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reviews_and_ramblings ([personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2008-10-24 04:28 pm

Brush & Camera, Male Nudes by Douglas Simonson

Douglas Simonson is one of the world's best-known interpreters of the male figure. His work has been collected over the past 30 years by connoisseurs in 80 countries. Simonson lives and works in Honolulu, in a private studio-gallery overlooking Diamond Head.


Kawai's Kiss

Born and raised in the dry, dusty cattle country of the western U.S., Simonson was encouraged in his art by his mother, also an artist. When he was 19, Simonson left his home town of Thedford, Nebraska to move to the Hawaiian Islands.

In Honolulu, Simonson studied art at the University of Hawaii and the Honolulu Academy of Art. Simonson also found time for an amazing diversity of experiences and careers, from sign-painting to typesetting to writing radio and television commercials. Then, in 1981, with the help of two close friends, Simonson wrote, illustrated and published a book called Pidgin to da Max, which went on to become one of the best-selling books ever published in Hawaii. Since then, Simonson has created or co-created 11 books, which have been published in 3 countries and in 5 languages, with a total of over 350,000 copies in print.

At around the same time as the success of Pidgin to da Max, Simonson began experimenting with fine art again — something he had not done for several years. Although he'd been fascinated by the male figure for most of his life, his own fears and insecurities had kept him from exploring it in his art. But in 1979, at the age of 29, Simonson put aside his fears and boldly committed himself to drawing and painting the male nude. It was a life-changing decision.

Simonson last art book is Brush&Camera, The Photographic Image as Inspiration, Male Nudes by Douglas Simonson:

http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Camera-Douglas-Simonson/dp/0966557026/

 
Who Needs Trunks?

 
Climb On



http://www.douglassimonson.com/

More Artists at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Art

[identity profile] clarelondon.livejournal.com 2008-10-25 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
sooooo delicious...
I was going to ask your advice, because I was given an amazon.com goft voucher and I thought I might spend it on some art books, as a real treat for myself (and something I couldn't ask my family for at Christmas LOL). I was really taken with the Todd Yeager art - I think you posted about this recently? - but I still have money left.
Do you have any recommendations?
I like photo work, but there's already so much free on the net, I'd be looking for a male art photographer who really had a striking style. Or I like created art work that's fairly realistic in style.
*sigh*

I know, it's all up to personal taste!! But if you have any ideas, I'd appreciate hearing them.

Hope you're having a great weekend!
*hugs*

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-25 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Take a look at David Vance's work, his "Gods" and "Timeless" boos are very good. Or also Mark Henderson last work, "House Idols". If you want something really original, but also very shocking, Justin Monroe, "Down the Rabbit Hole" is very good. If you like a good nude, "X-Posed" by Dylan Rosser.

Elisa

[identity profile] clarelondon.livejournal.com 2008-10-25 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
You're an angel, many thanks. I had the Dylan Rosser on my wishlist, actually, so maybe this is fate speaking! But I'm looking forward to looking up the others.

*hugs*