Cover Round-Up

It's been a while since I shared any of my illustration projects on here. Let me post a few of my recent favorites, all novel covers for Dreamspinner Press:

 

 

 

Busting Cai

Cai Jiang Xun, my notorious eBay art bootlegger, is back with a vengeance. Last night I noticed a slew of new offerings in his eBay store, many ripped off from known artists. I alerted those I recognized and then switched on my webcam to make a little PSA about our art-forging wonder. Check it out below and please take a moment to share it with the masses by posting this link to your fb page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXYSATYvpsg. We need to help Cai Jiang become the shining star of the art world that we all know him to be. Thanks!

Mister Sister

I am donating several prints to an upcoming benefit hosted by the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. On March 5, The Sisters will be holding an art/silent auction and raffle to benefit Lifeworks in conjunction with their Mister Sister 2011 event. Lifeworks is a youth development and mentoring program at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The program offers one on one, peer, and group mentoring opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth ages 12-24. The goal is to help LGBTQ youth realize their goals and dreams with a safe space, positive and affirming role models, and workshops and activities that are fun and educational.

I've donated the following prints:
Say Cheese...Cake, Starring Mike Ruiz
Naughty or Nice
Christmas Surprise
Noah's Gay Wedding Cruise
The Elevator Incident

The Elevator Incident, by Paul Richmond

A Heart Wants What It Wants

I just finished reading a wonderful novel by my friend and childhood art mentor, Linda Regula. A Heart Wants What It Wants is a fictionalized account of a young man's coming out story set in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

Even though I'm more of a city boy, it hit close to home because I was the inspiration for the main character, Noble Rule. Linda also wrote herself into the story, as reclusive artist Annalise Morgan who takes Noble under her wing and teaches him to paint -- and ultimately to accept himself. The novel follows Noble's journey to art school and his struggle to come to terms with his sexuality.

Linda brilliantly captures the pain of separation I experienced during this time - the separation between myself and my peers as well as the separation between who I was and who I thought I was supposed to be. However, my favorite parts of the novel are when she offers a glimpse into the nurturing environment she created for me during our weekly art lessons (beginning when I was only 3 and a half years old!).

The story of Annalise and Noble is really the story of Linda and me, and it's one that I believe will inspire others to recognize the powerful impact a mentor can have on a child's life.

Linda and me, 1984

Born This Way

Check out my contribution to the "Born This Way" project - a collection of photos/essays by gay adults reflecting on the earliest memories of our innate LGBT selves. Proudly sporting my homemade Snow White costume, I truly thought I was the fairest of them all in this pic! Read my corresponding essay here, and be sure to peruse the other submissions -- it's a fantastic project that really seems to be taking off.

100 Artists of the Male Figure

I'm so proud to be one of the artists featured in the upcoming anthology 100 Artists of the Male Figure by E. Gibbons. It will be released in April but is available for pre-order now on Amazon. There are some incredible artists represented in this collection and I am honored to be included.

Brand New Store

I just finished stocking the shelves and setting up the window displays in my new online store, and it's now officially open for business: www.paulrichmondstore.com. The format is more simple and user-friendly than my previous Etsy store. I hope you like it! Browse around and let me know what you think!

It Gets Better/Make It Better

Four of my pieces were accepted into an exhibit at 13FOREST Gallery in Arlington, MA. The show is called "It Gets Better/Make It Better," and it explores the theme of how an individual exists within and can affect the community. Exhibit dates are from Feb 17-March 25. Visit the gallery's website for more details.

Prints of the following paintings will be included:

Not Just a Closet

A Place of My Own

Noah's Gay Wedding Cruise

I Won't Tell if You Won't

I'm thrilled to be part of an exhibit with such an important message.

Behind the Scenes Cheesecake Boys video

I Won't Tell if You Won't | New Painting

My new painting I Won't Tell if You Won't was inspired by the U.S. Military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and the recent efforts of civil rights activists (including diva angels Lady Gaga and Kathy Griffin) that led to its repeal.

I Won't Tell if You Won't, painting by Paul Richmond

12" x 15" limited edition prints are available in my online store.

The original painting will be featured in a group exhibition at NY Studio Gallery called Hotter than July: a Sexploration opening January 13, 2011 in New York City. The show is curated by Savannah Spirit, and details about the opening reception on Friday, January 14 can be found on her website.

Here are some detail pics:

 

 

Extravaganza Pics

Here are some fantastic photos from the Cheesecake Boy Extravaganza by Tommy Feisel at NEW AGE FOTO:

 

 

 

 

Extravaganza Recap

Me with the fabulous Cheesecake Boy models! I guess I was a little over-dressed for the occasion. (Photo by Chanda Foster)

The Cheesecake Boy Extravaganza at Luxboheme was a HUGE success! Thank you to everyone in Columbus who joined us for an amazing night of art, fashion, and many other surprises. I'm starting to get some photos from various guests at the event, so I'll share some here and update with more as they come in. The professional shots should be ready next week.

The event sold out, so the room filled up quickly and guests mingled and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and cocktails while some jumped into the "Pin-Up Yourself" photobooth, benefiting Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

 

After a brief discussion of my paintings, the fashion show kicked off. I don't have any pics yet from the show itself, but the boys modeled everything from adorable Lifer T-shirts to skimpy robes, culminating in a display of their Baskit underwear (one of our event sponsors).

The Cheesecake Boys! L to R - Jaris, Jesse, Stanley, Jason, Brian, Bruin. Thanks, guys!! (photo by Charles Dersom)

Cheesecake Boys love cameras! (Photo by Chanda Foster)

Then we had an amazing performance by drag superstar Nina West, who performed Pink's "Raise Your Glass" wearing this little number:

Nina West, during the first part of her performance at the Cheesecake Boy Extravaganza (photo by Charles Dersom)

But of course, in keeping with the theme of the evening, midway through the song she was down to this:

Nina West shows off her unmentionables (Photo by Chanda Foster)

Everyone seemed to have a fabulous time, and I am so grateful to all the people who generously gave their time and talents to help make it happen! My friend Brooke Albrecht, shown below in center, was one of my co-conspirators for the evening.

Hanging out with two of my favorite pin-up girls, Brooke and Maria (photo by Chanda Foster)

Special thanks also to Eric Albrecht, Nancy Smeltzer, Priscila Teixeira, Luxboheme, Baskit, Outlook Columbus, Nina West, Studio Fovero, and of course the Cheesecake Boy models: Jesse Jones, Stanley-Sebastian Priest, Jasen McGee, Brian Williams, Bruin Collinsworth, and Jaris Morrison.

See more photos from the event on my Flickr page here.

Christmas Surprise

There's nothing better at Christmas than an unexpected package showing up at the door! Both Cheesecake Boys in this heartwarming holiday scene have just such a surprise awaiting them, though in very different forms. And I doubt these boys are going to be able to wait until Christmas morning to unwrap them! This painting is available as a limited-edition giclee print and a greeting card.

Rainbow Pride Cheesecake

My latest Cheesecake Boy painting is a colorful one -- introducing Rainbow Pride Cheesecake!!

Limited-edition giclee prints are available in my online store here.

This Cheesecake Boy has many reasons to be proud as he marches in the annual Pride parade with his rainbow flag in tow. However, he wasn't expecting to show off the rainbow pattern on his underwear too! As the button on his tight, sexy jeans pops off, his pants begin to plummet. What's a boy to do? With many blocks remaining, he must grab hold of the situation as best he can and march onward -- giving new meaning to the expression "bursting with pride!"

"Rainbow Pride Cheesecake" is the official pin-up boy of the Rainbow Awards hosted by Elisa Rolle.

Cheesecake Boy Extravaganza

The Cheescake Boy event at Luxboheme is next week, and the Boys are starting to pop up all over!

Outlook Columbus:

 

The Other Paper:

 

Today I also received a big box of goodies from the underwear company Baskit. They are one of the event sponsors, and the Cheesecake Boy models will be wearing some of Baskit's finest -- like this:

Those of you who are near Columbus, I hope to see you there! The event does require advance tickets, and they are $15 at www.columbusisgreat.com.