Dated 31/12/2010

"Okay, Mike. You win. Just one more hour."

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Hi folks, RipRoarRex rounding off 2010 with one more piece of work.

Anyone following my work for the past few years might have noticed that a New Years Eve submission almost seems to be a tradition for me. Perhaps it's because I like having a piece of work with which to sign off the year, or perhaps it's because I like having a convenient annual marker for how my art has developed over the preceding twelve months. In any case, what better way to ring in the New Year than with something that warms the heart.

I very rarely tend to do pictures like this. True, my work is usually primarily centred on satisfying libido, hence I seldom create a picture which does not seek this end. However, as a picture with which to finish off the year, I thought this would be an ideal time to try something different.

Due to the content of much of my gallery, I guess most people see Rexar as a cruel, sadistic beast. Sure, that persona works for the fetish stuff, but these days, that is not actually how I imagine him most of the time. I much prefer to imagine him as a sweet and gentle lover; a protective, reassuring presence. I've tended to explore this side in a sexual capacity in my previous work with Rexar and Mike, but I've also tried to offer glimmers of what is, deep down, a simple and innocent love between them. That idea is what I wanted to try and get across with this picture - and at the same time, try pushing some new artistic boundaries of my own.

I wouldn't say it's really the best piece of work I've done - it's been a long time since I tried the whole lineless, photorealistic look, and I don't really feel I've pulled it off that well with this one compared to some previous efforts. Admittedly, I've always felt that I colour far better than I draw - I can colour something as realistically as I like, but its realism is always hampered by crude, cartoonish linework. But that wasn't my priority here - I was striving to make the characters more believable, to make their interaction and their warmth seem tangible. I'm not sure I achieved it, but hopefully others will interpret it in the way I had intended.

Anyway, I shall leave it there for this year. It's been a difficult 12 months for me if I'm honest, and I'm facing something of an uncertain future going into 2011. But here's to what will hopefully be a new beginning and to the new challenges that the next twelve months will bring. And at this festive time of year, make sure you spend some time with someone special to you.

Thanks for reading and I wish you all a very Happy New Year.



RRRex