Art-inspired short stories contributors for this collection include: L. John Williams, Todd Schoonover, Veronica, Aleksandr Voinov & Marquesate, Linda Schnelle, John Stewart, George Seaton, Gabriel Morgan, Alan Bennett Ilagan, Todd Peissig, Harold Dixon, Justin Shephred, Clare London, and artist Michael Breyette. A thousand words, a single picture... Since artists are often called upon to turn prose into a visual for such things as book covers, I wondered, would writers be able to pick up the creative torch and run in the opposite direction? I had little doubts they could and it got me excited wondering what they would come up with for my own pastel paintings. So with that it mind I though it would be fun to launch a contest and invite friends, fans of my art, amateur scribes, professionals writers, really anyone who wanted, to pick a painting from my body of work and build a short story around it. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. I wanted to find out if that was true.
The method of my work may be rather controlled and meticulous in it's execution but the expressive outlet my pastel paintings provides me is a bit less restrained. Growing up gay in a rather repressive atmosphere I learned to be guarded, never really expressing my deepest passions. To this day, most peoples first impression of me tends to be that I'm reserved and shy. My art is my release valve where I express my adoration of the masculine form, my thoughts about being gay, my dreams, my emotions and my comments on life. Indeed, my pastel paintings are me screaming to the world "I think the male body is beautiful" and "when you're gay you love, lust, laugh and cry just like everybody else!"
I can safely say those two notions are the force behind what I do and where my artwork leads me.
When I approach a new work it is like I am embarking on a journey. It begins with my mood determining the kind of trip that I'd like to take, be it romantic, adventurous, wild etc. I then create an itinerary, where I want to go; what I want to see by choosing the scene and the action. Then I'm ready to set out with my chalks and expectations. And like all good trips the doing goes beyond the imagining as my senses immerse me completely. Each painting is a new experience and even the figures in my artwork are like new acquaintances I meet along the way. I return from the journey changed and filled with fond memories.
As I am working I tap into my empathy to put myself in the painting. I want to convey not only the emotions but also the physical surroundings. With each stroke of pastel and blend of a finger I am striving to create a moment and bring it to life, not merely visually but to also be able make you the viewer feel the caress of a lover, hear the rain hit the ground, smell the ocean breeze, sense the passion, and do my best to transport you to that moment.
