June 11th, 2009 talkingfox
I’ve started work on a new series as I’ve not done any illustrative work in awhile.
I lovelovelove retro- styled pinups, but I noticed that the body types were all exactly the same, with the exception of Coops work. Also the trend seems to be to an overly slick stylistic approach.
I decided that a different body types needed to be looked at as subject matter and that a return to the more painterly pinup needed to happen, at least in my studio. Thus came the “Cheesecake makes you Phat ” series. I think that a direct challenge to the narrow societal parameters of what is beautiful (and imposed on us!) is in order.
Larger women tend to be very body shy and I was worried that I’d have an issue with finding people willing to share reference shots, but the support for the series has been overwhelming! I’ve got models ranging from a size 12 to a size 30 and all of them are fabulous!
I’ve already had interest from spaces willing to show the series and it’s still on the drawing boards! Awesomeness!
The trick is going to be finding the balance of titillating rather than tawdry and provocative rather than pornographic. I’m also throwing in modern twists such as piercings, dreadlocks and tattoos.
There was something rather innocent about the classic cheesecake pose, at least by current standards. I’m hoping to retain some of that charm.
You’ll have to wait to see them when the series is finished and I’ve got prints available.
Just remember that patience is a virtue, but in general I’ve found being virtuous is mostly overrated
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January 19th, 2009 talkingfox
I’ve gotten into manual tinting of photographs lately. Why Is this listed as “hand” tinting? Because I’m using the computer rather than an analog approach.
There is a big difference as to how I’m approaching this however, in contrast to the tutorials I’ve seen on the subject. I do NOT use bucket fills. I’m using Corel Painter in watercolor mode, thin ‘wash’ over thin ‘wash’, just as I would in analog. As a result the , well, results are looser and more complex in color.
Time consumptive but great fun none the less.
Recycling Rhapsody
Flotsom and Jetsam 5
Omega
As always I welcome your input and prints are available at my
Imagekind site.
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October 6th, 2008 talkingfox
I got a new camera for my birthday! It’s a Canon 40D and I seriously love it. It has a whole lot of features but not so many that it overwhelms me.
While I’m adjusting to the new lenses and stuff I’ve been digging through the piles of raw shots that I had stockpiled and cropping and whatnot as needed. I’ve even managed to find a few keepers in the bunch!
I started 2 series in Alaska, which are very much about life in the North. The first I call “Hidden Support” and looks to the nature of animals in support of people in Alaska, notably the paleolithic. Without fauna, mega and modern, people would never have been able to survive in the Far North. In addition, the modern Northern societies are still supported by animals that lived eons ago in the form of Oil. Agriculture in Alaska is still pretty minimal. So past present and future , Alaska is supported by the bones of animals.
Here’s a few examples from the series:
Ghost Bear 2008
Fossil Spine 2008
Sea Lion Skull 2008
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In addition to the ‘Hidden Support” series I’ve been editing another series all wound around light refracting within and shining through Ice. I think it plays off the bone pieces well not only visually but conceptually as well. The Ice represents the pressures of the environment in living in the Far North. Everything one does is wound around a seasonal deadline that will not be pushed to suit a person. So what we end up with with the 2 series together is Hidden Support and Obvious Pressure.
Ice 3 2008
Ice 4 2008
Even though I’m still getting used to the new camera, sometimes I can still get a good one….this was taken in my best friend’s house. The eyes were not manipulated. All I did was to desaturate the other colors. In addition, the wonderfully creepy dolls eyes in this terracotta sculpture were set looking forward. They do tend to follow one about the room…which I think came through.
Watcher by the Door 2008
As always prints are available on My Imagekind Gallery
And as always I welcome your opinions, comments and critiques!
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