Men and women are human and both can relate to the humanity of being. Though I paint both genders and all ages, it is the male nude that is difficult to get into galleries and be seen, but why? Are breasts more pleasant than penises? I had a painting of a drawing of a nude woman with breasts at the center of the page and it was placed at the entrance of the gallery and in the same show the gallery had placed Catastrophic Awakening in the back corner of the gallery which could easily be missed. When I watched as people looked at the drawing took a quick glance and pointed fingers towards it but people moved on and when at Catastrophic Awakening they lingered and stayed for 5 times as long in front of it. When viewers were confronted or chatting with friends after their initial viewing most started by laughing as if they had just embarrassingly poured their drinks down their shirts. It was unmistakable that the painting Catastrophic awakening spoke to them but the fact that they were staring at a painting of a nude male and making a connection to that painting that is about a pose of distraught realization and emotion was quickly laughed off because of a penis being in the center of the composition. For me my intent was to push the boundaries by sucking viewers in by the dramatic lighting and intensely painted hands to feel the emotions that go beyond words and to relate to the figure on a personal level and realize his vulnerability by his nude body which during emotions like that it matters not what one’s wearing or what sex they are. I feel privileged to be able to paint this painting and sign my name boldly as a woman, as not many women before have been allowed to publicly do, and at the same time I feel sad to be a few of the firsts.
- Subject Matter: Figurative
- Collections: Figurative Paintings, Studio Sale 2023