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.
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.
