2009-02-06

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2009-02-06 09:46 am

Gena Ivanov: Art of Man

Gena Ivanov was born in Vladimir into a military family and spent his childhood in airbases in the far east of Russia and Belarus.

He began to draw at school but at that time he was more interested in modern dance and this took most of his energies. At 18 Gena went into the Soviet Army to do his national service and served for two years as a military artist. Art now firmly in his soul he rushed to art school and studied at Bobruisk Art School where he graduated with a distinction. From there he worked in a co-operative, it was the early 90’s and a time of extravagant prices, high inflation and empty shops.

 
Escaped Childhood 2: 2007,oil on canvas, 24x30cm

more pics )

He began to draw at school but at that time he was more interested in modern dance and this took most of his energies. At 18 Gena went into the Soviet Army to do his national service and served for two years as a military artist. Art now firmly in his soul he rushed to art school and studied at Bobruisk Art School where he graduated with a distinction. From there he worked in a co-operative, it was the early 90’s and a time of extravagant prices, high inflation and empty shops.

He spent his time painting landscapes, while sometimes the subjects were not inspiring for him it gave him the chance to perfect his skills and to experiment with new techniques.

Between 1995 and 2000 Gena was the resident artist at a local museum and during that time he built up his studio work and his reputation and in 2000 after election to the Artist’s Union in Belarus he left to work for himself painting pictures designing interiors for local restaurants.

In 2004 Gena came to work in England and now lives and works in Norwich.

“I have always found the male body inspiring and coming to England has given me the freedom to paint in the way I want. I aspire to show the beauty of the male body and the romanticism, the sentimentality and the character. My pictures are about colour, life can be quite grey and I want my pictures to make people feel good. I like to work in different styles, particularly in the impressionist style and I prefer to work big. I have always been quite experimental trying different materials, paints and painting techniques but the medium I prefer is oil painting.”

Gena has won many exhibition and his work has been been exhibited in Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Holland, France and in the UK – Norwich and London.

http://www.matthewkleinman.com/genart/artofman/Genart_01.swf

I like a lot the use of color of this artist, and above all I like when he uses personal life models, as for Nikita, that I saw in more than a paint by him. But also Gena seems to haunt the same place online as I do, look what I found:

surprise! )

The photo above is a shot by Fabrice Lachant for GT Magazine 348, "Nature Boys".

More Artists at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Art
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2009-02-06 07:49 pm

Mexican Heat by Laura Baumbach & Josh Lanyon

Usually I don't like to give up a story, but in this case I'm allowed... First time I heard of latino man Antonio and his blind lover Gabriel was perhaps two years ago. I read a short story by Laura Baumbach, South of Border, no more than a scene in an hot tube, but really hot (as most of Laura Baumbach's books). I don't know, probably it's a fetish, but I always am fascinated by love stories involving a blind partner... there must be a lot of trust on one side to allow someone near you when you are blind, but if you find the right partner, I believe the resulting feeling are much more intense. And so I was waiting for the longer novel the author was writing with the same pair.

The story actually starts at the beginning, when Gabriel is still a sighted San Francisco Police Department undercover agent. During his two years as undercover agent, but really even before, Gabriel, alias Giovanni, only allows himself one night stands and possibly well far from the circle he gravitates in: even if in San Francisco, mafia is not a word which match well with gay. And so when one of his one night stand, Miguel, reveals to be the lieutenant of the Mexican drug lord Gabriel's boss is dealing with, Gabriel is a bit disconcerted. How can he be so attracted by a villain? He should be the good guy and not mixing with the evil guys... But maybe Miguel is not so bad boy as he appears.

The first part of the book is good, I really like the way how Giovanni and Miguel met in a club and that first raw sex scene is almost an housemark for Laura Baumbach's books, but truth be told, I like much the second part; it's all over all pure hot romance, but also mushy feeling, and in some part it almost made me cry. How Antonio deals with a wounded Gabriel, how he manages to pull out all the protective layers of the man, to bare his soul... and how Gabriel leans on Antonio, without for this being weak or dependent: it takes a real man to understand when it's the case to call for help.

So sorry to the thriller lover, but I read this book more like a very good romance. Oh, don't worry, there are also the car racing scene, the shootings in the night, and also the classical scene in the warehouse, but I manage to read them in a bit to hurry to my romance scenes... instead, you, thriller lover, could linger on them as you want, you will have plenty.

As for the characters, Laura Baumbach confirms her love for a good Alpha male, Antonio is the classical type: it reminds me one of that chocolate with the dark and hard exterior but with a sweet and molten inside. Perhaps a bit different from the other Alpha males' mates I was used, is Gabriel, but not too much: it's true that Gabriel, as an agent, is independent and strong, but in his private life he prefers not to be the dominant side of the couple; he prefers to be dominate, he fights against his mate, but then, if the mate is worth of it, he surrenders with joy.

The book is the first in a new series with the same characters; good thing since they are both really worth of some more books. And then I still have to read about Christmas at Antonio's family.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/mexican-heat

Amazon: Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2009-02-06 07:49 pm

Mexican Heat by Laura Baumbach & Josh Lanyon

Usually I don't like to give up a story, but in this case I'm allowed... First time I heard of latino man Antonio and his blind lover Gabriel was perhaps two years ago. I read a short story by Laura Baumbach, South of Border, no more than a scene in an hot tube, but really hot (as most of Laura Baumbach's books). I don't know, probably it's a fetish, but I always am fascinated by love stories involving a blind partner... there must be a lot of trust on one side to allow someone near you when you are blind, but if you find the right partner, I believe the resulting feeling are much more intense. And so I was waiting for the longer novel the author was writing with the same pair.

The story actually starts at the beginning, when Gabriel is still a sighted San Francisco Police Department undercover agent. During his two years as undercover agent, but really even before, Gabriel, alias Giovanni, only allows himself one night stands and possibly well far from the circle he gravitates in: even if in San Francisco, mafia is not a word which match well with gay. And so when one of his one night stand, Miguel, reveals to be the lieutenant of the Mexican drug lord Gabriel's boss is dealing with, Gabriel is a bit disconcerted. How can he be so attracted by a villain? He should be the good guy and not mixing with the evil guys... But maybe Miguel is not so bad boy as he appears.

The first part of the book is good, I really like the way how Giovanni and Miguel met in a club and that first raw sex scene is almost an housemark for Laura Baumbach's books, but truth be told, I like much the second part; it's all over all pure hot romance, but also mushy feeling, and in some part it almost made me cry. How Antonio deals with a wounded Gabriel, how he manages to pull out all the protective layers of the man, to bare his soul... and how Gabriel leans on Antonio, without for this being weak or dependent: it takes a real man to understand when it's the case to call for help.

So sorry to the thriller lover, but I read this book more like a very good romance. Oh, don't worry, there are also the car racing scene, the shootings in the night, and also the classical scene in the warehouse, but I manage to read them in a bit to hurry to my romance scenes... instead, you, thriller lover, could linger on them as you want, you will have plenty.

As for the characters, Laura Baumbach confirms her love for a good Alpha male, Antonio is the classical type: it reminds me one of that chocolate with the dark and hard exterior but with a sweet and molten inside. Perhaps a bit different from the other Alpha males' mates I was used, is Gabriel, but not too much: it's true that Gabriel, as an agent, is independent and strong, but in his private life he prefers not to be the dominant side of the couple; he prefers to be dominate, he fights against his mate, but then, if the mate is worth of it, he surrenders with joy.

The book is the first in a new series with the same characters; good thing since they are both really worth of some more books. And then I still have to read about Christmas at Antonio's family.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/mexican-heat

Amazon: Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2009-02-06 10:39 pm
Entry tags:

Gay Commercial: Foreningsparbanken

This Swedish financial ad opens with an outdoor party scene, as couples are dancing to a live band on stage.

As a practical joke, a drunk man runs into the crowd and slaps another on the back while he is in the middle of talking to a woman, forcing him to spit beer all over her. Instead of being angry he is laughing, suggesting they are old friends.



Without a word to the woman, both men run into the woods screaming, then wrestling playfully. In a hold, they fall to the ground in their embrace and are obscured from vision except for their feet. One foot then seems to caress the other, as it appears their playfulness has turned romantic.

The commercial closes with the caption, "moving in together?" Then it offers page 13 of the Bank Book, which offers financial advice.

Commercal Closet Association

Company: Foreningsparbanken
Brand: Foreningsparbanken
Ad Title: Saturday Night Dance
Business Category: Financial Services
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Sweden
Region: Europe
Agency: Lowe Worldwide
Year: 1999
Target: Mainstream
Ad Spotter: Catherine Benmaor
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2009-02-06 10:39 pm

Gay Commercial: Foreningsparbanken

This Swedish financial ad opens with an outdoor party scene, as couples are dancing to a live band on stage.

As a practical joke, a drunk man runs into the crowd and slaps another on the back while he is in the middle of talking to a woman, forcing him to spit beer all over her. Instead of being angry he is laughing, suggesting they are old friends.



Without a word to the woman, both men run into the woods screaming, then wrestling playfully. In a hold, they fall to the ground in their embrace and are obscured from vision except for their feet. One foot then seems to caress the other, as it appears their playfulness has turned romantic.

The commercial closes with the caption, "moving in together?" Then it offers page 13 of the Bank Book, which offers financial advice.

Commercal Closet Association

Company: Foreningsparbanken
Brand: Foreningsparbanken
Ad Title: Saturday Night Dance
Business Category: Financial Services
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Sweden
Region: Europe
Agency: Lowe Worldwide
Year: 1999
Target: Mainstream
Ad Spotter: Catherine Benmaor