Shore Leave
Shore Leave (2010)
24×18½ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
The history of Shore Leave stretches back centuries, a legendary tradition of sailors letting loose after grueling months on the open ocean. For this piece, created for a show focused entirely on iconic gay imagery, sailors were a natural choice. I wanted to focus on a quintessential naval rite of passage: getting a tattoo. Instead of a bustling parlor, this scene unfolds in the intimate privacy of a hotel room. Resting on the bed, one handsome man carefully moves a tattoo machine across the shoulder of a sailor wearing a white Dixie cup hat. The intense concentration between them balances beautifully with the raw, sensual energy of their entwined legs. Capturing the soft window light on their muscular bodies while showcasing the anchor tattoo already emblazoned on the artist's bicep made this a truly gratifying exploration of classic romance and military iconography.
