Artist Paul Richmond βs quirky, gender-bending series, βCheesecake Boys,β is getting a trendy (and topical) revamp.
Richmond, who recently relocated to Monterey, California from his native Ohio, created the series in 2013 with the idea of putting a gay male twist on mid-20th century pin-up art. Now, fans of Richmondβs cheeky work will be able to make those illustrations their own with a βCheesecake Boysβ adult coloring book thatβs due out on Valentineβs Day. (Watch the artist speak about the new project in the video above.)
βClassic pinup art wasnβt made to be hung in prestigious museums, even though the artists were exceptional,β Richmond said. βInstead, it was printed on calendars and posters, destined to be tacked to the walls of bedrooms, lockers and garages... A pinup painting was successful if it elicited a chuckle or teased the naughty side of the viewerβs imagination.β
Would-be artists whoβve gotten their hands on the new book already seem to be taken with the chance to add their own colors to Richmondβs work. βItβs such a thrill to see how people around the world are building upon the simple lines to create imaginative, colorful, and totally unique pieces of art,β he said. βAnd theyβre having a blast doing it β because who wouldnβt enjoy coloring adorable hunks losing their clothes all over the place?β
We wonβt argue with that! Read more about the βCheesecake Boysβ coloring book here.
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