Aussielicious

Every now and then we come across a statement online that makes you realise just how differently we all think and react to different situations. I’m not talking about Michelle Bachman kind of delusion that we all know exists, but other unexpected things.

On Modelmayhem, a site I use to network and find models, there is a profile of a model who I believe is in Sydney. His profile says “don’t even think about asking me to do nudes. It is disrespectful to me and to my family.” Um… what? I understand that each person is raised with a set of values instilled by their parents or guardians but to enquire about a different set of values is disrespecting his family? Not in the slightest. You can just say no buddy!

I’m struggling to see how an innocent question to an individual could possibly be taken as a slur on one’s family but I guess the guy has his reasons. My guess is that he has had a very conservative upbringing and thinks the word boobs is swearing. Even the most conservative people I know, if asked to pose for drawings like those above, or artistic nude photos, wouldn’t be offended. They’d politely decline but would possibly even be flattered.

Every now and then someone emails me with samples of their art or photography. Some I like, some I don’t. Guy James Whitworth falls into the category that I really do. Guy is about to have his first solo exhibition since moving to Australia from London 15 years ago. He’s had solo exhibitions back in the UK and group shows in both the UK and here.

With this series Guy is trying to show more than just an accurate representation of someone on paper, the bold neon colours that he’s using represent the dreams, ambitions and passions of the subject. Guy has also said that he’s not just interested in drawing and painting those with the body beautiful but tries to capture the beauty in everyone, young and old, fit and not so fit alike.

“Like Neon Within” is exhibiting at the Pine Street Gallery, 64 Pine St Chippendale, Sydney and runs from 2nd November to the 12th November.

This morning I came across this video. It’s a beautiful simple animation of Swan Lake. Not Swan Lake as we know it but the story told as if the leads were Sumo Wrestlers. So simple and so elegant but absurd and funny at the same time.

Ross Watson has just released his new book “Untitled#” featuring work from the last 15 years of his career and an interview from former Australian High Court Judge Michael Kirby.

I discovered Ross’ work about the time I was starting to acknowledge my sexuality. His paintings are full of beautiful men and saturated in delicious colours and like a singer, an attachment was made that has continued. Now that I’ve met Ross and his partner a few times, it’s nice to find out that the man behind the artwork is a fantastic guy too.

There are a limited number of hand signed first-edition copies of “Untitled” to be bought, which you can do through Ross’ website.

Morgan is a young man with a dream. That dream is to get naked all over the world and jump up and down. He says his aim is to blur the lines between exhibitionism and art and eventually have an exhibition of his adventures. Morgan looks like a laugh to hang out with that’s for sure. Check out Morgan’s fundraising site here.

Morgan Tepsic’s Naked Stop-Motion Extravaganza! from Morgan Tepsic on Vimeo.

Ross Watson unveiled two new paintings of Matthew Mitcham our gold medal winning diver who recently continued his form scoring TWO perfect tens at a recent competition. In one of the new works, Matt has even ditched the speedos! It seems that this collaboration is one they both enjoyed and is yielding some good results for Ross.

Felix D’eon is an artist, born in Mexico and living in San Francisco, seemingly living an idyllic life painting, photographing and seducing beautiful men, going to nude gatherings and enjoying a very relaxed lifestyle.

I just discovered his blog and was quite taken with his art. It’s simplistic almost classic “antique” looking paintings and drawings but with a cast of young nude men probably not seen in centuries past. It makes me feel like posing for another artist. I did pose for one a couple of years ago and it’s something I like the idea of doing more of. You know, because nudity is such a foreign concept for me! ;)

Ross Watson’s latest work depicts porn superstar Francois Sagat in place of the “Crucifixion of St Peter” in a work inspired by the Vatican’s stance on condom use promoting HIV. Ross decided to use Francois because of his work in HIV Prevention. This piece has also set a new record for the sale of Ross’ originals at $42,000. Well done Ross.

In other Ross Watson news, German publisher Bruno Gmunder is set to publish a book of Ross’ work spanning 20 years.

I stumbled across this great idea a couple of weeks ago but forgot to post it until now.

Artbank is a government organisation that supports emerging artists by collecting contemporary art and renting it out to companies and private homes and reinvests the proceeds into the collection. Artbank has been operating for 30 years now and has over 10,000 artworks on offer from paintings, drawings and photography to contemporary art and sculpture as well as a large collection of indigenous art.

Ross Watson opens his annual exhibition in Sydney this Tuesday evening 23rd February. Ross exhibits every year to coincide with Mardi Gras and I always love going along to see new work and revisiting some of his older work.

The exhibition closes on Saturday March 6th, the day of the official party marking the end of Mardi Gras. It will be held at The Depot Gallery, 2 Danks Street Waterloo. Those of you in the area or not working can also meet Matthew Mitcham at the exhibition on Wednesday 3rd March between 11am and 1pm.

Ross Watson has just unveiled his beautiful portrait of Matthew Mitcham, as well as these photos of Matthew and Marco Da Silva. The portrait of Matthew is so rich and vibrant and in recognition of Matthew’s contribution to the gay community and sport, the painting has been reserved by the National Portrait Gallery.

For a long time now, I’ve thought that by and large, full frontal nudity in photography is distracting. Sure, in porn, erotic and voyeuristic photography it’s what it’s all about but in art photography, cock just gets in the way of most people’s appreciation of an otherwise beautiful photograph. Our eyes immediately zoom in on the crotch of the model and judge him mercilessly on the size of his appendage.

There’s no denying I love looking at photos of cock, but even in some erotic photography, I prefer some mystery and tease. It’s much more exciting wondering if you are going to find out what a guy is hiding rather than having it all laid out like a buffet.

Having said all this, I came across this guy on modelmayhem. He goes by J Gregory and quite frankly if I had an appendage like that I’d be getting it out too. He says it’s 9 inches long but I’m sorry to say guys, he’s a straight boy and living proof that straight boys are doing some grooming these days!

Our Olympic Diving golden boy, Matthew Mitcham has just modelled for Australian Painter and Photographer, Ross Watson and will be featured in paintings and photographic artworks to be released in the near future. Matt has kept a relatively low profile since his Olympic glory, focusing on training and life in general.

A new Ross Watson painting has also just set a new record for a Ross Watson original, selling for AU$38,000. Not a bad little earner I have to say. The painting isn’t my favourite of Ross’ work, but it provides an interesting contradiction between old and modern forms of communication.

Bruce Denny is an Englishmen trying to get people to think about how we interact. His first exhibition “Humanity” stripped back the pretense of societ showcasing his figures moulded from clay and cast in Bronze. Now with his second exhibition “Interaction” he’s taking it a step further, posing his sculptures in groups and pairs to see how that stripped back person, devoid of armour, might interact with others in the same situation.

Bruce uses fitness and fashion models to find the figures that he prefers to sculpt rather than the traditional life drawing model. He then works from photographs to sculpt the figures before finally creating them in bronze. They have a very natural look about their poses and looks. It would be quite haunting to see them all in a room interacting.

The exhibition runs for most of October in London.

One day, likely in a time far removed from where I am now, I plan on being in a position to spend up big on art. Sure there are artists who come to mind for a lot of people, like Warhol, Picasso etc that anyone with serious cash would like to buy, but my goals, at least initially are a bit more patriotic.

My favourite photographer, and my two favourite painters are all actually living and are all Australian. Maybe it’s some strange sense of patriotism kicking in, or maybe it’s just that these three living, gay, Australians capture images that reflect the way I see, or would like to see the world.

I’m lucky enough to own a print of a Ross Watson piece, but I dream of having an original painting in my possession one day. Somewhere nearby will be a James Houston photograph and also featuring will be Jeffrey Smart, a living legend in the Australian painting world. It’s nice to dream. One day…