Artist Statement
Destigmatizing Same Sex Intimacy
In this series, I tackle the topic of same sex intimacy and sexual acts that have traditionally been stigmatized. Often, typically in right-wing Christian groups, same sex couples are regarded as sinful and disgusting for displaying any sort of affection for one another. Often reduced to pornographic depictions, something as chaste as kissing is seen as inappropriate. Feelings of love between two people are stripped from these portrayals and their bond is reduced to a shallow fetish. I want to show both women-loving-women and men-loving-men as couples showing their affections to each other physically. Hugging, kissing, cuddling, having sex, and showing how affectionate they are to one another, singing words of affirmation and care.
I am a queer artist. I create many queer characters. However, I have not made much queer art considering this is something that affects much of my life. I’ve always stayed away from romance in my stories because it’s so prominent elsewhere. But not for queer people. Same sex couples have very little positive representation in mainstream media. While there are many indie artists that tackle this topic, their work does not receive prominent attention.
In addition much queer representation that does happen is so… homophobic. Queer characters are killed off or negatively stereotyped as predators. The romance is so superficial and purely focuses on sex without supplementing their sex life with emotional intimacy. I want to change that. I want to help people understand that we’re not these stereotypes.
I have created the images digitally to mimic media like TV shows and Webcomics. They’re much rarer, and seldom well done in traditional media like plays or books. I have printed these images out and pasted them on construction paper, and decorated them to mimic homemade Valentines day cards, complete with lace and glitter glue, I then glued down pencils and candies to look like cards on a desk. I want to drive home the intimacy and love aspect. I want the images to be warm, and pleasant. Inviting. Appealing. A warm colour scheme with semi-realism and softer lineart to create an overall soft, loving feeling.I primarily used a pink and red colour scheme. I used a brush that mimics the look of crayon/pencil so it looks more personal, handmade, and intimate, as well.