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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.

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.

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.

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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