Norman Lindsay
(1879 - 1969)

I have to admit that my initial interest in Lindsay's works was the curvaceousness of the subjects (when I was practicing loving my body I hunted down images of women that looked somewhat like me in form to help expand what I saw as beautiful). But the more I've looked at zir work the more captivated I've been by the stories being told and even more than that, the expressions of the people. A lot of painters (and photographers!) of nudes have one favorite facial expression and that is what ALL of their models wear. Lindsay's subjects have a wide variety of facial expressions, one of which I've never seen in other work -- wild joy. Not just happiness, but the kind of fierce joy that throws all else to the wind.

There is a lot of sensuality/sexuality in zir work as well, an almost tangible sense of passion/desire -- and it feels genuine. Perhaps it is the facial expressions or maybe it's just the attitude of the pieces, but it's not lusterless sex-for-show which is what most art depicting sexual desire looks like to me. It feels like there is love or at least affection in it. Also, quite a few works look somewhat poly and queer to me (sadly only with females but still). A character will be holding hands with one person and kissing another, or two characters will kiss someone else at the same time. And there are several depictions of two women completely wrapped up in each other (a pleasant departure from the usual invite-the-viewer-to-join depictions of queer love/lust). And YET. Lindsay does not make nudity always sexual -- in some works it's just there.

There's also a fantastic nature to much of zir work, from simple metaphor to actual sphinxes and harpies and fauns, demons and dwarves, Deities and saints. Most of my favorites look like an illustration from a fairytale book that I'd really love to read.

Last but not least, ze seems to create somewhat genderqueer characters -- several who I thought on the first 10 glances were one sex turned out to be the other (or perhaps neither?) when I looked more carefully (when shrinking/cropping for this post).



( more obvious nudity & sexuality )

Norman Lindsay
(1879 - 1969)

I have to admit that my initial interest in Lindsay's works was the curvaceousness of the subjects (when I was practicing loving my body I hunted down images of women that looked somewhat like me in form to help expand what I saw as beautiful). But the more I've looked at zir work the more captivated I've been by the stories being told and even more than that, the expressions of the people. A lot of painters (and photographers!) of nudes have one favorite facial expression and that is what ALL of their models wear. Lindsay's subjects have a wide variety of facial expressions, one of which I've never seen in other work -- wild joy. Not just happiness, but the kind of fierce joy that throws all else to the wind.

There is a lot of sensuality/sexuality in zir work as well, an almost tangible sense of passion/desire -- and it feels genuine. Perhaps it is the facial expressions or maybe it's just the attitude of the pieces, but it's not lusterless sex-for-show which is what most art depicting sexual desire looks like to me. It feels like there is love or at least affection in it. Also, quite a few works look somewhat poly and queer to me (sadly only with females but still). A character will be holding hands with one person and kissing another, or two characters will kiss someone else at the same time. And there are several depictions of two women completely wrapped up in each other (a pleasant departure from the usual invite-the-viewer-to-join depictions of queer love/lust). And YET. Lindsay does not make nudity always sexual -- in some works it's just there.

There's also a fantastic nature to much of zir work, from simple metaphor to actual sphinxes and harpies and fauns, demons and dwarves, Deities and saints. Most of my favorites look like an illustration from a fairytale book that I'd really love to read.

Last but not least, ze seems to create somewhat genderqueer characters -- several who I thought on the first 10 glances were one sex turned out to be the other (or perhaps neither?) when I looked more carefully (when shrinking/cropping for this post).



( more obvious nudity & sexuality )

Anders Zorn
(1860 - 1920)

Zorn is a painter after my own heart. Ze's probably most famous for zir portraits -- but it is zir nature nudes that I love so much. They have a softness and a rawness about them, and it feels like ze painted the plants and water with as much care as ze did the humans. The woods and shores feel real and alive, not just convenient backdrops for the models. I love the use of color in zir paintings -- it feels so warm in the indoor settings, and so fresh and breezy in the nature settings. But zir use of line is also really incredible -- ze was a prolific etcher, and the prints from zir etchings capture me almost as much as zir paintings.

I am enchanted by zir work -- I think mostly because ze wanted to capture life as it was, not pretty it up and pose it. I see two sides in zir nudes: the gritty, warm, messy aspect of humanity, captured in the indoor nudes which are usually in a state of preparation or cleansing, and the wild, fresh, pure aspect, captured in the nature nudes which are in a state of exploration or relaxation. I love both ♥



( etched and painted nudity, possibly NWS if classical art is too naked? )

Anders Zorn
(1860 - 1920)

Zorn is a painter after my own heart. Ze's probably most famous for zir portraits -- but it is zir nature nudes that I love so much. They have a softness and a rawness about them, and it feels like ze painted the plants and water with as much care as ze did the humans. The woods and shores feel real and alive, not just convenient backdrops for the models. I love the use of color in zir paintings -- it feels so warm in the indoor settings, and so fresh and breezy in the nature settings. But zir use of line is also really incredible -- ze was a prolific etcher, and the prints from zir etchings capture me almost as much as zir paintings.

I am enchanted by zir work -- I think mostly because ze wanted to capture life as it was, not pretty it up and pose it. I see two sides in zir nudes: the gritty, warm, messy aspect of humanity, captured in the indoor nudes which are usually in a state of preparation or cleansing, and the wild, fresh, pure aspect, captured in the nature nudes which are in a state of exploration or relaxation. I love both ♥



( etched and painted nudity, possibly NWS if classical art is too naked? )

Anders Zorn

Zorn is a painter after my own heart. Ze's probably most famous for zir portraits -- but it is zir nature nudes that I love so much. They have a softness and a rawness about them, and it feels like ze painted the plants and water with as much care as ze did the humans. The woods and shores feel real and alive, not just convenient backdrops for the models. I love the use of color in zir paintings -- it feels so warm in the indoor settings, and so fresh and breezy in the nature settings. But zir use of line is also really incredible -- ze was a prolific etcher, and the prints from zir etchings capture me almost as much as zir paintings.

I am enchanted by zir work -- I think mostly because ze wanted to capture life as it was, not pretty it up and pose it. I see two sides in zir nudes: the gritty, warm, messy aspect of humanity, captured in the indoor nudes which are usually in a state of preparation or cleansing, and the wild, fresh, pure aspect, captured in the nature nudes which are in a state of exploration or relaxation. I love both ♥



( etched and painted nudity, possibly NWS if classical art is too naked? )

Ma Deva Padma
(contemporary)

The art of Padma (zir legal name is Susan Ostapkowicz but since ze signs zir artwork with Padma I assume it is zir preferred name) absolutely blows my mind... it is the energy of the artwork itself that I feel in each card. Each one was created with such focus and love... they just GLOW. And they are so full of color ♥ Sadly, this deck is the only work ze has done in this style (as far as I can tell), but there are 79 paintings in this deck. I do think I will be doing more readings at some point, and I will include photos then too. (there were a surprising number of repeat appearances in these 8 readings! I suppose some of the cards are more eager to speak than others ;-))

I did these in a 4-card spread I made up -- past, present, future, and vision. (I like it quite a lot!) Now before you read your message I want to say that I believe a VERY important part of receiving any sort of spiritual message is checking with your own spirit to see if it resonates. If it feels wrong to you, then assume some mistake or misinterpretation on my part, I promise you I will not be the SLIGHTEST bit offended or upset. I'm just learning, so your honesty will be really helpful (as it always is of course, heh). If it resonates, take it to heart and let me know -- if it jars, throw it right out and let me know.



( photos of cards + readings )

Ma Deva Padma
(contemporary)

The art of Padma (zir legal name is Susan Ostapkowicz but since ze signs zir artwork with Padma I assume it is zir preferred name) absolutely blows my mind... it is the energy of the artwork itself that I feel in each card. Each one was created with such focus and love... they just GLOW. And they are so full of color ♥ Sadly, this deck is the only work ze has done in this style (as far as I can tell), but there are 79 paintings in this deck. I do think I will be doing more readings at some point, and I will include photos then too. (there were a surprising number of repeat appearances in these 8 readings! I suppose some of the cards are more eager to speak than others ;-))

I did these in a 4-card spread I made up -- past, present, future, and vision. (I like it quite a lot!) Now before you read your message I want to say that I believe a VERY important part of receiving any sort of spiritual message is checking with your own spirit to see if it resonates. If it feels wrong to you, then assume some mistake or misinterpretation on my part, I promise you I will not be the SLIGHTEST bit offended or upset. I'm just learning, so your honesty will be really helpful (as it always is of course, heh). If it resonates, take it to heart and let me know -- if it jars, throw it right out and let me know.



( photos of cards + readings )

Ma Deva Padma

The art of Padma (zir legal name is Susan Ostapkowicz but since ze signs zir artwork with Padma I assume it is zir preferred name) absolutely blows my mind... it is the energy of the artwork itself that I feel in each card. Each one was created with such focus and love... they just GLOW. And they are so full of color ♥ Sadly, this deck is the only work ze has done in this style (as far as I can tell), but there are 79 paintings in this deck. I do think I will be doing more readings at some point, and I will include photos then too. (there were a surprising number of repeat appearances in these 8 readings! I suppose some of the cards are more eager to speak than others ;-))

I did these in a 4-card spread I made up -- past, present, future, and vision. (I like it quite a lot!) Now before you read your message I want to say that I believe a VERY important part of receiving any sort of spiritual message is checking with your own spirit to see if it resonates. If it feels wrong to you, then assume some mistake or misinterpretation on my part, I promise you I will not be the SLIGHTEST bit offended or upset. I'm just learning, so your honesty will be really helpful (as it always is of course, heh). If it resonates, take it to heart and let me know -- if it jars, throw it right out and let me know.



( photos of cards + readings )

Willow Arlenea
(contemporary)

Willow's art leaves me enchanted and inspired. Her pieces are multilayered with a lot of detail, yet not cluttered, full of color yet not garish, and upliftingly spiritual. Various pieces express my own beliefs in the most incredible way. Rather than writing more here, I'll put in some comments below the pieces that speak to me in ways that can be verbalized.

Please check out the gallery -- definitely worth looking at.



( painted, abstract mild nudity -- probably work safe )

I made a ton of icons from her art a while back -- if you want to check them out, click:

. . .

Willow Arlenea
(contemporary)

Willow's art leaves me enchanted and inspired. Her pieces are multilayered with a lot of detail, yet not cluttered, full of color yet not garish, and upliftingly spiritual. Various pieces express my own beliefs in the most incredible way. Rather than writing more here, I'll put in some comments below the pieces that speak to me in ways that can be verbalized.

Please check out the gallery -- definitely worth looking at.



( painted, abstract mild nudity -- probably work safe )

I made a ton of icons from her art a while back -- if you want to check them out, click:

. . .

Willow Arlenea

Willow's art leaves me enchanted and inspired. Her pieces are multilayered with a lot of detail, yet not cluttered, full of color yet not garish, and upliftingly spiritual. Various pieces express my own beliefs in the most incredible way. Rather than writing more here, I'll put in some comments below the pieces that speak to me in ways that can be verbalized.

Please check out the gallery -- definitely worth looking at.



( painted, abstract mild nudity -- probably work safe )

I made a ton of icons from her art a while back -- if you want to check them out, click:

. . .

Michael Whelan
(contemporary)

I've loved Michael Whelan's art for over a decade... I first saw it on the cover of Tad William's Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. I was blown away by the beauty of the Sithi and hunted down all of the Michael Whelan images I could find. His illustrative work is amazing (partly due to the fact that he always reads the books before painting the cover!) but it's his personal work that inspires me the most. Some of his paintings are so important to me I feel they must be decorating the interior of my heart-home.

One thing that captures me is his use of symbolism. Two of his personal symbols are repeated in various paintings; a red glass heart on a red cord, usually carried by a person, and an orb or bubble with a flame inside. To me, the heart represents the true self (it is often being gazed at by the person) and the flame-bubble represents spirit, or life force. Also, he often illustrates the connection between human and nature, in a wonderfully beautiful way.

Please do check out the gallery -- I'm only featuring the ones that have greatest meaning to me, but there are so many others that I love and are definitely worth looking at.



( very mild nudity )

Michael Whelan
(contemporary)

I've loved Michael Whelan's art for over a decade... I first saw it on the cover of Tad William's Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. I was blown away by the beauty of the Sithi and hunted down all of the Michael Whelan images I could find. His illustrative work is amazing (partly due to the fact that he always reads the books before painting the cover!) but it's his personal work that inspires me the most. Some of his paintings are so important to me I feel they must be decorating the interior of my heart-home.

One thing that captures me is his use of symbolism. Two of his personal symbols are repeated in various paintings; a red glass heart on a red cord, usually carried by a person, and an orb or bubble with a flame inside. To me, the heart represents the true self (it is often being gazed at by the person) and the flame-bubble represents spirit, or life force. Also, he often illustrates the connection between human and nature, in a wonderfully beautiful way.

Please do check out the gallery -- I'm only featuring the ones that have greatest meaning to me, but there are so many others that I love and are definitely worth looking at.



( very mild nudity )

Michael Whelan

I've loved Michael Whelan's art for over a decade... I first saw it on the cover of Tad William's Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. I was blown away by the beauty of the Sithi and hunted down all of the Michael Whelan images I could find. His illustrative work is amazing (partly due to the fact that he always reads the books before painting the cover!) but it's his personal work that inspires me the most. Some of his paintings are so important to me I feel they must be decorating the interior of my heart-home.

One thing that captures me is his use of symbolism. Two of his personal symbols are repeated in various paintings; a red glass heart on a red cord, usually carried by a person, and an orb or bubble with a flame inside. To me, the heart represents the true self (it is often being gazed at by the person) and the flame-bubble represents spirit, or life force. Also, he often illustrates the connection between human and nature, in a wonderfully beautiful way.

Please do check out the gallery -- I'm only featuring the ones that have greatest meaning to me, but there are so many others that I love and are definitely worth looking at.



( very mild nudity )

Jack Morefield & plangdon
(contemporary)

Jack Morefield, on dA as lostmyband, creates amazing portraits and landscapes using clearly-divided lines of color rather than the usual line and shade -- kinda impressionistic, but clearer. I love his work because he seems to paint the energy of a thing rather than simply the form of it. To me, that shows the interconnectedness of all things. ♥ I've only put in three of his works here, but do check out his gallery at the link above -- it's amazing.

As for plangdon, I love the sweet mood, lovely shapes, and soft light with occasional intense color. I didn't get to see much of hir work, but 'New Life' in particular stands out in my mind as a truly fantastic work -- the kind you never get tired of looking at.



( NWS for mild nudity )

Jack Morefield & plangdon
(contemporary)

Jack Morefield, on dA as lostmyband, creates amazing portraits and landscapes using clearly-divided lines of color rather than the usual line and shade -- kinda impressionistic, but clearer. I love his work because he seems to paint the energy of a thing rather than simply the form of it. To me, that shows the interconnectedness of all things. ♥ I've only put in three of his works here, but do check out his gallery at the link above -- it's amazing.

As for plangdon, I love the sweet mood, lovely shapes, and soft light with occasional intense color. I didn't get to see much of hir work, but 'New Life' in particular stands out in my mind as a truly fantastic work -- the kind you never get tired of looking at.



( NWS for mild nudity )

Jack Morefield & plangdon

Jack Morefield, on dA as lostmyband, creates amazing portraits and landscapes using clearly-divided lines of color rather than the usual line and shade -- kinda impressionistic, but clearer. I love his work because he seems to paint the energy of a thing rather than simply the form of it. To me, that shows the interconnectedness of all things. ♥ I've only put in three of his works here, but do check out his gallery at the link above -- it's amazing.

As for plangdon, I love the sweet mood, lovely shapes, and soft light with occasional intense color. I didn't get to see much of hir work, but 'New Life' in particular stands out in my mind as a truly fantastic work -- the kind you never get tired of looking at.



( NWS for mild nudity )