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The Resting Conquistador

The Resting Conquistador

My friend JMT* introduced me to Jordon,* and upon entering the studio he immediately responded to my collection of mid 16th Century style armor. One of my favorite paintings in all the world is in the collection of the El Prado in Madrid and it is Diego Velazquez’s Mars. A nude Mars is seen in helmet resting after removing his breast plate, sword and shield. Great art speaks forever and this painting from 1640 has for centuries held the soldier’s admiration and an erotic quality for gay men.  I am sure Velazquez was aroused during the painting of his model, it shows in the charged color and brush work.  Inspired by the Mars painting, and Jordon’s appeal for the armor, I surrounded his resting nude body  with elements of a Spanish knight but painted him in a lying position. A Castilian-Leon banner hangs behind the model for color adding a historical note.

Turquoise Nails

Turquoise Nails

This is one of my first paintings of this very handsome young man. He was raised in an artistic family and is a gifted jeweler who wears his craft with pride. I admire him for his display of his personal sexuality. I wish we could all be so loving and un-afraid.

On this model day, he arrived with turquoise painted finger and toenails. He selected the fabrics; his favorite color was the blue. I was delighted to paint him and am delighted to call him friend.

Proud Heritage

Proud Heritage

I had watched Davin grow up … One day I ran into him and his mother at breakfast. Davin had grown up! He was now into body building and had developed into a strong and beautiful man. I asked his mother if Davin would model nude for me, to my surprise, She said ” I will have him there by noon”. He is very proud of his Lebanese heritage, so I surrounded him with Arabic weavings and color for this painting. Uninhibited and proud of his body, he became one of my favorite models.  One day when his mother came by to pick him up, he pulled out the drawing I just completed of him frontally nude. I told him I did not think Mom would care for the drawing, but proudly he insisted. Yes, I am still friends with Mom.

Marco

Marco

Eduardo met Marco, a music major at Northern Arizona University, at the Irish Pub in Flagstaff, AZ.

Eduardo convinced Marco that he should model for me and we met.  Marco  is an amazing vocalist and sings opera, plays the violin and speaks Italian and German.  He modeled several  times for me before he graduated and moved. I enjoyed my time visiting and painting this beautiful young man.

Art in my Taos Studio

Art in my Taos Studio

I started this painting in 1977 in Taos, NM where i was living at the time. It seems like such a long time ago, but I remember with vivid detail meeting  Art.

I stopped him as he was riding his Harley in the alley behind the gallery where I showed my work. He had no issue with modeling. It was such a common faire thing in the artistic culture of Taos.  Art was a stunning man, Handsome beyond description with a slender and muscular body, his look and dress very influenced by the popular culture of the moment.  I only recently brought this painting out of hiding. I was delighted to visit it again. With a few changes I have reintroduced it to the market. It speaks of a moment in Time, when my generation was in love with life.

The Artist Visits My Studio

The Artist Visits My Studio

David is an artist living in Northern Arizona.

He responded to my model request and wanted to work with me. David had worked in life classes but wanted the experience of modeling himself nude and I was delighted when he acted on his desire. I sketched and photographed him that morning and did this small oil in the afternoon.

Timmy Standing

Timmy Standing

This was my first paining of Timmy. I first saw Timmy at the local grocery store with his beautiful young son. I thought Timmy was one of the most beautiful men I had ever seen. He is a tall and thin with  strong sharp facial features and dread locks to his waste. Later I started to ask around, and my secretary knew him. I had her make the introduction. Timmy, an artist of found objects, came over to model many times

Timmy Resting

Timmy Resting

There are many downsides to  working in a small studio, my biggest complaint is that it confines the posses that I can use for my models.

I am not a fast technician so I always have the models watching the computer or television so they are entertained while  in position. Lying poses simply work the best for larger work. This charcoal was my under drawing turned into a finished drawing. I simply liked the way it progressed.

Timmy

Timmy

I created this drawing of Timmy over several afternoons while he stood on the back patio with his back to the sun.

I felt terrible for the sunburn on his bare back side. This drawing hangs in my studio and I think of him often. In my world of cautious collectors and insecure artist, it is a joy for me  to hang out with models totally comfortable in their own skin.

A New Experience

A New Experience

A few years ago I met Daniel.

Fascinated with the stories of the American west, he found a job in Flagstaff, AZ  and moved from Germany so that he could be close to the Grand Canyon and the West.  When he learned that I enjoyed painting male nudes, he asked to model for me. He wanted the experience of modeling nude and I of course was delighted.  He wanted the prop of the buffalo skull with him in the painting, a moment of the West.

Student in the Books

Student in the Books

This young man was an assistant to Steve, the cabinet maker, working in my kitchen.

It was Steve that suggested that he model for me. I learned that this was a summer job for this shy young man and a way to earn money for school books, soon to be off for his freshman year of college. I was so pleased with the stunning young man that appeared from under the heavy coats and layers of clothing. Naturally, I painted him lying face up and surrounded him with art books.

My Exhibitionist Friend

My Exhibitionist Friend

Daniel was raised in the agricultural business near Chicago. I met  him by chance at a Sedona Film Festival event. He was dressed in character from one of the year’s top films as a shirtless victim of a gun shooting.  He was a very handsome with a toned cute body and I could not resist, I asked  him to model for me. I gave him some references and in a few days he called. After a morning shot of whisky, he was ready for his first nude model session.  I did several sketches  and took hundreds of photos, exploring his likes and dislikes of positions and finding his personality.  He was unafraid of his sexuality, be it all disappointingly strait, possessing a  fearless delight in the visual of his body. Daniel spent many days and hours in my studio and also shared the model stand with his girlfriend.   In this painting “My Exhibitionist  Friend” , Daniel chose this pose, open legged facing me, in a true exhibitionist gesture.

MUSICIAN AT MIDNIGHT

MUSICIAN AT MIDNIGHT

When I first met Eduardo, he had been to massage school and eager to try new experiences. I very much enjoyed our conversations about  bones and anatomy.  Eduardo was very much into his music at that time  and playing guitar with a local band. He would entertain me with his newest tunes and stories of his latest love adventures.


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