Funny thing. I was working on a totally different post, when it was brought to my attention…I paint many female images, I purchase mostly, if not all, female images. I even sell many many female images…But, where are all the boys??? Who knows, I am just more attracted to female beings when it comes to art. I mean, just look at the wall, which I am so proud of, in my Loftish Space bedroom…It is like a Black Apple tribute (smiling big). Check out " The Last Twenty Seconds of Claire de Lune" original, it is unbelievable in person. The varnish tone, and the brushstrokes!!! And, again, my previously unnoticed purchase preference, all girl art.
There is a point here, but I am straying for a sec…The mirror in between the Black Applets is a Luon St. Pierre piece. At home live 2 other Luon mirrors, "The adventures of Lulu & Dick" bench (the more red one with the blue suited Dick Tracy type guy) and "Woman in Drawers" cupboard!! Isn't that exciting! I am so glad that I splurged on them when I did. I just love them. My mom is so bad, she eggs me on to make these ludicrous purchases. She does not say "save your money dear," that is my dad. Mom says, "Oh darling love, you just must own that piece, you deserve it, buy it, no question, oh, it is a love, just a love." And then I am hypnotized and convinced. The item then gets strapped into my car, and off we go!!! Psychosis, I know. I tweaked "Woman in her Drawers' " appearance a little. You know, over the topness galore…It has been gradual. Things just get put on her after I use them.
So, Back to the burning question of "Where are the boys??" Frankly, the question does not plague me on a regular basis. I just stick to buying and painting that which moves me. However, I have been commissioned to paint a male figure. I asked for details, but I simply got the scary answer, " I trust your judgement." Which makes me slightly panic – then I remind myself, "create what you create," not what you "think they will want." If I am true to myself then customers are happy…But, if I stray from myself, and start looking at magazines trying to get inspired..I might pick up too much of someone else's style…And, those are the creations that people tend to not be too excited about…I have a couple guys for my looming Etsy shop…But they are very in tune with their feminine side, which is the kind of man I gravitate to…
Hmmm, an Idea…I love frogs. And a special frog might be a prince, which is a boy…Can you imagine if I showed up with a big frog painting.. Ha…Talk about Trusting my judgement. LOL. I have a perrrrfect model…Warty McAlfred here…Oh the temptation…And, yes that is a gi-normous mushroom sculpture he lives on, it has a lower level of mushroom too! I should have taken a full shot…
Anyhow, as if the boy art topic was not already looming…My Mom, Mommbee, calls and says, "You know, I was sitting here pondering things, and realized, I really need to hang some art with male figures, there are so many girls in here, don't you think?" I thought??? Is this a sign. Time to paint boys??? Hmm, I like painting boyish munchkins of sorts. "Cirque du Soleil" type boys also flow from my brush. But, there is no way on earth I am going to paint a big muscular hairy Roman type man. No way. No how. What to do???????? The only male type getting a spot in my Loftish Space so far is an old Soutine (Chaim Soutine) print of a 1918 self-portrait I have been hording for years.
Maybe I am dwelling too much. It is in fact a strange sensitive day…The type only other female characters could understand…A kleenex box has been my morning companion, ever since I had a 20 minute conversation with a stranger who had the wrong number. Her mother had passed away and she wanted to tell the woman who used to have this number. Then she told me a beautiful story about the last days of her mother's life and how they went to the beach, because the ocean meant so much to her mother throughout her mother's life…It was so unusual. Have you ever connected with someone who calls the wrong number? Well, I told Mr. Lovee the story and tears welled up in his eyes. Then, I got all sentimental on the phone with my dad, and was balling. Sheesh. I better go paint a man because, I am channeling like 467 women right now. My friends will be shocked, I am so not a weepy chick flick kinda girl. However, there is always a first time, so, the kleenex box and I are off for now…







i thought this post was going to be about where are all the crafty blogging boys. but maybe the two questions are somehow related? regarding the phone call, i used to work on a helpline and i also worked in customer service for a credit card company so i’ve had many conversations of all types with people i don’t know over the phone. that said, it’s never been someone who called me accidentally…but there must have been something that brought the two of you together…she needed you at that moment. that’s a beautiful idea. and just to make this comment totally random, i should add that i am bummed because i don’t get home until 4 tomorrow but was hoping to nag some new black apple stuff. maybe i’ll try to get out a little early?
Your photos and creative style just make me oh and ah, Thank you for sharing your world!!
Wow, that’s quite a phone call to get, doesn’t seem accidental when I think about it, though- she needed someone to talk with, and there you were, kleenex at the ready. How lovely!
I have never had an experience like that on the phone! What a great connection!
I love that Soutine self portrait.
Good luck painting men, Vanessa!
Oh my, what an interesting phone call…I mostly get calls from people trying to sell me something with thick accents. I’ve been crying on and off all day…maybe it’s just one of those days, Pass the Kleenex and the Paint brush…
such a beautiful post, and I know just what you mean about the “where are the boys” thing…
one of my favorite painters, Seonna Hong (who I blogged yesterday) said something simple that I liked in an interview a few years ago: “I paint girls because dresses are fun to paint”, which has given me consolation about my own work 😉
all of the black apple things look wonderful together!
xoxo
Mombee also likes to say, “Buy it now, you may nver find it.”
I think Im more attracted to drawing girls too – love all the pretty details like styled hair and lovely dresses but I dont like drawing faces too much….weird!
Wow how amazing that you chatted with a stranger for 20mins…guess she just wanted to share her mother’s memory…
Cant wait to see your Etsy shop!!
I think women in general are more interesting and beautiful to look at and draw (Hhmm..am I sounding like I am being gravitated the other way)? I love the pictures on your wall, Black Apple pieces are super adorable and the little sihouettes are beautiful. That set of drawers is just amazing and the frog, I can go on forever…I am sure many people already told you that you have the best living space ever! Okay, back to the boy thing, I also like guys with a sensitive feminine side-who needs the muscular men, it’s so passé 🙂 Your telephone call reminds me of ‘The truth about Cats and Dogs’ to make that connection with a stranger is wonderful.
I often wondered the same thing. I see feminine images and automatically think of all kinds of things, but then look at a man and there’s nothing. But the rare times I meet or see a man I find really extraordinary in some way, it makes a much stronger impression. btw, I love your Luon pieces!
I’m working on my Black Apple shrine too. 🙂 Yours looks great!
As far as boy art goes, maybe it’s easier to experiment with feminine images as far as colors and expressions go? I too also feel like I’m drawn more to girl-art and I have my eye on quite a few pieces on Etsy.
So in love with your frog prince on the huge mushroom! 🙂 I think your girly paintings are lovely….not that boys can’t be lovely too, but….all the warts and disheveled messiness and bad manners…LOL!!!!
(Speaking as the mother of two boys, i am an expert on nasty little man-larvae! hahaha!) I know, tho’, that any and all boys you ever paint will be just as wonderful as your girlies.
And did i mention how i COVET your black apple treasures??? Your space is so is gorgeous and inspiring, i never get enough of looking.
Vanessa- I have misse dyou blog, I have been without the net for days…first, I totally understand the female obsession as my artwork is mainly women….though I did do a collage of men recently and funnily enough….it was inspired by Cirque as well….
maybe we are long lost twins.
Also be careful with the commission project with a “I trust Your judgment” tag on it, usually people do trust it, but once I was told to trust myself….and the person didn’t like it…it’s always best to ask some leading questions….lol
Also, I love the Black Apple “last Seconds of the Claire…” piece, it makes my mind wander.
Sweet sensitive one,
I bet that lady was so glad to have gotten the wrong number. Ofcourse we all are a big girlie artifiyin’ our walls bunch!Whats better than lovely female art inspired works? I’ll be reddoing both of my girls rooms when my show closes in March,and I’m thinkin’ my oldest baby needs some Black Appple goodies,hmm…
Hope you feel better! I love all your lady lovelies and am also a huge fan of the black apple…I always say just go with your intuition in art…you’ll never go wrong there!
I am exactly the same way! My place is loaded with paintings and drawings for women and girls. What can I say? Just more beautiful?