We all see the world through a specific lens. What, or how, we see and interpret what we visualize is individual to each of us based on our life resume, our loves and passions. Despite my passion for photography and art, I see the world from the perspective of a writer, specially that of a screen writer. Throughout my day, whether at work, with friends or family or simply walking down a street, my mind relays what it sees in the form of words, searching for just the right word or phrase to best describe what I am seeing to another.
The hardest profiles to write are from artists who have nothing to say. The old adage, 'letting the art speak for itself' is one I never really wrapped my head around it. When I see, view or watch anything I love from a great photograph or painting to a television show or movie the one thing I annoying love to do is talk about it. I have often dropped or stopped working on pieces for FH, even when I truly loved the work, when the artist or model had nothing really to say about it. It is not the meaning or message of the work I am so much interested in learning but as I have been writing about lately, more the process that led to it's creation.
When first seeing an image I love, or an artist to profile for FH, my mind automatically begins to search for how best to compose, via words and language, what I want to say, and how I want to present the work. Almost every time it is the artist, in this case London's Will Wilcox (Molasso UK), who provides the foundation for me to start off from. I am really not sure it is a coincidence or not, but I find myself lately drawn to photography created through the eyes of painters.
Seeing life through a painters lens seemed destiny for Will as his father was a successful painter and a keen photographer and taught his son the basics when he was very young. Will says his coal-cellar doubled as a darkroom, and it was where he learned to use an enlarger and to develop and print his own images.
'I graduated in Fine Art at Kingston School of Art, London, where I also studied illustration, photography and print-making. For many years I have painted portraits, working largely from photos of my subjects. These days I guess my approach is always from the point of view of a painter, as well as a way to indulge and express my fantasies.'
Will Wilcox
Although many artists begin with a very specific idea of what they are creating, some, especially painters, often end up at a completely different destination than the one they started with. Space and balance therefore must be malleable as rigidity and creativity rarely go hand in hand. This makes maintaining a radial balance, a focal point which lures the eye, even more crucial.
Skillfully maintaining a radial balance, whether it be a prop, structure or even color element can lead to the creation of incredible images. In this case, the model Leo_Dominic and specifically his facial expressions, is what drew my eye and attention in. Even when his face is not visible, I could feel the attitude and confidence exuding from Leo in each of Will's images.
'I met Leo Dominic a modelling website. He is from Sweden, but lives in Brazil at present, so I guess I was lucky to catch him when he was briefly in London, and to get a chance for a fantastic photo shoot. Working with him was so easy; I hardly had to direct him, or suggest ideas, he just danced and played around in front of the camera, slowly getting into more and more erotic poses.'
'All I had to do was snap away, and occasionally change the lighting around. It was a struggle at times to maintain a professional attitude throughout, but I managed to do so somehow – one has to make these small sacrifices in the name of art!'
Will Wilcox
Molasso UK on ModelMayhem
Molasso UK on Flickr
1 comment:
A good model for me is one who has expression other than blank stares that are common in much erotic photography. The balance makes it a sensible art product driven by the emotions implicit in the expression.
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