Dangerous Curves
The drawings of artist Ray Leaning make a fetish of the female form
“Some artists specialize in making life difficult for ourselves by choosing risqué subject matter,” says Ray Leaning about his own quest in creating erotic art. “It’s an obsession, I admit. I’ll go on drawing and painting foxy ladies, because I can’t help myself.”
Leaning gained international recognition after the publication of his book, Muse: The Art of Ray Leaning, came out in 2005 (it’s currently out of print, but a brief web search can dig one up in mint condition). He was born in Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands region of England, in 1959, and went to art school in his 20s, at Exeter, where he gained a deep respect for the “traditional skills of classical life drawing and painting.” Currently, he lives in Ayr, Scotland, with his “main muse,” Carol.
“I’ve always been enchanted by the female form and fascinated by female fashion,” Ray has written about his work. “My obsession is with gender messages and the signs and symbolism that evoke sexuality and sensuality.” And although he admits to a weakness for such fetish wear as latex and high heels, “It’s not only the clothing that carries the message of sensuality, it’s also the pose, posture and attitude of the model. With a challenging stare or downcast eyes, hands on hips or hands behind, we get an insight into that person’s sexuality. Equipment and toys simply add to the tension and eroticism. I use ropes and straps, chains and collars, whips and riding crops to add to the ‘inner portraiture’ of the sitter.”
That’s amply evident in PROVOKR’s selection of Leaning’s drawings of his muse, Carol, in various poses, all of them open-edition prints available from Leaning directly, at MUSE Fine Art & Design.
