Afterglow
Afterglow (2008)
23×18¼ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
After an intense experience, there is a period where your mind and body relax; you feel at peace, and contentment washes over you. Most often, the experience is quite pleasurable, such as a personal triumph or intimacy. It is important to take a moment and allow yourself to bask in the Afterglow.
This piece came about as a result of being contacted by a fan of my artwork who expressed an interest in being captured in one of my pastels. While most of the men in my works are fantasy creations, he had a great look, and it was a fun experience to create an illustration around him. His personal story also adds a profound subtext to the afterglow theme. After being outed to his family, he was subsequently disowned. Though it was a traumatic experience rather than a pleasant one, the process of coming out does ultimately provide a sense of relief and inner peace; there is no more hiding, denying who you are, or living in fear of exposure.
