20% off all products!   Sale ends tonight at midnight EST.

First Commission, twenty years ago

Denise Deiloh

Blog #3 of 16

Previous

|

Next

October 14th, 2014 - 09:03 PM

Blog Main Image
First Commission, twenty years ago

Audience. One of the applications that I made sure to get for my webpage was google analytics. Interesting to see how often my page is being visited and from where in the world. Don't worry, I have no idea how to track down who exactly is visiting. Thus far, I get a nice amount of traffic, nothing of superstar status but many appreciated regulars. A heartfelt thank you to anyone stopping by to read.

Because my audience is exceptional to me, despite the scarcity of comments (ahem), I've decided to share a story I rarely tell anyone. Twenty years ago, I suppose it would have been shocking to a considerable number of my friends and family, happily not as much these days. This story goes back to my college days, broke and with a little bit of talent. It has to do with the first artworks I ever sold and the only time in my life that I did not freak out over someone wanting commission work. They were small pieces, graphite and charcoal, of women. Sometimes embracing, often nude, always tasteful.

How did I land commission work to draw nude women? Glad you asked. I had a good friend living in the apartment next to mine during my first years of university. He had a night job and would often come over during the day to hang out. We'd talk about school, stress, crazy people that night shift workers have to deal with, art, and guys. He was gay. To be honest, he didn't think much of my art or my taste in men (what can I say, I'm attracted to heterosexual guys) but we got on well and he was always willing to take a look at my latest attempt at drawing or painting. My first art class happened to be figure drawing, different naked model per class. He'd critique what looked weird and what looked realistic, helped me go from very poorly done drawings to an A by the end of the quarter. One afternoon, a few weeks after finishing the course he asked me if I'd be willing to render lesbians. My first thought,“great, this guy isn't gay he's completely bamboozled me!” Then he explained that he had a friend. Oh sure, a “friend.” Long story short, he did have a guy friend interested in lesbian nudes. The friend was tired of hanging up Playboy photos and wanted something authentic, original, and affordable. I received $25 per 8”x10” drawing he wanted. Ultimately, I made $200. My favorite works included: two women holding each other in a standing embrace and looking to each other's eyes, two women laying side by side in a state of bliss, two women sitting next to each other crossing a hand to the other's knee (no faces were in that one). Of all the drawings I did, I can't remember a single full frontal or sex scene.

Somewhere in the world, those drawings may still exist or maybe they were tossed by a girlfriend or wife. Acceptance of lesbians in the 90s seemed conditional as something hot. Gays were mostly still better off in the closet. Perhaps I should have been upset at the request in terms of objectification. Then I think about the purchased artworks and my favorites among them. Back before I gave LGBT issues and relationships much thought, I wanted my drawings to be about love not effing. Today, if I had them to do again, I'd still want that (and I'd charge a lot more). At this time in my life, I have no plans of re-walking that path. For now, I'll leave that to the women artists who understand personally what it means to give their heart to another woman.

Now dear readers, you are among a small select group of friends who know that story. As time passes, I hope it loses all ability to shock anyone. Peace and love to you all.

Comments

Post a Comment

There are no comments on this blog.   Click here to post the first comment.