mitchmen

More patterned briefs

2012-02-18T00:37:00.003-08:00

I find this image fascinating. The flowery pattern on these briefs creates a completely different effect to the butch candy stripe in the previous post - softer almost feminine. The model's pose - like the figurehead on an old sailing ship - seems to suggest he's not sure about it either but can't interrupt what he's doing to fix it.
Studio and model not known (info welcome)

Clothing and Masculinity 2

2012-02-04T01:09:00.001-08:00

In my last post, the choice of clothing for the model focussed attention onto the shaping of the upper body, but these colourful trunks emphasise size and draw the eyes to the glutes lower down - despite the fact that this athlete probably has an even more impressive back. The complex pattern creates an impression of bulk within, at the expense of showing shape. The thick white banding round the thighs and waist also highlight size but this time of the adjacent parts of the body.

The model's rather fragile facial features, though not lacking in masculinity, are much more delicately shaped and somehow not quite in harmony with his mighty body. This image ought to give an overwhelming impression of strength, size and dominance but instead the un-natural pose and downcast face reveal a moment of subservience and obedience - to the photographer.

Sorry, I can't ID the model or the photographer (info welcome).

Masculinity

2012-01-29T01:15:00.000-08:00

Angel Diabolo (Randy Blue)
Neither angelic nor diabolic, I suspect, but certainly 100% man. This model has worked hard on his upper body and the sweep of his muscular back is a beautiful result. The leather jeans accentuate his narrow waist and add their own dark, (diabolic?), masculine associations into the mix.
Tattoos have always been the hallmark of adventurous males and associated with seafarers in particular, but I'm generally not a fan of large ones like this. In this shot, the panther tattoo cleverly accentuates the shape of the models upper back. Similarly the tribal tattoo on the shoulder adds visual emphasis and bulk to that part of his body but I'm not convinced that it makes it's shape look any better.

Discomfort

2012-01-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

Josey Greenwell

Another model apparently less than happy in his work. (Click on the discomfort label below for others). Maybe it's just the heat, or did the application of oil surprise him? Perhaps he's been told the next pose is a little more challenging. Whatever the case I just love that look that says 'I don't think I'm gonna like this!'.
Photography by Kevin Hubbard

Panting

2012-01-10T01:14:00.002-08:00

Edu Boxer (identified for me by Kris - see comment below)

At mitchmen we like pictures of men who look as though they don't like what they are being asked to do. Particularly when they are going to some lengths to portray themselves as dominant males. Licking a wall must rate pretty high on the list of model's pet hates.
It's for art dear boy!

Fit Blokes

2011-12-15T00:59:00.000-08:00

Mitchell - Fit Bloke

Occasionally I do draw straight-forward beefcake pictures. This man's balloon like pecs were probably based on a photograph that inspired me but I've never seen the point of slavishly reproducing someone else's art so I've finished the picture with this cartoony slant.

This is a sterotypical 'fit bloke' and I used this idea (and the picture) in my S&M Clinic story (2008) about a townful of men summoned for health assessments. You can find this story at my Yahoo group (link in side bar). I left this story incomplete at the time and am currently in the process of reviewing it and adding the final parts.

Look out for an announcement at the Yahoo! group

High Waisted Trousers

2011-11-21T01:05:00.001-08:00

Man eating an apple

My latest series at the Yahoo! Group (see sidebar) is a fairly old work and features fashions from the 70's such as the sort of trousers shown here. I stumbled across this picture just a few days ago. I don't know the vintage but it shows an exceedingly high waist line which accentuates this man's trim midsection. It's a style somewhat reminiscent of Navy trousers though this outfit puts me in mind of fairground workers for some reason. It's also a striking example of the ability of the humble shirt to showcase muscular arms which would look far less impressive in a topless shot.

Addendum Dec 2011: My readers have identified this model as Steeve Reeves, no less, auditioning for 'Lil Abner. More at Born Again Redneck

Military Style

2011-11-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

Chase Bauer
Over at my regular blog I've been running a lengthy article about the military style photographic sets produced by Royale Studio in the 50's/60's and making a plea for a modern photographer to revive the genre. This photo gives a glimpse of what might result. Chase Bauer could just be a soldier with those khaki trousers, a bare chested warrior crossing a watery obstacle in pursuit of the enemy or freshening up after the march.

Beautiful Thing - 2

2011-11-03T02:20:00.000-07:00

Francisco Soriano

This image fits in with my recent theme of images propelled by striking colours. In this case there's a bit of a fight going on between the shoulder enhancing, royal blue T-shirt and the lime green trunks but the power of clothing to enhance the male body could not be better illustrated.

However, the most memorable feature of this picture lies not the clothes at all, but in the fact that the model has kept his spectacles on for the shoot - and to tremendous effect, undoubtedly disproving the adage that 'no one makes passes at men who wear glasses'

The result is sort of Clark Kent - Superman moment, although with muscles like this I imagine the transformation would be less astonishing than is suggested in the comics.

As in my last post (Jeff Stryker), beauty does not have to conform to crude commercial formulae. Nevertheless I have to give credit to this model and Jockbutt, the sponsors of the picture for a bold gesture that will warm the cockles of spectacle wearers everywear.

I suspect this image will be around for many years to come.

Beautiful Thing

2011-10-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

Jeff Stryker

A stryking image indeed of the famous actor and model. It's success owes a lot to the choice of clothing, very masculine with clever colours that grab the eye and work with the floppy hair to suggest youth.
Beauty is not measured in inches!

Men before Machines

2011-09-10T02:26:00.001-07:00

Mercury
Mercury is a classic subject for male anatomy studies and this colourful portrayal of him, striding across the sky, is highly traditional too, affording a modest portrayal of the naked body. For some reason, the well developed upper thighs and chiseled, strong looking face made me think of him as a Rugby player. Quite apposite with the World Cup upon us again. I'm not sure this very modern-looking man would think his helmet terribly flattering, hats can be a minefield, as I'm sure Beatrice and Eugenie will attest!
I don't know the name of the artist.

Men and Machines

2011-09-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

What is it about men and motorbikes?
The attraction of power? A love affair? Or just companionship.
This picture by Michael Downs covers all the bases.

Hoodies and Rabbits

2011-08-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

I like the frightened rabbit look in this picture of Ben Richards. The hoodie is usually used to suggest streetwise danger, rather than awkwardness. I like the way it frames his voluptuous torso.

Photo by Gilles Crofta

Faces by Turquine

2011-07-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

Dude What by Turquine

I am very interested in male faces and facial expressions and really liked these when I discovered them on Turquine's blog. Strange how a simple picture like this can invoke a storyline in the imagination.

Ouch by Turquine

No relation

2011-05-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

Matteu Mitchman is definitely no relation but he turns up on 'mitchmen' searches in Google so I thought I'd enrol him. Worth a mention.
Photographer Adam Pretty has caught some nice highlights here on the curvature of his 6-pack

Vested

2011-05-16T01:10:00.000-07:00

Cut away vest
Continuing my occasional 'vest' images, this one shows the cut away design that highlights muscular shoulders. Incorporating design elements from the Argentine flag has added shape and clean, attractive colours. It also seems to vest the wearer with sporty connections and Latin attributes. This image comes from the Narciso Underwear range. There is a site but it seems to be inaccessible. You can find more images however by Googling them.

I hope to assemble these vest images into a coherent, spiced up article on the main blog when I have more time.

Silence ......

2011-04-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

Silence is precious by Vish Studio

I love pictures like this, not just for the attractive young man who is it's subject, but because it shows a commonplace gesture in a gently erotic context, inviting the viewer to interpet the scenario and compose his own story for the picture.

This gesture seems to assign leadership and knowingness to the model while the open shirt and flyaway collar seem to imply self confidence and an adventurous spirit.

Such power in a simple photograph! It's an image I could envisage transplanting into my own artwork.

More excellent masculine images at Vish Studio

Facial Beauty

2011-03-12T05:37:00.000-08:00

Back to vests

2011-02-25T00:51:00.001-08:00

Returning to the topic of vests and the things they do for the male physique, this image of Matt Schiermeier grabbed my attention on the Rufskin website. Matt doesn't need much help to show off his physique but the cut of the arms on this garment will enhance any man's shoulders. Shame about the tattoo.

Marooned

2011-02-12T00:07:00.001-08:00

Ross Watson - Untitled

One of a series of pictures by Ross Watson in which he blends photographs of young men into scenes from old masters. The concept is a bit pretentious really but I admire the technical skill that has gone into matching the colouring and textures, giving a surrealist flavour. The fearful anticipation on the model's face and the elegant pose make a terrific image anyway and angling his body to echo the slanting masts is neat.
You can see other examples at Beautiful including a crucifixion scene featuring Francois Sagat which I have also posted at my main blog

The humble vest

2011-02-05T22:56:00.000-08:00

The sleeveless vest was once just a simple underwear garment or a light body covering for athletic pursuits but these days it's out of the closet - it's real purpose is to make men's bodies look good. (Sorry girls, it just doesn't work on your shape!)

The cutaway arms simultaneously enhance broad shoulders and emphasise the shape of the pecs. Worn outside jeans, as in this picture by ES, the shape also shows off the unique, slender body shape that men possess.

Vests as underwear feature in my current story at mitchmen on Yahoo!,
Charlie's First Shoot - from the Naive Models series.

Chase Hostler

2011-01-22T23:09:00.001-08:00

One of my favourite faces at present is Chase Hostler, whose blog (Chase in your face) I stumbled across this week. With his diminutive stature, he presents a curious mix of boyish innocence and hardness. Gifted with an admirable physique, his willowy hips give this simple beefcake picture a little extra something.

Connor

2010-12-30T02:05:00.001-08:00

I'm currently showcasing Connor (above) at the main blog. A recent addition to the Bound Guys stable of models, Connor has a innocent boyish face and a chunky, rugby build that sets off ropework very well. In this scene an innocent tourist is about to be kidnapped for ransom.

Beach Bums by Mitchell

2010-11-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Mitchell - Beach Bums

This simple study of two men posing in their beach gear is a bit of a personal favourite. It's more simply drawn than some of my pictures and I thought the faces came out well. As you can see it was used in my S&M Clinic story, an ambitious project from 2008 which petered out halfway through, mostly because the story developed uncontrollably.

I have been actively considering returning to this series recently, the Clinic theme was always intended a loose framework for showcasing the possibilities of various medical procedures and there is plenty of material for additional departments. The real challenge is the unfinished storyline which I want to sort out at some point. Having tried my hand at a couple of complex stories I have developed great respect for writers of real literature who produce great epics fleshed out with interesting characters and evocative descriptions.

Athletes Wrestling by Mitchell

2010-10-23T04:56:00.000-07:00

Mitchell - Athlete Restrained

This is an early picture inspired by Tom of Finland's imagery. Wrestling is a good context for portraying the male form and strength. Originally published as part of a set called 'Inspired by Tom' which is available at Mitchell's 'mitchmen' Yahoo Group.

Cops and ...........

2010-10-10T00:42:00.000-07:00

Although I'm a Brit I've always preferred the US style of Cop uniform and they feature in many of my pictures and stories.

It seems like boy's stuff, but the shoulder flashes, the epaulettes, the patch pockets, the chunky belt accentuate the physical characteristics of the male body.

Shades add to the image of authority although these, worn by Bryce are a bit offbeat.

Not forgetting boots, handcuffs and a gun. That's quite an armory of memorable masculine icons before you even consider the man inside the uniform.

Time for a break

2010-09-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

Mitchell is taking a break and leaving this bloke in charge, so behave yourselves while I'm away! Posting will resume in early October

A-Z Reaches 'N'

2010-09-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

Nielsen - Sungod

My A-Z of artists reaches the letter 'N' next at the main mitchmen blog and as usual I select a 'nice' picture to launch proceedings. Sungod by Nielsen is hardy fetish art but the voluptuous treatment of the subject's body is exceedingly attractive and it's a beautiful invocation of manhood.
Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists resumes soon at the blog.

More Hairy Experiments

2010-09-04T01:13:00.001-07:00

A rash of body hair suddenly appearing on this model's chest creates a surprisingly erotic effect, his designer stubble has been beefed up too but I think it's the change in eye colour which makes the second image so arresting. As though something strange is reaching out of the picture to you.

This is a more extreme transformation, I love the visual effect of hair swirling over a mans body and the ability it has to enhance his physique. This example shows the ageing effect or perhaps it would be more precise to say maturing effect.

No Hair or Hair?

2010-08-29T09:59:00.001-07:00

Hair as a ingredient of male beauty comes and goes and it's past manifestations are fashions soon forgotten, so it's interesting to see how it can alter a man's appearance. This study by an talented, anonymous artist shows how the model Joseph Sayers might look with facial hair.

Sporting Developments at mitchmen

2010-08-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

The mitchmen review of Royale Studios is now looking at sporting photo sets, which naturally features shorts and socks a-plenty. There's also a sporting theme at the Yahoo! Group which is showcasing Mitchells drawings of Sportsmen humiliated.

Military Shorts

2010-08-10T01:41:00.001-07:00

This period picture illustrates the ongoing themes of shorts and military discipline in the review of Royale Studios at Mitchell's main blog. Bizarre black humour too. Themes that are grist to the mill in Mitchell's Art as you can see if you visit my Yahoo Group.

Naval Shorts

2010-08-02T03:10:00.000-07:00

My review of Royale Studio at mitchmen blog has reached nautical topics!
To accompany that here are some pictures of real RN sailors in white short uniforms.

Military Connections

2010-07-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

A marvellous image of a soldier on the march to complement my 'Fortunes of War' story at the Yahoo Group and the Review of the, now defunct, 'Guys in Uniform' Studio at the blog. This is a well built man who would grace any clothing but I love the way his sleeves are rolled up an extra inch or so to show of his biceps, the framing of his neck by the neatly arranged shirt and not least the meticulously deformed beret. Mangling headgear is something of an art form in the armed forces, transforming a mundane slightly ridiculous garment into one that pleases and smoulders with character.

A Striking Face

2010-07-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Arno Galmarini is a lesson in male beauty, it's a look I try to capture sometimes in my more serious pictures. Fortunes of war continues at the Yahoo Group and the next article at the blog will be a review of the work of Royale Studios and Guys In Uniform.

'mitchmen' blog restored

2010-07-13T02:28:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to be able tell you that Google have restored my old 'mitchmen' blog with all it's archive of articles and pictures intact. The blog link in the sidebar now takes you to the original blog and I have added some posts there which complete the letter 'M' of my A-Z of Fetish Artists. I haven't decided the future of the replacement blog which I was constructing at Thumblogger but for the time being I have added a link to the small gallery of pictures I had assembled there. It may evolve into a shop where I can offer work for sale.

'Fortunes of War' starts at 'mitchmen'

2010-07-10T05:11:00.000-07:00

Mitchell - Soldiers Nightmare

It hadn't been an easy tour. The locals were at each others throats, crazy stuff. You'd never have thought they'd lived alongside each other for hundreds of years. We got in between them. We had to. Both sides thought we were helping their enemies. They were more than happy to vent their hatred on us. Non-violent protest they called it. That's a laugh! It's all in a days work for us. Confronting organised, angry civilian rioters. But it's a soldier's nightmare.

This is an extract from the first episode of Mitchell's story "Fortunes of War" which is being published in installments at the 'mitchmen' Yahoo Group.

Joining is free and you get access to a large collection of Mitchell's adult work.

Scene setting for Mitchell's Fortunes of War story

2010-07-07T01:10:00.001-07:00

This picture of British soldiers on peacekeeping duties in a bleak urban landscape helps set the scene for my new mitchmen story, 'Fortunes of War'. The jaunty berets and macho hardware contribute to the imagery but I dispense with camouflage which (unsurprisingly!) is not conducive to clarity of image in black and white drawn pictures.

Mitchell's 'Fortunes of War' starts at the Yahoo! Group in a few days.

Fortunes of War by Mitchell

2010-07-04T02:28:00.000-07:00

Starting soon at 'mitchmen' at Yahoo!

Mitchell's new story is called "Fortunes of War"
A tale of unconventional enemies

Join for free at 'mitchmen'

More Verlato at mitchmen

2010-07-02T02:41:00.001-07:00

Verlato - Still Fighting

I love this twisting, arching body and the army fatigues don't do any harm to the image either, this is an artist that loves men.

Verlato - Gator

Another striking image showing the male form to advantage. This picture is less complex than others but equally surreal.

See more by the artist at Nicola Verlato

A new artist

2010-06-30T11:58:00.001-07:00

Verlato - Enduring Freedom

I stumbled across this artist recently, new to me. I enjoy these depictions of soldiers, the tension of the bodies and drama in the poses is striking. Much of this artist's work is rather more surreal than this and you can see Dali in the sensual texturing of the bodies and the floating poses.

My next story at the Yahoo group has a military theme too. Should start soon.

See more by the artist at Nicola Verlato

Workmen and builders

2010-06-29T01:47:00.000-07:00

I came across this picture about a year ago and it really grabbed me. There's some fakery going on but I find the face and neck line exceedingly interesting. Builders and workmen are one of my long time fascinations (along with Rugby Players, Sailors etc etc... ..). A classic 'mitchmen' image! When I was a teenager I spent a summer studying chaps like this on a building site near my home. They feature heroically in my Press Gang story (posted at the Yahoo Group).
I can't remember where I found this image but if the owner gets in touch I'll give a credit.

mitchmen A-Z resumes at blogger

2010-06-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

I have posted the new installment of the A-Z at the blog, the next artist calls himself moc.

moc - Tight Shift - Caught

This is the first panel in a series called 'Tight Shift'. You can probably work out what happens to the unfortunate guards from the rope and handcuffs. moc has a nice clean style, I particularly like the faces. My full review with more illustrations is at the blog.

mitchmen starts over with a Mitchell Rugby picture

2010-06-23T02:36:00.000-07:00

For my first post I'm going to be uncontroversial but still sexy I hope!