I caught up with Kent for a behind-the-scenes look at his erotic artwork.

The origin story

“I can recall enjoying drawing as early as when I was five years old…” when I ask Kent how he got his start creatively. “It was kind of my thing to do. My parents encouraged me and I began oil painting lessons from the age of 10.”

“I studied art and fashion illustration at Parsons in New York City – pretty much the goal and intent of my life has been to be an artist.”

The allure of erotica

“In the beginning my focus was portraiture and figure painting…” says Kent, when we talk about the evolution of his work. “When I was about 13, I began exploring my seuxality by painting fantasy men.”

“I was particularly drawn to visible-penis-lines – public exhibition, whether it was intentional or not.”

“I would alter photos in magazines by erasing and shading with pencil. Underwear catalogues, album covers, and magazines were all fair game to be sexed up. The bulge has been a lifetime affair for me.”

“Creating paintings of eroticised men is the ultimate satisfaction. There’s always a mechanic or cowboy waiting in the wings.”

Heroes and inspirations

“I love the works of pinup artists like Vargas, Oliva De Berardinis, and Hajime Sorayama – they’re role-models, for sure…” says Kent, when I ask him about his art heroes. “Each of them, in their own way, creates stylised sexual icons of beauty. However, they’re known for their women – my intent has always been to turn the focus to the male figure and all that is handsome and erotic therein.”

“I worked for a lot of erotic magazines in the past – Men, Honcho, In Touch, Torso, Mandate, Blueboy, Playgirl, and Freshmen. I often painted porn-stars or characters scripted by the fiction. It was enjoyable work to be sure and furthered my direction to the sexy side of art.”

“Now that I paint more for myself, I prefer to create the guys in my head. I call him a Kentman. There’s a basic look to a Kentman – big nose, big ears, big dick, big nipples, full lips, and shaggy, spiky or slicked back hair. A moustache or facial hair is also particularly hot. He’s also USDA certified lean – to crib from The Killers’ song, The Man.”

“In most cases, the guys I paint are partially clothed. For me, the act of undressing or a reveal is the end-all in sexy. Muscle shirts, towels, underwear, jeans falling down, shirts unbuttoned – all good stuff.”

“In the last few years, I’ve also been painting fan-art versions of superheroes and cartoon characters like Spiderman, and Archie and Jughead. The idea of flipping the script on what mainstream media presents is not only subvesive but wishful thinking that we could have a Riverdale where Archie and Jughead are both just horny gay boys, or that Robin is more than a sidekick to Batman, or when Superman meets Captain America that it might actually be the battle of the bulges.”

“When people look at my work, I hope that they feel the electricity of being a man. I hope that they appreciate the beauty that is being a man. I hope that they understand that a man is a work of art. If they’re aroused by work, then that’s also okay.”

Looking ahead

“For the first time, I’m offering for sale some of my favourite paintings – they’re available as signed giclee prints…” says Kent, when I ask him about his plans for the months ahead.

“I always have a dozen projects and ideas floating around. My chief aspiration for the future is to create a series of oils depicting a beach and poolside lounge lifestyle – an aspirational lifestyle if you will.”

“I love the water as a source of meditation and healing. When I lived in Texas as a child, my favorite vacations were those when we went to the coast – sea and sand and Speedos. I was a lifeguard for a bit. There’s something quite awesome looking at an endless horizon of sea. The ocean is constantly swirling and changing, yet eternal and will be there long after any of us. Another big plus is that it gives men the chance to show some skin.”

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