Massage, Touch, Tantra, Energy & Shared Awareness

Archive for April, 2018

Posing for Art – In Tantric Style

Posing for Art – in Tantric style

This email was received  from a reader in New York. It’s worth reading and she has permitted me to post it, albeit I’ve deleted her name for privacy reasons.

 

 

Subject: Your Blog
From: **********@gmail.com

Hello Colin,

You might not get many emails like this and you don’t know me but I’m a regular reader of your blog.

I might be an unusual reader because I’m a female artist and photographer. I live in New York.

I wanted to add my 2 cents to the subjects you’ve included in your blog and say that a lot of this turns out to be useful in helping me with my art.

Mostly my art is interpretation of the human form. I use everything from oil on canvass to watercolor to pen & ink. I also often use photographic images to combine. I also teach drawing and composition in private art classes. Please read on and don’t imagine this is a pitch to get you to include my pictures on your blog. Its not about that.

I’ve been a professional artist for many years and specialize in human figure work as its always appealed to me as offering the best chances to produce unique work. Every body is completely unique and ever changing and I like to capture those changes ‘in the moment’.

I have many artist friends who have the same experience as me when trying to find session models. Its not difficult to find female models to pose but not so in finding male models.

If its just me painting or a class its usually not easy to find a male who can pose, often nude, to suit the needs of the artists. I think the convention is that its easier for females to feel comfortable about posing than males. Also conventions in our modern society have tended to prefer to view the female form than the male, although I think some things are changing in regards to that statement.

Part of my difficulty might have been in my approach to what I want to portray and I’ll say how I’ve solved the problem, personally, although I know generally that I’m not alone whatever the artistic approach requires.

Early in my career I found that capturing the human form was mostly a very sterile experience especially considering the excitement that the human body can generate. Artists are usually so concentrated on their work that the actual energy of the subject often escapes. Apologies to the many who do capture the energy of their subject.

In classical works portraying nudes, the energy is often captured, somehow, and we find that shared between the sexes.

My purpose and enjoyment has been to specialize in capturing sexual energy and tension and that is not a sterile task. It means asking a model not just to pose but actually to allow themselves to be part of an energy and image that can be observed by an artist and transferred to a canvass.

That’s asking a lot of any model and particularly a male model. I’m asking someone to pose in a state of sexual awareness or arousal which is a difficult thing for many to imagine in the usual art studio atmosphere. Mostly in figure work we encourage artists and students to ignore the elephant in the room and certainly never to venture personal approval or comment about the model.

My solution to the problem occurred when I met a guy giving massage in tantric styles, mostly to other men. We got talking and I told him what I did and what the problems often were. What he told me was very similar to what’s in your blog which is that tantric experience seems to allow people to be able to get more enjoyment from the sensuality of their bodies and to enjoy themselves for longer. Also to be less inhibited without being antisocial.

I didn’t know much about tantric massage etc. but I asked the guy if he’d like to pose at a small class that I had coming up to see if his ideas worked.

He agreed and I held the session at my studio. I think there were 4 artists at different levels of skill or objective.

At the time I wanted to sketch and paint a male in a state of heightened arousal, combining the facial expression with the genital expression. That was the objective of all of us to varying degrees.

My tantric friend said he understood what I intended and delivered beautifully. He was completely confident in himself and gave the room an energy which did seem to inspire the artists.

Since then I’ve been able to invite, through my friend, many of his clients, also to pose and we’ve been able to focus and capture so much of the human form, in my opinion, in unique ways.

I’ve also come to learn more about tantra and have actually posed for a few sessions myself.

I’d say to any of your tantric readers that this is a practical use of the energy and erotic control that can be learned and that appreciation of the human form is something that should be encouraged and that sexual energy can actually be seen and experienced through the brush and canvass where the artist and model can move themselves to the same wavelength.

I hope this is of interest to you.

By the way, I should mention that as a female artist, equally curious about the male form, and the female form and all gender forms I enjoy working with all sexes.

Whatever the gender mix I say the same thing, that the model is completely deserving of our deep respect and gratitude. Its not an easy thing to reach and maintain a state of arousal in a group of people.

To all participants I say that they will themselves likely experience a sexual energy and they should use that to encourage their work. Often these sessions have given artists a very different view of sexuality in art than conventional figure sessions.

We’ve encouraged requests and positive comments and at times have posed two models at the same time. We’ve created a studio atmosphere that encourages artist/model communication. Although the standard of work necessarily varies, none in the classes are there to judge. Personally I’ll help when I’m asked. The surprising thing for me is how uniquely inspired the finished pieces so often are. Also how much more comfortable everybody is able to become with their physical selves through such uninhibited artistic interaction.

To be able to absorb so closely aspects of the human body that are often only brushed over has been most exciting for me and others.

(Signature deleted)

Contact Colin:

 Email: co.lins@outlook.com            Tel: 250-984-7051

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Performance Art & Stage Nudity

Performance Art & Stage Nudity

Many posts ago I published the following account by a photographer and artist  friend of mine. It’s a blog discussing nude performance in theatre and in the arts generally.

http://onstagenudity.blogspot.ca/  (Copy & paste this link separately to access the site without registering a Google account)

The link is entirely safe and informative. Check out the videos and further links on the site.

Colin

Tel: 250-984-7051

Email: co.lins@outlook.com

Private Performance Art

My name is Kirby and I’m a performance artist, actor and photographer.

The connections in my career are joined by the thread of how other people are seeing and experiencing the world. How they react to theatre, paintings,  photography, performances etc.

I’ve traveled around the world as a performance artist working for many other artists and producers and it was fun to recently be part of the photo exhibition that Colin wrote about.

Some of my performance art work is for individuals and private home parties and Colin asked me to write something about how it works and what I do.

Shamelessly I’ll mention that I’m always for hire – almost always.

To start with I thought it would be best to make a frame of reference. You may have read about sushi restaurants where a naked person – usually female – is the table centerpiece for the food. Diners select their food placed on her body.

Then sometimes in the news are art shows where people pose as art themselves. Then there is body painting, strippers, bachelorette parties etc., and the list goes on. These are all settings where people are naked for the pleasure and curiosity of others.

What is not often mentioned is that people quite often hire performance artists to appear privately at their homes. I do this quite frequently and Colin thought it would be interesting to know about it.

In the past I’ve been hired to come to private dinner parties, be a ‘curiosity’ for romantic evenings, be an ‘object’ as an alternative to ‘web browsing’, be the table decoration for stag and staggette parties – it’s a long list and I can’t remember every type of client.

The better way to describe things is like this.

All people who ask me to visit have some important things in common. They appreciate seeing and being around naked humans, especially in unlikely settings. They enjoy erotic fantasy and they are bold enough to try and make some unique art experiences for themselves.

I act as an ‘assist’ in the private art and experience of such people. It’s not the same as hiring a stripper.

The stripper is the focus of attention – the ‘show’.

In my case I’m there to follow and be part of the fantasy of the ‘audience’ and the ‘audience’ is writing the script and directing the action. I hope that explains the distinction.

I can recall some scenarios which might give a flavor of how some things evolve.

Almost always I get invited by referral – that’s why I’m grateful to Colin for allowing me to make my existence known! –  and I get an outline of what might be planned. Otherwise I just follow instructions.

Perhaps the most common task has been to be a table centerpiece for small dinner parties. In these scenarios I’ve just been required to lie on a dinner table and the guests have served themselves from whatever and however the food has been arranged on and around me.

I’ve been prepared and dressed in every imaginable way, from briefs to leafy lettuce covering my genitals.

I don’t speak and nobody speaks to me. Usually my face is covered and so my reactions don’t disturb the flow of the party.

As people become more relaxed their comfort levels change. These are all general comments but usually at first there is much talk about having a nude male on the dinner table. It becomes the focus of attention. Then the novelty begins to wear off after all the obvious jokes have been exchanged. Initially this is much to do with the natural nerves of people. There is likely nothing that can be said that I haven’t heard and I just lie quietly. Sometimes things are said that are very funny and I have to control the desire to laugh.

As the food gets underway and wine lubricates the company, attention often moves back to the table ‘decoration’.

Often by now people will have become more daring – moving the lettuce leaf etc. I’ve been touched and prodded in every place, had chocolate licked from my toes, whipped cream licked from my nipples – all the things you can imagine and possibly not imagine.

This is all part of the ‘play’ and I’m pleased to be part of it. It’s a unique experience for all those participating and really my body is theirs for the evening, just as all of the other features – food, drink, setting – are part of the experience.

For me this is a unique and positive experience, just as I hope it is for those writing the ‘script’.

Guests have been any mix of LGBTQI combinations – couples, singles, all female, all male – I can recall just about any combo. Party size has also varied from just 3 or 4 people to larger parties. Ten guests is probably the greatest number.

Whatever the mix, at some point, usually around dessert time, somebody will always want to bring the focus back to me, having ‘accidentally’ moved the ‘lettuce’.

The rules of every event are set by the host in advance. I agree to anything ahead of time so long as it’s not painful, dangerous or too uncomfortable. It’s almost automatic that food or drink will be spilt on me. I’m usually pretty sticky by the end.

Where we’ve agreed that genital inclusion is ‘allowed’ I just go with the flow, albeit actual sex is not on the menu.  I’ve experienced bets being taken on my size when erect. I’ve been carefully stroked and lubricated with every liquid imaginable.

I’ve got good control – years of Tantric practice! – so it’s unlikely there will be ‘accidents’.

So that’s an idea of dinner party scenarios.

Equally likely are scenarios where I’m asked just to be around when a client wishes to host some visitors at home.

I’ve been asked to be just a ‘dumb’ body among small groups of people. I’ve been dressed in all type of outfits. I’ve been ‘made-up’, cross dressed, used as furniture, used to serve food and drinks etc.

Always I am just a ‘prop’ and a device to make the event interestingly erotic. So I contribute nothing but my agreement to follow the ‘script’. I never know exactly how it will unfold.

The general likelihood is that my body will be on hand for whatever preference and fantasy the host or guests have in mind. So I’ve been dressed, undressed, painted, watched, bathed, dirtied – whatever has seemed fun.

One thing that always surprises me is that there never seems to be a limit to the fetish imagination of people and my presence is an ideal chance for many to play out their fetish fantasy. Being ‘dumb’, there is the assurance that I’m not judging or commenting.

Painful, penetrative and dangerous play are not options but short of that I’ll try to please. There are the obvious attentions to genital and anal areas but there is rarely a problem with somebody wanting to go beyond the artistic or erotic.

Often, but not always, a guest or host will get naked or dress in fetish or unusual ways. It’s great to see people with the opportunity to be free to express themselves so openly in such safe circumstances.

I’ll mention two other categories. I often get asked to attend either a single person or a couple seeking to explore a fantasy.

A common theme has me just being in the home almost as a piece of decoration or furniture. Almost always I’m asked to be naked and I become a sort of ‘touchstone’. Something to place in a spot in the room, put your feet up on, play with, dress, undress etc. Somebody once said to me that it was like having a Ken/Barbie available in real life.

These become very private experiences and do qualify as performance art. I remain passive and responsive, always remaining part of the script – never writing it. I’ll certainly give guidance before but otherwise I just happily lend my body.

Not every ‘script’ needs to be overtly sexual. It can be sensual/erotic/playful etc. But there is nothing wrong with the ‘script’ being particularly sexual either.

I’m often a ‘distraction’ during TV commercials if I’m hired to be somebody’s ‘art’ for the evening and being used as eye/fantasy material.

On many occasions with couples – m/f, m/m/ and f/f I’m there to satisfy curiosity and explore comparisons.

Sometimes my sponsor has been a female who wants to encourage her mate to become more familiar with the body of another male. To mutually enjoy same gender erotic fantasies.

I’ve had f/f couples who want to add some safe male energy to their erotic ‘play’ and appreciation.

Of course I frequently become the ‘muse’ of other males and it’s great to find myself a passive inspiration.

These recollections and reflections are incomplete. There have been so many variations on these themes.

For me, every occasion is an adventure in art. In enabling artistic fantasy in this way I lend my body, passively – a sort of canvass for others to paint on.

Personally I’m completely comfortable to be seen naked and to open the more intimate parts of my body to those inviting me. The purpose of art is to open the mind to the unexpressed and performance art and times spent in these ways does exactly that.

I don’t publish pictures of myself or advertise. I’m healthy and, I’m told, pleasing to look at, but this isn’t about me or my appearance. It’s about the very unusual and exceptional opportunity to bring a private form of art, alive.

If any of this connects with you then call or write to Colin and he’ll give you my contact information.

I do know some other performers if I’m not around and Colin’s got a list of names.

I know he’s done some similar work himself, also.

Let your imagination loose. You’ll never regret it.

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Tantra, Fetish & Kink

Tantric Fetish & Kink

Tantric massage can often be an experience of connecting the mind to the body..

The pace of life today often seems to block consciousness of the pleasure of physical sensations. Consciousness of self, as an erotic being, can be at risk.

Tantric massage and touch can re-awaken erotic consciousness and Tantric Practice is very much about heightening erotic physical and mental awareness.

Within the Tantric experience, massage, perhaps, has the broadest appeal, but the opportunity also exists to delve deeper into Tantric sensation potentials.

As the mind begins to make more space for sensual and erotic stimulation, and as mental and physical awareness is heightened, the imagination of the erotic begins to challenge the physical body – thoughts of making fantasies into realities.

Within Tantric Practice it is possible to raise the sensitivity and expand the erogenous potentials of the body.

Over time body and mind become more conscious of erotic potential and imagination begins to expand horizons. More fantasy can enter the door of consciousness that Tantric Practice has opened, enabling opportunities to actualize fantasies.

Actualization of erotic imagery is often described, sometimes quite dismissively, as ‘kinky’ or ‘fetish’. But imagination should not be dismissed so easily.

Kinks and fetishes are entirely Tantric and are as valuable and valid as any part of erotic imagination.

It’s often difficult to discuss particular ‘turn-ons’, imagining that such thoughts are outside of a Tantric experience. The truth is that actualization of erotic imagery, however ‘kinky’ or ‘fetish’ it might seem, (with the obvious exceptions of activity that is not lawful, sane, safe or consensual) is welcomed in Tantra and is regarded as the positive product of sensual and erotic imagination. Where actualization needs to happen with a partner, the participation of a guide in Tantric Practice can be the perfect solution.

To all who enjoy the world of Tantric Practice and massage, feel welcome to share thoughts about actualizing fantasies and finding comfort in every experience.

Colin

Tel: 250-984-7051                      Email:  co.lins@outlook.com

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