Male Body Art Biography
Starting Out I have been drawing and painting the male nude for over 30 years. Although I came out as a gay man when I was 20, I didn't give myself permission to start doing nude male art until almost 10 years later. I began doing male nudes for myself, not for other gay men. I was happily surprised when my friends—most of them gay men—started buying my drawings and paintings of naked men. I couldn't believe I was making money selling naked art!
A Passion for Erotic Male Art To tell you the truth, it wasn't until I started doing male nudes that I felt I had something to say as an artist. I had always had a talent for drawing, but never quite knew what to do with it. Of course I didn't—I had to confront the fact that I was a gay man, and had to accept that I was attracted to men, in order to get to the point where I was able to openly become an artist who specialized in male nudes. Finally, I was able to accept myself, and that's when I started drawing my passion—the male figure. Male nudity became my theme and main subject. When drawing (or painting) a naked man, I finally felt I was fulfilling my purpose as an artist. That gave me a new sense of freedom and satisfaction. And I still feel that way.
"Do You Really Want to be Known for Making Gay Erotica?" Lots of friends doubted me when I began painting nude men. They wondered if I really wanted the name Douglas Simonson to be so identified with male nudity. Did I really want people to associate me with naked gay men? Did I want to be known for creating pictures of nude men? I've always been a rebellious type, so their questioning (and sometimes criticism) didn't stop me. It spurred me on. But I wasn't doing it just out of reaction, either. Almost as soon as I started painting and drawing male nudes, I felt a sense of rightness. As if this were what I was put here to do: create male nude art.
Is It Gay Male Erotica? Am I a gay artist? Is what I do gay art? Is it homoerotica? It seems to be a big question for many people. You could look at it several ways. Gay men buy my art, because gay men (surprise!) seem to enjoy seeing a man nude. And I'm a gay man creating art for gay men. So I guess you could call what I do gay art. But just painting a man nude doesn't make that painting gay art. A gallery filed with nude male paintings is not necessarily a gay gallery. Nude male art is not necessarily nude gay art. Do you see what I mean? It's not even about that. For me, the bottom line is, does the art move you? Does it grab you by the balls? If so, whether you're a gay male or not, I've done my job as an artist. Whether you consider me a gay artist or not.
Starting Out I have been drawing and painting the male nude for over 30 years. Although I came out as a gay man when I was 20, I didn't give myself permission to start doing nude male art until almost 10 years later. I began doing male nudes for myself, not for other gay men. I was happily surprised when my friends—most of them gay men—started buying my drawings and paintings of naked men. I couldn't believe I was making money selling naked art!
A Passion for Erotic Male Art To tell you the truth, it wasn't until I started doing male nudes that I felt I had something to say as an artist. I had always had a talent for drawing, but never quite knew what to do with it. Of course I didn't—I had to confront the fact that I was a gay man, and had to accept that I was attracted to men, in order to get to the point where I was able to openly become an artist who specialized in male nudes. Finally, I was able to accept myself, and that's when I started drawing my passion—the male figure. Male nudity became my theme and main subject. When drawing (or painting) a naked man, I finally felt I was fulfilling my purpose as an artist. That gave me a new sense of freedom and satisfaction. And I still feel that way.
"Do You Really Want to be Known for Making Gay Erotica?" Lots of friends doubted me when I began painting nude men. They wondered if I really wanted the name Douglas Simonson to be so identified with male nudity. Did I really want people to associate me with naked gay men? Did I want to be known for creating pictures of nude men? I've always been a rebellious type, so their questioning (and sometimes criticism) didn't stop me. It spurred me on. But I wasn't doing it just out of reaction, either. Almost as soon as I started painting and drawing male nudes, I felt a sense of rightness. As if this were what I was put here to do: create male nude art.
Is It Gay Male Erotica? Am I a gay artist? Is what I do gay art? Is it homoerotica? It seems to be a big question for many people. You could look at it several ways. Gay men buy my art, because gay men (surprise!) seem to enjoy seeing a man nude. And I'm a gay man creating art for gay men. So I guess you could call what I do gay art. But just painting a man nude doesn't make that painting gay art. A gallery filed with nude male paintings is not necessarily a gay gallery. Nude male art is not necessarily nude gay art. Do you see what I mean? It's not even about that. For me, the bottom line is, does the art move you? Does it grab you by the balls? If so, whether you're a gay male or not, I've done my job as an artist. Whether you consider me a gay artist or not.
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
Male Body Art
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