So much talent...

Look what arrived in my mailbox courtesy of the illustration I made for the Rugby Days contest.

Stripped is a great anthology of gay comics, illustrations and paintings. More than 50 talented artists represented across 352 full-color pages.

The Art of Philip Swarbrick

Philip Swarbrick writes...

"I was born in South Africa in 1956. My first interest in painting the male nude was when I saw The Agony and the Ecstacy featuring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo. During my pre-teens I frolicked on Rocket Hut Beach a half mile from where I lived. The beach was inhabited by mainly male sunbathers who sprawled out in the sanctuary of the sand dunes. As I reached my early teens, the male form I admired and featured in my drawings fused with my progressively emerging (and apparent) homosexuality. My drawings disturbed my family and peers so my venture into this sort of art was abruptly curtailed.

As I grew older, my daytime and nocturnal activities on Rocket Hut Beach increased despite draconian laws forbidding homosexual contact. I was conscripted into the South Africa Police and I teamed up with like-minded officers. We regularly raided the numerous cruising areas around Durban, 'apprehending' those 'soliciting with intent'. As I became more politically aware, enforcing apartheid became impossible and I left the country.

During this period I neglected the homosexual content of my work and concentratedon anti-apartheid themes. My first one-man exhibition was entitled Witness to Apartheid and Post Modern Blues. This was held in London at the Balhamgallery in 1987. The exhibition nearly sold out and received favourable comments from The Voice and Time Out. Thereafter I had a painting shortlisted for the BP National Portrait Award.

I went on to work as an illustrator for the AD Comics Group and eventually became an art lecturer and Head of Art History at New College Swindon. My peers in Malmesbury where I had an 18th century cottage criticised me for neglecting my painting talent in favour of education and security (which consumed all my attention and energy). It was after a furious outburst by Peter Harris MBE that I determined to change my ways. Now eighty, he demanded that I 'stop farting about' and concentrate on painting - for better or worse. Somehow many years had passed when I had avoided painting the male nude. Inwardly I was seething with anger that I had been so diverted from my original quest and passion. Through his publisher, I met Michael Leonard. I greatly admired his male art. His positive but realistic encouragement spurred me on. I took voluntary redundancy so that I could concentrate my energies on painting rather than teaching. I swapped my house and lectureship for a bedsit and a street-sweeping job. An important factor is this was a quote from Michael Leonard: 'I would like to be remembered for a few memorable paintings'.

My raison d'etre is now to make up for almost 30 years of neglecting my craft. I am now a student of my own craft. While I was a lecturer in Art History I was a diligent student of the subject, but it was divorced from life. Now life is at the centre of my current study. My intention is to draw eroticism from the experience of the urban environment. The thrust of 20th century art concentrated on the female form. My aim is now to redress the balance. As with the ancient Greeks and Renaissance artists, we should celebrate our masculinity. I want the opportunity to create alluring, challenging and evocative imagery using the male form as a medium of carnal and intellectual expression. In an historical context, I believe the acceptance of homosexuality is a good measure of democratic tolerance over religious and cultural zeal. Rather that hide my flame under a bushell, my intention is to set the whole damn thing ablaze - after all I have waited almost 30 years to do so. This exhibition is not a result of calculated design but I hope a coming together of like minds enhancing our growing community..."

Copy and images used with permission from Adonis Art of London.

Hooray!

Success at last! After nearly a month of not being able to post any new images, I finally cracked and switched to the new Blogger. Seems like it may have solved the all the issues. For a long time I have been hesitant to switch over - heard too many horror stories from fellow Bloggers. Maybe I just resist change... Anyway lets hope there won't be any more problems! So far so good...

At last!

This is my first post for 2007. I have been having some technical issues with the blog - not sure how to resolve it... None of the images are being uploaded, the template can't be modified and the older posts cannot be edited. So lets hope it gets better...

Jockstrapped

This was my entry for the Rugby Days contest. South Africa does not have much of a jockstrap culture, not like America where according to Jockalot - the jockstrap was a rite of passage growing up. Luckily things are changing and jockstraps are slowly becoming available here.

Human Anatomy Lessons

Found a great resource that teaches you how to draw the human figure. The Structure of Man Blog has video lessons on all aspects of human anatomy. All the lessons are also available on DVD. I have only watched a few but it looks pretty good...

Artus Interruptus

One of the projects I was working on before the original file got corrupted. The four images are all that is left and shows how far it progressed. Guess I may get back on the horse and finish it one day but it will mean starting all over again. Damn!

The art of Felix d'Eon

Based in San Francisco, Felix's work is collected the world over, by individuals who marvel at his technical abilities, appreciate his mastery of the male form, enjoy his classical narrative scenarios, and enjoy the pleasures afforded by his beautiful models. Felix d'Eon was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to a Mexican mother and a French father. He attended the Academy of Art University, a school that emphasizes classical technique, and he graduated with honors. He put himself through school and worked for some years afterwards as an artist’s model, but has recently found some measure of success as an artist, and has decided to devote himself full time to his craft. Be sure to visit his website at www.felixdeon.com and support this contemporary master of classical art.

Graphite Pecs

Not completely realistic... some features like the arms, eyes and mouth have been exaggerated to give it a bit more of a cartoon style. Also tried to make the shading a bit more smooth without any definite pencil lines. I enjoy leaving large parts unfinished as it adds a bit of contrast I think. Pencil on A4 paper that has been yellowed in the South African sun. The image above has been desaturated, the original is below (smaller version) but you can't really see the silvery effect of the graphite pencil properly.

Art Prints by David Crumpler

Need new art for your home? These fine-art reproductions of original artwork by David Alan Crumpler are available on eBay at Muscle Art as pre-orders at a low price until November 24th. Each series is limited to a run of 85 - signed and numbered, and is almost identical to the original drawings.


If you can't choose between the sexy underwear model or the oiled, heavyweight bodybuilder - get both and save on shipping costs.

Interview with L.Z. Hewitt

Where are you from originally? China. Where do you get your inspration from? Fashion, History and Mythology. Tell us some more about your work? I like to create my art with soul and warm colors. Which artists have influenced you? Mostly Botticelli and DaVinci - by their fine lines and warm colors. Describe your Process, Tools or Favorite medium? I do some research to be inspired, and mostly use colored pencil on illustration board and Adobe Illustrator. Do you have any formal training as an artist? I am a professional illustrator, University and College Degrees. Also check out the website for other great Male Nude Art by Hewitt.

Talented Boy

Damn! Wish I this started this doodle on a better piece of paper. Tried to redo it, but just can't seem to get the same line quality on normal paper. So here is the original in its unedited naked glory. Also, don't really want to get in the habit of drawing oversized dicks but the inspiration for this pencil sketch was pretty talented. Hmmm, maybe a fig leave would have been in order...

Disaster

Not sure if I can allow myself to swear on my own blog. So I am working on a few different projects at the same time, trying different techniques etc. Then disaster struck - many of my files mysteriously corrupted themselves overnight. With the new tools my projects are getting more ambitious and the files dramatically larger. Will teach me to save multiple copies in the future. Best to get back on the horse and start over again... Sigh!

Portrait

This was a test to see how I could migrate my drawing of the seated guy and give it a more painted look in Photoshop. The background is maybe a bit over the top, but it seem to work.

New Profile Logo

Finally got around to making a logo for the profile image. It is supposed to acknowledge the nice and the naughty sides of my personality. Somewhere between the two there is a sort of balance. Anyway, I have nowhere else to host it so I have posted it here to be able to set it as my profile image.

Personal Collection

Oil painting by local artist Rudolph Vosser. This is the only piece of original male art by another artist in my possession at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to acquire more original art and start a serious erotic art collection one day. Oil on canvas board, 20 x 25cm.

Seated Dude

Unfinished pencil sketch on paper that has been Photoshopped to death by yours truly. Sort of a weird experiment - realistic shading on a cartoon style character. (Click to enlarge)

Poolboy II

Another version of the poolboy. Same tan but a bit more detail on the face and some color on the background elements.

Wishes do come true!

It has arrived! It is a thing of true beauty... My precioussssss! If anybody doubts whether there are people who make wishes come true - here is proof. My eternal thanks to the one who made this possible, I am forever grateful. Thank you so much!

Poolboy

Still needs a bit of work...