On the Drawing Board: Making Faces

Still plenty of work to do, refining, altering, layering, but the basics of it all are shaping up.

After posting these pics on social media, someone commented, "Super-sensual, intense He looks like a wolf."

Since he is going to be in a forest, I think that's perfect! I know I'm on the right track.

 

 

"You are in VIOLATION..."

"Cory"

"Cory"

"Back Forty"

Being an artist of the male figure, gay themes, nudes and homoerotic I'm often dealing with the dreaded 'terms of service' when it comes to marketing or printing/publishing my work an navigating what will be considered 'over the line'.

I've overcome that issue with prints by producing them myself, and as for cards, calendars I found a printer that has no problems with any of my work. 

Unfortunately I've never found a solution to getting magnets made. Companies that don't list 'adult content' as an issue are ones that require minimums of 100, 250 per magnet.  And I just don't have the funds to invest in 25,000 magnets.

Places that allow me to order in bundles of 10 usually are websites where people also sell their design in their online shops, so they include restrictions so as not to offend. The place I use is CaféPress and they employ the all familiar & vague "nothing sexually explicit" caveat. Of course that's a subjective term, since some see 'nudity' as sexual. So I'm left to letting them decide. Over the years and all the rejections, I thought I had established that they drew the line at male genitalia (whether it was sexual or not). So, fine. 

However, for my latest magnet order from CaféPress they rejected "Cory". I assume it's because of the naked butt that someone thinks is 'sexually explicit', but that doesn't jive with all the other male rear nudes they've printed for me in the past like "Back Forty". 

So until I can find a magnet maker that isn't paralyzed by the 'shame' of the human body, I guess my magnets will continue to be rated PG or perhaps G, depending on which nun is working that day.  

If anyone knows of an enlightened magnet printer please leave a comment.  Thanks!

"Santa's Little Helper" Christmas Cards!

"Santa's Little Helper"
Original
Prints

The greeting cards of "Santa's Little Helper" are in!

Cards are available in single, 5 packs, or 12 packs.

See all Christmas & Greeting Cards...

It's My Birthday! ---AGAIN!

This weekend is my birthday! Yay me! And yay you! I'm doing a little sale to celebrate. Just use code CELEBRATE on any order over $51 and get 20% off.

You might want to think of it as a pre-Christmas shopping sale. If you're considering ordering something framed or something that's shipping outside the USA for a Christmas present, really consider taking advantage of this sale. Yes, I'll have other special offers before Christmas but I am also going to be away for 1 week in December. Might as well eliminate as much chaos and anxiety around the holidays as possible!

~Michael

Magazine Cover & Interview

Check out the Winter issue of the Lehigh Valley Gay Journal. My work "Christmas Time In the City" is featured on the cover and they did a nice little interview. The Lehigh Valley Gay Journal serves Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley as well as Philadelphia, NYC, Rehoboth, New Jersey etc. 

Special shout out to Stephen Libby at LVGJ, you rock!

New Christmas Painting & Prints: "Santa's Little Helper"

During the busy holidays season we can all use a helping hand...or paw. 

During the official New Release period get 10% off the usual price of the original and prints of "Santa's Little Helper" now until approximately 8:00 AM EDT Tuesday November 1st.

NOTE: The limited edition quantities of my Christmas pieces (25 Studio, 12 Gallery) are very small, so tiered pricing increases kick in after just a few have sold.

Christmas cards of "Santa's Little Helper" will be available soon!

Santa's Little Helper
$80.00

Original is sold.

24 x 18¼(47 cm x 61 cm) pastel on pastel paper

Giclée Prints
open edition Portfolio prints
additional information about my giclée prints

Other Products
5 x 7 (folded) Greeting Cards

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On the drawing board: The right size tool for the job.

Often the tools of the artist are whatever happens to be handy.  When the circles on your plastic geometry template aren't big enough you have to search around for something else to use.  Roll of tape?..coffee cup?...too big.  Skin cream lid?...too small.  Finally I found the perfect size ring right there in my nightstand. I think some of you know what it is. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...no it's not...but...

I know, it feels too early to be thinking about Christmas...but in order to start and finish a painting, get cards printed, and make them available for people to order and send out before the big day...well, you gotta start before the leaves fall off the trees. 

Here's a little portion of my holiday painting outline. 

Let's hit the showers, it's #ArtTwosday!

Sweat, steam, muscles, and men - who doesn't enjoy guys hanging out in a locker room? The top picks for this ArtTwosday are "Patrick" & "Looking". 

Prints of both are 20% off for the next 24 hours only!**
UPDATE: This Art Twosday offer has ended. Check back next week!

Patrick
$80.00
add a frame
Looking
$80.00
add a frame

You can tell a lot about a man from his underwear.
Next Art Twosday's 24 hour sale is up to you. Vote now!

**NOTICE: I'm in the east coast time zone of the United States. So this 1 day sale will end approximately 24 hours after the initial posting. Expect this sale to end 10:00 AM EDT (NYC) on Wednesday Oct. 5th.

Take a walk in the woods, it's #ArtTwosday!

Nothing grounds you and lifts you up like a nature walk. This week voters selected from 4 nature themed prints and chose "Bare In the Woods" and "Oopsy Daisy" as the winners.

All size prints of both are 20% for the next 24 hours.
UPDATE: This Art Twosday special has ended. Check back next Tuesday.

On side note, this was the closest vote yet, with 1st place taking 28.5% and 4th place taking 22.2% - so here every vote does count!
Bare in the Woods
$80.00
add a frame
Oopsy Daisy
$80.00
add a frame
 

Vote for next Art Twosdays featured twosome.
Pick one of these locker room themed prints to be on sale next week.

NOTICE: I'm on the east coast of the United States. So this 1 day sale will end approximately 24 hours after the initial posting. Expect this sale to end 2:00 PM EDT on Wednesday Sept. 28th.