Samurai Sketchbook of Butch-Femme Art

[Soft*Silver]

I actually used art in therapy, Samarai. I use to be a children's therapist. I could tell when a child was breaking through by the progression of his or her art. Art doesnt come from the hand..it comes from the essense of someone.

I am thrilled you will attempt a BF horse drawing for me. I love horses and need them in my life. To me they represent love and freedom but most of all, self empowerment.

[WolfyOne]

Your art is wonderful and I'm enjoying the views.

Best I got is my poetry when I put pen to paper.

Keep them coming

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Miss_Tia

I actually used art in therapy, Samarai. I use to be a children's therapist. I could tell when a child was breaking through by the progression of his or her art. Art doesnt come from the hand..it comes from the essense of someone.

That's fascinating. I once had a conversation about what it might mean between a child who colours well within the lines (eg in a colouring book), one who scribbles over the lines. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on that.

PS. Am currently working on the request pic.

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by WolfyOne

Your art is wonderful and I'm enjoying the views.

Best I got is my poetry when I put pen to paper.

Keep them coming

Originally Posted by SassySparkle

LOVING your artwork!! It's beautiful!

Thank you both
Have I mentioned how I admire those who can write?

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Allison W

I am not entirely certain how it is that a person manages to create images of human beauty with that kind of... organic-ness, with both technical details and emotional signals being that spot-on, but I am very glad it is a thing that happens.

translation: holy shit your art is amazing. more of this kind of thing please

I'll also say that both the butches and the femmes look fantastic enough that I can't say for sure whether it's being drawn from the perspective of a butch gaze or a femme gaze. (Or, perhaps, another perspective entirely.) And that is a very good thing.

As for ideas, hmmm. You've posted images with a variety of themes already, from real-world to fantastical, so I'll pitch something out of left field. Something heroic or triumphant. Perhaps a strong young butch woman or girl who has just prevailed in a physical conflict, or one protecting her beloved?

Wow, thank you for your amazing words! I attempt to portray the characters in the light that they'd wish to be portrayed, to the best of my understanding. It's my way of respecting my bros and sises.

That is a totally awesome idea. I've wondered more than a few times if such themes have gone out of fashion. I'm glad it's not! I've also wondered how women.. mm, damsels... feel about it.

Originally Posted by Gemme

The heroic concept could work hand in hand with Tia's horse.

Unless no one likes the knight on a white steed thing anymore.

<--feeling kinda romantic this morning

I do! I do!
I'm rusty on horses, so might not be able to fit a lot of elements in one pic. There'll be more horsey pics, to be sure.

Thank you for the ideas!

[Allison W]

Originally Posted by Samurai Wanderer

Wow, thank you for your amazing words! I attempt to portray the characters in the light that they'd wish to be portrayed, to the best of my understanding. It's my way of respecting my bros and sises.

That is a totally awesome idea. I've wondered more than a few times if such themes have gone out of fashion. I'm glad it's not! I've also wondered how women.. mm, damsels... feel about it.

Admittedly I may still be at the age where I am far too attracted to violent behaviour and physical strength (well, and strong women who could protect me physically); perhaps that's it. But if you're up for drawing it, well, I can't stop you, can I?

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Allison W

Admittedly I may still be at the age where I am far too attracted to violent behaviour and physical strength (well, and strong women who could protect me physically); perhaps that's it. But if you're up for drawing it, well, I can't stop you, can I?

I like good ol' chivalry. Just that sometimes it seems politically incorrect nowadays to show "damsels in distress" so blatantly. It's still around when men run the show, but don't women find it degrading? ... And now Twilight comes to mind. I dunno LOL.

[Allison W]

Originally Posted by Samurai Wanderer

I like good ol' chivalry. Just that sometimes it seems politically incorrect nowadays to show "damsels in distress" so blatantly. It's still around when men run the show, but don't women find it degrading? ... And now Twilight comes to mind. I dunno LOL.

You did post a solo femme image. Perhaps you could post a solo butch image with cues suggesting a conflict prior to the image (like still wiping blood from her mouth, or whatever), or the butch and the opponent she prevails over, or the butch and her steed--I could go on. The strong, heroic image of the butch is still present, but not necessarily alongside the portrayal of a disempowered femme.

Jus' throwin' that out there.

[Soft*Silver]

Samarai...it all depends on why they are coloring wherever they are coloring. Outside of the lines can be independence showing, creativity, or stubbornness, rebelliousness, or even a neurological disorder. It could mean they are exploring feelings or having too many feelings stuffed.

What I looked for was color selection, pressure, thickness of lines, movement and images freely formed subconsciously.

I always asked them their interpretation first, before I would examine it closer. I can see red as a color of anger and to the child, it could be a memory of the red blanket he carried around as a child and lost...which is tied into the grief now over losing his mother to alcoholism..(true story).

And for the record, almost all anger has a sense of loss attached to it. So sometimes even if they dont see the anger it there and sometimes its all about the blankie...

I had a child who would only color with greens. I gave him a box of crayons with no greens it and told him to draw me a picture. if you could have seen the torment on his face and how hard he processed this for such a long time...he simply could not do it without green. OCD. So I got finger paints and we explored putting colors together and seeing them change colors. Then we got water and food coloring..and he watched blue and yellow turn to green. By the time we were done with my therapy with him, he was using a couple more colors. Not all of them but lil steps is good. And not everyone has to use all the colors. In one culture, (I dont remember where) they only see three colors. Period. Shades of them but no other colors. So perceptions play a big part of it. If he had been older we would have explored this too. But I only had a few week with him...

[little_ms_sunshyne]

You are so talented! I love your drawings! Feel like they should be in a comic!

I have to make a request A pinup inspired femme and a dapper butch.

Cannot wait to see more of your art!

[Soft*Silver]

Oh I love that idea!!!

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by little_ms_sunshyne

You are so talented! I love your drawings! Feel like they should be in a comic!

I have to make a request A pinup inspired femme and a dapper butch.

Cannot wait to see more of your art!

Thank you Stone4play and I are going to attempt a comic collaboration, so maybe, just maybe...!

Pin-up femme and dapper butch are getting the votes, so I shall give it a go once I google, uh, what the terms mean LOL.</newbie moment>

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Miss_Tia

Samarai...it all depends on why they are coloring wherever they are coloring. Outside of the lines can be independence showing, creativity, or stubbornness, rebelliousness, or even a neurological disorder. It could mean they are exploring feelings or having too many feelings stuffed.

What I looked for was color selection, pressure, thickness of lines, movement and images freely formed subconsciously.

I always asked them their interpretation first, before I would examine it closer. I can see red as a color of anger and to the child, it could be a memory of the red blanket he carried around as a child and lost...which is tied into the grief now over losing his mother to alcoholism..(true story).

And for the record, almost all anger has a sense of loss attached to it. So sometimes even if they dont see the anger it there and sometimes its all about the blankie...

I had a child who would only color with greens. I gave him a box of crayons with no greens it and told him to draw me a picture. if you could have seen the torment on his face and how hard he processed this for such a long time...he simply could not do it without green. OCD. So I got finger paints and we explored putting colors together and seeing them change colors. Then we got water and food coloring..and he watched blue and yellow turn to green. By the time we were done with my therapy with him, he was using a couple more colors. Not all of them but lil steps is good. And not everyone has to use all the colors. In one culture, (I dont remember where) they only see three colors. Period. Shades of them but no other colors. So perceptions play a big part of it. If he had been older we would have explored this too. But I only had a few week with him...

That's most fascinating and elucidating, thank you! It makes me want to learn more about this. I had no idea that the deceptively simple process of watching colours mixing could be so revealing and therapeutic.

[Soft*Silver]

Originally Posted by Samurai Wanderer

That's most fascinating and elucidating, thank you! It makes me want to learn more about this. I had no idea that the deceptively simple process of watching colours mixing could be so revealing and therapeutic.

yes and it could have been used further into therapy too...such as aiding him to understand the concept of "blended" families such as his own. Kids are conceptual if they dont have language capabilities. They wont grasp the abstract of it until they are older than he was but the image remains and will be stored until it can be processed then..

[Katniss]

Originally Posted by Samurai Wanderer

I attempt to portray the characters in the light that they'd wish to be portrayed, to the best of my understanding

I really, really like this concept and approach to your drawings. I so often hear authors talk about how their characters in books would react to something or "what would character x do/think/feel" but I am trying to remember if I have ever heard a visual artist approach the subject like this. Maybe...I have no art degree so won't claim a broad knowledge. What I so often read about is the many visual artists stating they painted/drew the figure because they (artist) were trying to convey a thought/feeling/idea. Almost a voyeuristic experience with the subject which can sometimes leave the viewer feeling a coolness or almost clinical approach to the work. Your drawings are very engaging and seem (to me) intimate without being intrusive. Thank you so much for sharing these with us!

Oh...and agree with Sunshyne above...the dapper butch, pinup femme idea sounds fab!




Katniss~~ (the above emoticon being the extent of my artistic ability...)

[Allison W]

Originally Posted by Katniss

I really, really like this concept and approach to your drawings. I so often hear authors talk about how their characters in books would react to something or "what would character x do/think/feel"

My BDSM personas/role-playing characters/etc. get like this. It's like my issues develop issues.</tangent>

(speaking of the first commission I got done of one of said characters/personas was recently finished and delivered to me; I am not sure where to show it</supertangent>)

[nycfem]

I would be into seeing a drawing of a butch or a femme or some combo where one or more is full-figured

Loving this thread as well as all the great conversation your mad talent is generating.

[Samurai Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Katniss

What I so often read about is the many visual artists stating they painted/drew the figure because they (artist) were trying to convey a thought/feeling/idea. Almost a voyeuristic experience with the subject which can sometimes leave the viewer feeling a coolness or almost clinical approach to the work. Your drawings are very engaging and seem (to me) intimate without being intrusive. Thank you so much for sharing these with us!

Perhaps that's the "essence" that Miss Tia referred to. When I feel a distance to the subject matter, and then try to force myself into the work, I end up drained afterwards. When I feel a connection though, it's a joy. So it's my pleasure to share the sketches here, and I also feel a lot less weird that I'm not the only one who likes them!