This image is based on an intimate moment in a very special, enduring personal relationship for me. The image is 'explicit' in nature I suppose, but hopefully not in its tone. There is a deep, emotional connection that can be experienced through sex and sensuality, a complex interaction between people and ourselves regardless of the more conservative concepts of love, relationships and sexuality, which sometimes just don't apply in the world we find ourselves living in. Deep, enduring love and connection can be expressed through physical intimacy, friendship, trust and love. These experiences may be more available to us than many people realise or want to admit, and there can be huge joy and value in complex relationships if we open ourselves to the possibilities of love as an expression rather than a finite resource.
MILTOGRAPHIC
Sex and sensuality has always been an important part of life for me, through my teens and into my adult life. I tend to question most things... And often it feels like too many people limit their own experience and pleasure based on historic, limited approaches to our own bodies, relationships and sex, sexuality and intimacy. For me beauty, inspiration, creativity and art exists in all shapes and sizes and I try to explore that in the people I draw.
Creating can be a very vulnerable process. Being neurodiverse, I'm a constant overthinker, struggle with anxiety and rejection sensitivity which can make putting anything out into the world really challenging. Sometimes I'll lose focus as soon as piece is 'achievable' and it's hard to continue for fear of ruining it or having it share it with others. Creating for the journey has helped, and I keep challenging myself to share my work regardless of the outcome and my own perception - sometimes something I am particularly critical of is really well recieved and enjoyed by others. You just never know.
Sex and sensuality definitely play a big part in my inspiration to create, art is a similar form of self expression and exploration! If something sparks my creativity it will almost always have an element of sexuality or sensuality to it... And like to take something explicit and try to find a space where the art can make it more accessible or relatable and vice versa, everyday scenarios that have an innate sensuality about them if you look at it slightly differently.
Create. Sketch, doodle, take random photos, write... Whatever your art, enjoy the process. For me, creating leads to art, rather than attempting to get to a finished ideal 'product', when I'm too focused on the end result, that's where my anxiety kicks in and stifles my creativity and my enjoyment! The piece I've submitted for this issue isn't my usual style, but it was an approach I challenged myself to try to explore a particular relationship and set of feelings I carry.
