Edward Ficklin (he/him), the maverick artist not afraid to say gay, is a self-taught painter, writer, publisher and sometimes technologist. He creates sensuous and erotically-tinged queer surrealist art, publishes queer-centered sci-fi comix, and pontificates regularly on a range of topics in his Queer Quantum Dispatch newsletter.
there must be an angel playing with my heart
Hello, darlings. Looking fabulous, as always. Today, I’d like to celebrate that magical, mysterious, sometimes painful, moment of “knowing” a painting is done. I mean, seriously, you can keep working on the damn thing forever. “Finished” isn’t so much a distinct state or point in time as it is a decision and declaration. Put the brush down and call it done. Sometimes joyful, sometimes frustrated. Sometimes just plain exhausted. All this to say I recently finished a painting that I was struggling with. It required three attempts before things took off. Glad I stuck with it.
My motivation here, beyond the usual celebration of male beauty, is a transgressive thrill of eroticizing angels. Perhaps a reaction to my Catholic upbringing? Perhaps angels as a symbol have erotic roots that run deeper than the Christian imagery I grew up surrounded by? Is this an uncovering, a re-discovery, reclaiming? Many so-called organized religions across history organize around taking control of the erotic as a means of consolidating political and economic control. So, darlings, let’s play around with one of their symbols, shall we? Let’s take back some of that erotic territory usurped by religion. I also find myself suddenly drawn to the angel as a presentation of male beauty that is sensual and celebratory, rather than violent or coercive. Yes, there’s a bow and arrow. But it’s the revelation of hidden desires he’s aiming at his unseen target, not a threat of subjugation. Meanwhile, could I interest you in some:
And finally, come say hi and savor all manor of delights to spice up your Valentine’s Day. 💖 Gay Oddities Erotic Art Bazaar Until next time, flame on! 🔥 About ∙ Art for Sale ∙ Commissions |
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Edward Ficklin
Edward Ficklin (he/him), the maverick artist not afraid to say gay, is a self-taught painter, writer, publisher and sometimes technologist. He creates sensuous and erotically-tinged queer surrealist art, publishes queer-centered sci-fi comix, and pontificates regularly on a range of topics in his Queer Quantum Dispatch newsletter.
Hello, darlings, how are you? Looking fabulous as always. Nestled at the bottom of this morning’s round up of news from the New York Times was a fun little article (gift link) about the still on-going excavation of Pompeii. I mean, for how many centuries now have people been picking away at those lava-covered ruins? While finds like cool frescoes in a dining room garner coverage in major outlets, rarely does anyone discuss the amazing number of erotic works uncovered. Uncovered and then,...
One of the most wonderful spring rituals of the NYC area is the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show. A fabulously steamy display of the sexiest flowers nature has to offer. You’ve got more sexual organs on display than even the wildest backroom. It’s on through April 21. If you’re in the area, check it out. Over the last couple of years, flowers have been showing up more and more in my paintings. So, on the occasion of my visit to this year’s extravaganza, I posed myself the question: why...
Darlings, how are you? Looking fabulous as always. Two juicy updates on my recent exploits at furthering my gay agenda. First, a naughty art show in the desert and then, a new chapter in the graphic novel. Two of my bois headed on a trip west for the Tucson Erotica art show running March 2-30. The show runs the entire month, punctuated with special events that look delicious. If you go, I hope you’ll share all the juicy details. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Sharing the walls with all the other...