I was at the Riverside Community Arts Association gallery during Art Walk and noticed this young woman holding my Hooked! image (actually it was a mousepad). I told her I was the photographer and asked if she wanted to know the backstory on the image. “Sure,” she said. When Ashley, the model, arrived, she mentioned that she had just had her nipples pierced. This gave me an idea – I had just bought some marine fish hooks and suggested that she replace her barbell with the fish hooks. I could tell this idea wasn’t going over very well so I explained how I could take them into the shop, grind off the end, and buff them down so they’re perfectly smooth. Ashley was intrigued, so I machined down the hooks and showed them to her. “Ok, let’s do it.” She inserted the hooks and the rest is history. It was a great application of my 105 mm macro lens. I called the image “Hooked!” Ashley sold quite a few of these on her website. It’s one of my favorite images.
Now … on to the main point of this post! In talking with Elizabeth, the new owner of the mousepad, it got me to thinking about who buys my more erotic art. As I thought back to who bought photos at Arts Walk and Festivals, I was struck by a moment of clarity that my buyers are almost always women or couples (some photo evidence shown here). I suppose reflecting on the epiphany might result in an analysis of what is the male vs female gaze, how the subject is portrayed, whether or not a stereotypical beauty standard is adhered to, and other socio/psycho/politico dynamics. But I’m too tired for that right now. But comments are open and welcome. And I’m enjoying the notion that my fine art erotica is bringing joy to couples and women.
