THEN it all started with a beautiful smile

last semester i would run into this beautiful boy every couple of days. when we would notice one another i would get this "OH HI!" feeling and then realize that i in fact did not know him. eventually the "OH HI!" started slipping out. soon he was comfortible enough to introduce himself to me. Billy. one of the sweetest young men i have had the pleasure to meet. there was definately an air of tension between us, a flirtation of sorts. I knew i had to paint him. i had done portraits for ever and my first semester i did a series of ex-boyfriends for a portfolio class and i knew i had to insert myself in my imagery. doing painting from beefcake photos is too pre-digested here was the boy that would launch me. i also found it somewhat fulfilling that i would be able to assume this intimacy with him and revel in how beautiful he is and see how flushed he got from my staring at him. the age differnce between the two of us had/has me wary but now i could have something else that was in a way even better.