Paul Richmond Blog

The painting currently on my easel, “Pin-Up Payback,” includes three celebrity guest appearances (of the male, teen-idol variety), who find themselves in humorously revealing predicaments, reminiscent of Elvgren and Frahm girls, while strolling down a neighborhood street. You can read more about the painting and its concept (which is pretty much a thin veil to paint guys losing their clothes) in my previous post here . Today, I wanted to share the character from panel one (well, part of him anyway). This is just my reference for the painting a la digital camera + Photoshop, but any guesses which beatboxing superstar he’ll become? (Hint: This is his actual dog) Check back for more revealing sneak-peeks as I finish this up for a mid-summer exhibit (“Hot and Bothered: Sexuality Post-Feminism”) at Veaux Gallery in Chelsea.

For my next exhibit, I’m planning to put a gay/glam spin on the fairy tale classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” My version, “Lily White and the Seven Divas,” will use symbols and imagery from the original story (along with some new additions) to tell the tale of a young, androgynous boy coming into his own -- by way of a colorfully inhabited enchanted forest of course! In my previous post, “Wardrobe Malfunction,” I posted some pics of my first attempt to find suitable costuming to help me transform into an appropriately glamorous heroine. Fortunately, with the help of my fashion consultant, Maria, we’ve made some progress since then. There’s much more to come, but I love the red corset (left), and I think the simple yellow shorts would be great with some tights and platform boots. Now, before you start filling out a submission form for “What Not to Wear” on my behalf, I guess I should probably explain my goal here -- I’m going for a combination of classic maiden (hence the laced...

I'm starting a new painting called "Pin-Up Payback" for a show at the Veaux Gallery in Chelsea called 'Hot & Bothered: Sexuality Post-Feminism" this summer. It will be a triptych showing three modern-day male celebs caught in compromising, classic cheesecake-esque states of undress. Meanwhile, through the windows and doors of the apartment buildings behind them (a panoramic neighborhood scene that spans all three canvasses), fully dressed pin-up girls of yesteryear watch the scene unfold, enjoying their new roles as spectators. I've been using Photoshop to make references for many of my recent pieces, modifying and merging various photos to work out my compositions before I start the sketch on paper. For this piece, my friend Brian took some rather silly photos of me dropping my pants (all in the name of art!), and without setting foot in the gym I was able to transform into beefcake-worthy material thanks to the fabulous Warp tool. I don't want to ...

My friend Maria and I paid a visit to one of my all-time favorite places this evening, the costume shop. I was doing research for a new painting series that combines a gay-glam aesthetic with fairy tale imagery. I was hoping to find inspiration for my main character's costume which will be modern, sexy, androgynous, and also incorporate some Renaissance-ish, princessy flair. Let's just say we have a ways to go. Snow White I am not -- at least not yet! Ugly (Frumpy) Duckling, perhaps. Next stop - at the friendly costume shop clerk's recommendation - thrift store lingerie aisles. And you can bet my camera will be in tow...