Cuddling
Cuddling (2013)
12½×18½ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
There are times when we all just need some physical contact, not in a sexual way, but just that tenderness, that comforting touch. And while snuggling with the one you love may be ideal, sometimes that’s not possible. Besides, there’s a lot to be said for Cuddling with anyone who’s close at hand.
While I have licensed several previously finished pieces for use as book covers, this is the first one in a long while that I was specifically commissioned to create for that purpose. This piece serves as the official cover for an anthology published by Dreamspinner Press titled Cuddling. Working in pastel, the main creative challenge was shifting away from high-intensity passion to focus entirely on quiet tenderness. I used a rich, deep blue backdrop and a matching blanket to envelope the figures, creating a safe, intimate cocoon that makes their warm skin tones and the soft, affectionate expressions on their faces truly stand out.
