January: New Year, Baby

Happy New Year!!

Final holiday painting from my calendar, "A Man for Every Season". A bit of New Year's cheer.

I wanted a New Years celebration theme for January's painting, but the only real icons for that are either Baby New Year or Father Time. Age-wise not exactly 'suitable' material for a sexy males calendar. However, I went with a variation on Baby New Year and just had him grow up a bit.

Originally all that was between him and his 'new years glory' was the 2009 sash. Unfortunately, perhaps, as things were adjusted in the painting, the sash just kept 'slipping' until it wasn't really going to cover much, plus it was getting a little more 'adult' than I intended the calendar to be. I was just messing around with the briefs (which are aptly named :evil: ) and happened upon the shiny metallic effect for them and liked it, so the rest is history. :)

This was probably the most difficult or close to it of all the calendar paintings. Nothing seemed to be working out right at first. And even coming back to it later I still struggled with some aspects of it. The champagne glass was the most troublesome, and his stomach and hips. Until finally, I don't know what made the difference, everything clicked into place.

While it's not my favorite from the calendar (more for theme/type than anything, September's is probably my fave... love a guy in glasses ) I do like how his face and hair turned out and I think his is probably the best of all the calendar pieces. I think it was worth all the struggle... even though at the time I wanted to pull all my hair out and be done with him.

Well hope he helps bring in the new year with a smile... and maybe a little drool.

Cheers!!