Announcement
Richard T. Edwards
seminar on over in England.
A bit if a plug for it:
Man With A Eye For Metallic Art Wants To Share Gilded Secrets
By R. Edward Stien, Staff Writer
The phrase "golden Girl" is almost assuredly linked to Shirley Eaton
over the course of the past 40 years. An icon in the truest sense of the
word.
But whose been known for the past 30 years as the man with an eye for
metallic art?
After all, surely there must be someone whose taken up the cross of
artistic creativity and provided us with metallic bodies in various shades
of metallica?
Jon Stevens of Gallery Magazine fame or Dewyane Flowers the current
public favorite?
Nope! A guy by the name of R.T.Edwards is the most published
photographer of the metallic art world since Shirley Eaton stole to cover of
LIFE Magazine, November 3, 1964.
Who?
Right, no one knows of him, heard of him. but in the 1980's, if you were
old or sneeky enough to look at the men's publications -- the only
place where his artistic images could be used and support additional photo
sessions -- if it was a girl and/or couple painted silver, gold, bronze or
copper or a girl in creamy smooth thick clay and the magazine wasn't Playboy
or Penthouse, you'd be looking at his work.
"There was a total of 60 images that went into print back then. Adam,
Chic, Cheri, Gentleman's Companion, Hustler, Jamming, The French
Edition of New Look and Stag. Also, a few literary publications included my
work as art. One image became the cover for Overseas Life.
Between 1979 and 1987, my images were stocked by Black Star Publishing
Agency in New York. While I do have my following,
from a public eye perspective, I'm not exactly a household name, " he said
shrugging his shoulders.
"The big names in this business have always been the limelighters.
Shirely Eaton, Veruschka, Jon Stevens and Dewyane Flowers. What I find
interesting is the fact that the one thing they all have in common, the
total amount of images they've had published is less than the total I have
had published. I would have had a lot more work published had I had the
backing or the money many of the foremention artists and photographers have
experienced.
'While I have been struggling, I've never given up on metallic makeup as
a way to create artistic images of both men and women as statues
and sculptures. No government funding, just me being as creative as I know
how."
Shirrel Rhoades, a long time friend and collector of fine art
photography agrees.
"For more than a dozen years I have closely followed R. T. Edwards'
artistic work as a phototgrapher. He has chosen a niche
that merges photography with statuary and Graecian tableaux.
"The images have grown more exciting over the years as he had developed
the craft of body paint and elevated his eye
for dynamic poses. I personally own a number of images by R. T. Edwards.
"In addition his works reside in the permanent collections of such
institutions as the Savannah College of Art and Design,"
said Rhoades.
Truth is, if you look at Edwards' work up on his web site, you'll be
visually drawn into a utopia of almost dreamy and
sometimes scarry images ranging from straight photographic rendtions of the
photographs to solid chome looking figures
that would make Terminator II green with envy.
"I've pretty much transformed the body of work I've been currently
producing into art. And that's where I want it to be. I'm just
a beginner with Photoshop, I haven't quite figured out how to mix
backgrounds with my images yet.
"But I have learned how to make silver and gold look more silver and
gold. As well as other metallic colors. And many people
have signed my guestbook ranting and raving over the images," said Edwards
with a gleam in his eye.
Going to his website, HTTP://www.rtedwards.net and to his addressbook,
you'll find entires like these:
fabntastic work!! the images are very striking. Almost want to see the
models in front of old 34 benz or early 20's Chrome cars.
Just a headlight or a grill???? Anyhoo kewl work
thanx for the loook cheers kman
kevin payne <wavese...@yahoo.com>
And:
Great site !! Surfed in by clicking on your link in the forum. I've done
some shooting with painted models too (when I was 7
years younger) but never succeeded in making such awesome pictures. Maybe
one day I start over again
Franne
Belgium -
And:
Cool Site! By the way, I personally think the pictures are difficult to
find and a big small. Yes there are plenty of them, but I personally would
prefer quality over quantity.
Keep on rocking, nice art!
James Moneypenny <money...@jamesbond.com>
London, UK -
"I love these kinds of comments. Keeps me feeling you and motivated. Its
what makes this fun," Edwards excitedly blurted out
then settled down, "And I have modified the site for ease of use. But its
not what's paying the bills right now and I haven't quite figured
out where to market these images."
So, what's with the trek to Bradford, Yorkshire all about anyway?
"For years, now, I've wanted to share my experiences with photography in
general and my metallic makeup expertise with
other photographers throughout the world. Since I want to make my home in
Germany -- specifically, the Landstuhl area--and
since we're just about on the top of the 40th anniversary of the movie
Goldfinger, I thought it only fitting to begin my seminars in
the country where the images of Shirley Eaton covered in gold makeup ignited
my wanting to know: Okay, how did they do it?
"These seminars aren't about me ranting and raving about my work.
They're about the photographers attending the seminars.
About their dreams, hopes and passions. It is my intent to show them how to
use the makeup, how to light the figure in
metallic makeup correctly and then get out of the way and let them try their
hand at making the magic happen for them on film.
"After that, we're going to critique the work and then place the images
up for sale and exhibition on Sunday.
"So we're going from concept through finished product and marketing the
work.
"I'm hoping to get Shirrel Rhoades to come, talk about collectors,
collections and the value of gallery presentation. Help
critique the work and be part of the Sunday Exhibition. There's no man who
has done more for the arts than this man.
"I'm also going to place each photographer's work up on my site along
with a bio of the photographer and I'm looking for book
publishers to publish my work as well as all the photographers who come to
these seminars.
"How many times have you heard, 'Shirley Eaton was photographed by' or
'Veruschka was photographed by'? Perhaps never.
The fact is, it takes two to take a picture and I want photographers to
share their day of infamy as much as those being photographed.
That day begins on the 8th of August in Bradford, Yorkshire."
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Contact Ric...@accolade.org.uk for more information.