and the original will be available for sale.  Please write me to comment on the art, good or bad.  Thanks!

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I can't believe that is has been almost 2 months since I last wrote an email to you!  Between my day job, my night job, family commitments and the weather, this has been one of the craziest Holiday Seasons I have ever had.

I am excited to say that I am about to start a major commission very shortly, and will finish a drawing that has taken nearly 10 years (off and on) to complete. Since I kind of bogged down after we finished the big Marilyn Monroe gift for our son last year, I'm excited to get working again, as there are some 'special' projects that I want to do this year of Playmates and Internet models to enhance the portfolio.  Stay tuned, as I will send updates as I can.

In the meantime, please enjoy this art from 7 years ago of one of the best fine art nude models I've seen, Ann Mitch.  Her supple body could be twisted into so many great poses, she is a truly spectacular lady.