A Hermit Studying & Other Drawings

1. A Hermit Studying                        

2. Butterfly                                               

3. Choke On It                                   

4. Oak In Winter # 2                                      

5. Deep                                             

1. A Hermit Studying, was inspired by my interests in spirituality, during ancient times. I am fascinated with the " wise sage " and cave dwellers seeking enlightenment. One of my sisters, refer to me as a monk sometimes, because of my quiet and solitary nature. I have even considered myself a hermit, because I am an introvert and home body. I discovered the monks of the monastic school of religion were developed out of individual hermits' perspectives on Christianity. This became very influential to my own personal ideas, regarding religion and spirituality. This is another drawing with my mixed colored inks. I included an Afrocentric undertone, to reflect the black monks in the world, particularly those in certain parts of Africa, but also in America.

2. Butterfly, is a powerfully symbolic piece, that represents many things to me. This piece also could have been entitled " Black Butterfly " or " Transition ". He is ready to fly, and embrace who he has developed into. It symbolizes freedom, liberation and spiritual transition. I did an earlier drawing, years before revisiting this idea. Butterflies symbolize transition to me, and whenever one passed me outside, it reminded me of my own spiritual transformation. There is often a struggle to break free from mental, emotional and spiritual bondage. I believe it requires soul searching, self education and patience. This drawing explains one coming out of their own cocoon, and breaking free after being reborn. It also symbolizes liberation as a black person, more specifically one who is also gay such as myself.

3. Choke On It, was inspired by a photo I saw online, of a straight porn star. He stood beside another man, as a woman, kneeling between them, performed oral sex. The porn star's butt was beautiful, big and round, and he was looking very serious and domineering. It was a very attractive figure to sketch, for a later, completed piece. I added my own version, by including a man performing oral sex on him, instead of the woman, and excluded the other male figure. I went through a period of creating this fantasy world, where large trees existed as living interiors for humans. And the inside of large tree trunks, were like the rooms of castles. The space appeared to be cave like, and it fascinated me so much, that I drew several interiors, with the same appearance, for a more interesting wall in the backgrounds, just like the wood paneling in other drawings. I later saw the same photo of the porn star, and the major difference, recognized by my observation, was his butt was smaller than the picture I saw before! It was then, that I realized many pictures can be photoshopped! I was very disappointed. there are such men, with these physical features in everyday life. If there were not, I would translate the types of men, I have seen differently...I think.

4.  As I get older, winter becomes less of being a season, considered to be enjoyable, to me. But the trees look really beautiful, during this time of year, because I can see them without being concealed by their leaves. My commute to and from work is rather long, but the blessing is being able to see really cool trees along the way, that inspire me to create my own. Oak In Winter # 2, is a tree standing, with sleet falling from the sky. I once looked out of my window at home to watch what was considered a " wintry mix " just to get an idea of how sleet can be translated on paper. I realized it was very similar to rain, and can be drawn the same way, as I did before, with rainfall scenes. It is even better capturing such a scene with Micron pens, because of the dark, fine points created by the nibs.

5. Deep, is another piece, created very early, compared to some drawings, that have been posted. I always think of a turkey on a platter, when I see this piece, because of the roundness of the bottom's position. It has a whimsical appeal to it, the way I placed the hands and feet in the composition. The head also creates a more cartoonish appearance, as it regards to the placement of his body. The top is obviously in " beast mode. " This drawing was definitely a rough, doodle piece, that I decided to turn into a final drawing. It has areas that, as a whole, make it a drawing I thought should be posted online. The background brings everything together, with the little space heater and wooden spool, being used as a table, with candles on top.

 

Buddies And Other Drawings

1. Buddies                                        

2. Comic Page Fantasy # 3                

3. Dancer                                           

4. Nude Man Writing In A Journal     

5. While My Lover Sleeps                

1. Buddies, is a piece that speaks for itself. It expresses brotherhood, but with homoerotic undertones. This drawing was another " on a whim " piece, created to take a break from my Lynching Blues series. The excessive smoke was added to fill the empty space. It also expresses the men's love of smoking and getting high together, while bonding. Smoke can fill the room, and cause some to cough uncontrollably, but it does nothing to the actual smokers who embrace it, while hanging out together. The washes are light in this piece, in terms of gradation. I would cover the entire sheet of paper with a light wash, sometimes to produce a tint effect. but it appears that I only used this effect on the two figures, because of the glasses they wear. It has a sketch effect, and would look different if redrawn today.

2. Comic Page Fantasy # 3, is the second piece to these two men, making out in the kitchen. They take it further in this sequential art/drawing. It was effective for the moment, these brush renderings, as mentioned before, regarding the no.1 post. It just was not where my heart was. I missed creating with solid lines, too much to continue. There are several trial and error moments, with my art, during this period. The most important factor from it, is whether I would enjoy a certain direction, using the chosen approach. I do not believe in continuing to create from a place of " duty " only, and not experience any enjoyment or continuous satisfaction, even if it is considered to be visually attractive to others.

3. Dancer, was inspired by another hero of mine, Alvin Ailey. His life and vision is a great story, and it is very empowering, that he was an out and open black man during his time. This was very rare, courageous and brave. The beauty of his dances and choreography, such as Revelations, and routine entitled Hermit Song, that I have framed in photo sequences, really touched me as an artist. This piece is a tribute to black male dancers, continuing the craft, spearheaded by trailblazers, such as Ailey.

4. Nude Man Writing In A Journal, was a combination of brush strokes and pen, to draw the lines. It was done on a scrap piece of mat board, giving it a solid backing. This began with a position of a nude man on a bed, without much thought of what comes next. As I continued to draw, it seemed fitting that he is writing, and enjoying it, considering the feet, raised and crossed at the ankles. I like the hairs placed on his legs. Sometimes I take risks with applying hairs on skin with certain ink applications, allowing the possibility of ruining the area, with lines that do not translate well. This can cause it to look less like hair and more like spots. But these hairs turned out pretty good, and I was satisfied. I don't think about if a writer is left or right handed, until after the drawing has been laid out! Then I think " Oh well, everyone is left handed, except me!

5. While My Lover Sleeps, is about the arousing idea of sex being so good between two men, that it puts one or both to sleep afterwards. It is the routine with these two, as the top appears to be used to it. He uses the time to reflect. The title was inspired by a ballad performed by John Coltrane, who is another hero of mine, and my favorite musician, whose music changed my life. The ballad is entitled " While My Lady Sleeps ".