"Glowing Nude"

(oil painting on cardboard, 14X22, 1999)

"Being naked approaches being revolutionary; going barefoot is mere populism."
John Updike

"When you get the personality, you don't need the nudity."
Mae West

"The problem lies in interpretation. A nude should be accepted for its face value — an exploration of the human form in all its natural glory."
Greg Gorman

The Glowing Nude is one of my favorite paintings. I remember painting it so well, as if it were yesterday. My model, a very beautiful African-American young woman, stood next to a window under direct sun light, which reflected on her skin as a colorful glow. I've never been as excited to paint a nude as I was on that day. Usually I'm more interested in people's faces as opposed to their bodies, because I feel that a thoughtful face is more beautiful than the most perfect body in the world. Nonetheless, I still consider the Glowing Nude as one of my best creations.