American in Spain

Sole Castle

July 31, 2006

Occasionally, Marga will come up to me, grab a pen, and ask, "What do you want me to draw on you?" I've had temporary ballpoint tatoos of butterflies, hearts, and ladybugs. The other day, I turned the tables and asked her the same question. She said... A castle! Okay, where? On my foot! Top or bottom? Bottom! And so began the construction of the Sole Castle...

I love this picture for many reasons. Not the least of which is my superb extemporaneous two-dimensional representation (with perspective!) of my mind's castle archetype, complete with four towers, a draw bridge, and a moat. Considering the added challenge of a canvas that was squirming all over the place, and I think this is one of my best drawings ever.

Photographically, it's a great shot because of the perfect framing, the distance lens blur, and the softness of the sunlight on her face. I didn't edit this photo at all. The solitary chair in the background adds an artistic touch as well. Even the red and blue cushions help the shot.

But what's really captured here is the intimacy between two people. Try letting someone draw with a ballpoint pen on the sole of your foot and tell me it's not an intimate moment full of giggles and cooperation. And of course, there will always be something sexy about a woman lying on a bed, bathed in soft sunlight.

Sole Castle