Quick, close your virgin eyes!

Alright, I know some of my family reads this blog, so I'm asking that you pretend you didn't see this post...okay? Just erase it from your memory-banks right now. It's all much more innocent than it looks, I promise! I wasn't going to post this, but then I thought, "hey, I gotta' express myself, AND the many different facets of my personality!" So here we go...

This past weekend I went to the New York Erotic Art Fair. It was quite an interesting event. It was sponsored by the Tom of Finland Foundation, and held at the NY LGBT Community Center in the West Village. I was expecting to see lots of low, looooow brow art, and possibly some amusing "nephew-art" as well, but all in all, I was impressed by the overall quality of the work on display.

Mind you, it wasn't the Met, but like I said, I was pleasantly surprised by the craftmanship within many of the images on display. Of course, they were all relegated to the theme of erotic art, but it was amazing to see all the diversity within that parameter. I thought several of the artist's were amazing, and it was a fun change from the stuffy, classical antiquity you see in regular museums.

Not only did they have lots of art, but they also had continuous life drawing sessions running all day, free and open to anyone! It was fun. I used to attend (and run) a weekly life drawing session in Atlanta, but I have yet to join a drawing group here in NY, so I took advantage of the free opportunity to sketch some models.

And of course, since it was an erotic art fair, the models were encouraged to pose nude in more...ahem...suggestive poses! Some of them went way beyond the rules enforced in your everday life drawing session, which was fascinating to see, just for the spectacle of it all! I included one of my sketches above. It's from a pose of two burly fellows who, over the course of the ten minutes they were on display, got friskier and friskier with each other. From a technical point of view, it was really challenging to draw figures interacting with one another, especially in such a dramatic way. From a perv point of view, it was JUST FUN!

I plan to go back whenever they offer more figure drawing of this nature again. Heh heh...

I feel like a little girl!

Hey Mom, it's the room I always wanted! Haha!
(just kidding...well, sort of)

Actually, this is another room in the "playhouse" I've been designing for the kids' show. The character who inhabits this room on the show is a little puppy, and she's a cheerleader! That explains one of the details in the background...can you find it? (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Mom

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. You are wonderful. I want to devote a post all to you for your special day, because as far as mothers go, you're the best.

Loving. Nuturing. Beautiful. Understanding. Caring. Generous. Giving. Sweet. Creative. Smart. Wise. Kind. Strong.


All these words describe you. You are an inspiration to me. You have given so much, not expecting anything in return. I only hope you can sit back on this day, and smile with pride at how Patrick, Philip, and I have turned out. We want to make you proud. You've sacrificed so much for us, and provided everything we've needed on our paths through life. We'll never forget that.


This is such a neat photo. I paused before posting this one, because it's from your wedding anouncement clipping, but I think it encapsulates your personality.

I, personally, have always been awed by your wisdom and patience while bringing us up. Thank you so much for everything you've done and everything you continue to do. Thank you for the gift of my values, my personality, my artistic talent, and eternal optimisim. Thank you for always being there for me, and accepting me, no matter what.

I came out to you at sixteen, and you gave me the gift of continual, unconditional acceptance. That alone is an amazing example of your kindness and understanding, and I will always treasure that.

You're the coolest. I love you.

Why can't we all just get along?

Yes, I am a designer at heart, underneath all the life drawing, rough sketching, and messy paint. I love making a drawing crisp, clean, and as close to graphic perfection as possible. Although...perfection always eludes me. But I suppose that's how it is with perfection - It doesn't exist. (Yet, I chase it anyway.)

This is an illustration I did for an article about domestic fighting...in gay relationships.

Luckily, none of my relationships have ended this way! I can't imagine being in an argument like this...but, perhaps after being with someone for twenty years, this is where you arrive! Ha ha

Sex, Cartoony Lines, and Videotape

Hee hee hee...

I just did another illo for the weekly column. The piece was about objectification and pornography. Here's how it turned out. Initially, I drew the guy more seriously (see sketch below), trying to make him alluring and sexy, but it looked forced and stiff (NO pun intended).

So, I did this version above, off the cuff, without much of an under-drawing...and I like it WAY more than the first one. I think it has a fun energy to it. It's funny - sometimes you just have to go with the flow - go with the natural flow of the ink lines, so to speak. I'm learning to trust my instincts more. Instincts are such an important part of drawing. I like how he looks so silly, and so grotesquely bloated, and like he's trying to be "pretty". I like how this kinds of pokes fun at the whole idea of objectifying someone. Aren't we all beautiful in our own little ways? Aren't we all ugly, too?

I realize, of course, that the viewfinder isn't large enough to cover much. Although, it doesn't look as if there's all that much to cover.

In Search of a Perfect Stranger

Hello all. I've let a few days slip by without posting, because I've been looking for a new roommate. This past weekend, my current roommate proposed that we sublet his room starting June first. It turns out he was awarded an opportunity to study abroad this Summer. Since breaking the news, we've been going about finding a new roommate for me, so it's been a little crazy.

I don't mind that he wants to break the lease, really. The tricky thing is I only have a MONTH to find a worthy roommate replacement, which is no easy task. I'm mostly concerned because I've experienced nightmare roommates before, and I know how hard it is to find a roomie who's responsible, clean, considerate, and who gels with my interests. I don't want to end up with some freak, who stresses me out for the rest of the year, you know what I mean?

So if you know someone cool, who's looking for a convenient spot on the Upper West Side, let me know. My roommate placed an ad on Craigslist, and we've already gotten a flurry of responses, so things are looking good. Hopefully, this won't be that difficult, after all...but you never know.