Russell from the Commune


 

I often create characters that I think I might be able to fit into a narrative or scenario, but as in the case of this guy, sometimes I just can't figure out how to use them. So I was searching through some old sketchpads recently and thought that perhaps I should pull out a few of these dudes, bring them to a "finished" stage and set them loose to find their own adventures as I had failed to incorporate them into a full-fledged sexual fantasy. I'm not generally a fan of single-figure/minimal background representations (Who are they? Where are they? Why are they naked and erect?) but there was simply no alternative in this case.

 

Here's my thoughts about why these guys never found a suitable scenario to be party to. I spend a lot of time with characters as I'm developing them. I imagine a certain amount of biographical data so that when I eventually put them in finished piece it's a plausible sexual situation. There is some structure to my more involved scenes, I like to pair up different types of people to heighten the dramatic narrative. Young/old, fit/flabby, participants coming from different ethnic, social and economic backgrounds. Inclusiveness has always been an underlying theme for me and showcasing body types not routinely represented in the works of other erotic artists is something that I consciously decide to follow. Each of these drawings took between 8-12 hours to complete and while I was working on them I pondered the reason I never got around to utilizing them in the expected manner. Each character had different problems and I thought it might be of interest if I explained what lead them to be rejected and relegated to "outcast" status.

 

I created Russell about three years ago. I was searching for "different" types and came up with a modern-day version of a "hippie." He's the son of hippies who themselves were the offspring of hippies. Brought up in an atmosphere of "Peace, Love and Happiness," Russell has that ethereal quality, he's as "one with the universe" and has never experienced stress, anxiety, or even a modicum of anger. Blissfully content (it could possibly be all the weed) and philosophically at ease, he's both intellectually expansive and remarkably naive.  He's kind of like one of Keanu Reeves' characters — constantly startled by the scope of human foibles. Okay then, who could I pair him up with? It had to be someone diametrically opposite of everything that Russell represents. It can't be another hippie or it becomes a period piece. Who then? Some smarmy, sarcastic city person? Perhaps a psychologically-damaged military vet? That was a brief possibility but there just seemed like there would be so much paraphernalia needed to be incorporated in the drawing to explain who they were but it still didn't cover why they were having sex together. Anyway, the list went on and on. The funny thing is that Russell would've gladly and without much hesitation fucked anyone if he were asked politely. Eventually, I didn't want to sully Russell's purity by pairing him up with somebody who might taint him in some wicked way, and I stopped trying to place Russell. It could be that I developed a bit of crush on the boy and didn't want to force him to be with someone inappropriate... or anyone at all for that matter. So now, he's no longer mine. I've given him his life and sent him forth to do what he will. As much as I cherish his easy serenity and breath-taking openness, those are also the qualities that scare the fuck out of me .

 

— Michael Kirwan

 

Russell from the Commune — 2009 —  5¼" x 11¾"

 

 

Any images, writings or other content on this website may be copied for personal viewing only. They may not be: redistributed; sold; altered; enhanced; modified by artificial, digital or computer imaging; used on another website or blog; posted to any internet or computer newsgroup, forum or media sharing site; nor used for any other purpose without the express written permission of the artist or KirwanArts.com.

Any images, writings or other content on this website may be copied for personal viewing only.
They may not be: redistributed; sold; altered; enhanced; modified by artificial, digital or computer imaging;
used on another website or blog; posted to any internet or computer newsgroup, forum or media sharing site;
nor used for any other purpose without the express written permission of the artist or KirwanArts.com.