Here's my conversation with Joey:
Whether or not it's conscious, people seem to expect a certain thing when they think of "erotic art". What was the greatest challenge or stereotype for you to overcome in making an erotic piece in your own voice?
I would have had no problem delivering a stereotypical piece of erotic art. In fact, I had a few paintings laying around. However, with SEAF, I wanted to create a piece that was erotic without being explicit.
How did you arrive at the work you'll be showing in the Festival? Where is it you're taking us/what story are you telling (the viewer)?
My piece for the festival allowed me to revisit a previous series of 70s gay porn I began working on a couple of years ago. The pieces were bold in both color and content. But at the end of the day, I wanted something sweet and not overtly erotic.
A common thread in your work seems to be sweetness and nostalgia -- the West, flowers, animals. That lens makes your erotic piece all the more interesting! Is this idea of nostalgia tapping into a deeper philosophy you have?
I was born in Montana and spent my formative years there. I think my nostalgia comes from trying to recreate favorite moments of my childhood. I was talking to Leo Berk about a piece of his art the other day. As the discussion progressed, he isolated the exact point of his childhood that later influenced him to create this piece of art we were talking about. I might paint a peony because it was the same peony my grandma had in her yard when I was young. Or I might paint a bucking bronco because of the time I watched my dad get bucked off a horse. My paintings are pretty literal. And while I think it would be hard for me to create a happy life in Montana (or any rural setting), I think that emotionally, my art is still very tied to that state!
How does that play into the eroticism of your piece?
I'd say my art is definitely born of the 1970s and the majority of my inspiration still comes from that decade. My sense of nostalgia has a strong current of eroticism running through it. To me, there's nothing more handsome than the ruggedness of fellas from that time period. And my ideal partner? That would be Grizzly Adams (circa 1977).
What do you most look forward to in this year's Seattle Erotic Art Festival?
Not having any expectations, I'm just excited to see the crowd and what other artists have created. I have a feeling that the people will be even more interesting than the art. I can't wait to see it all!
Give us one thing you think is unexpectedly sexy:
Uh, elbow patches are my weakness. There are few things sexier than a bearded man in a tweed jacket (with elbow patches)!
Joey, thanks for such a fun exchange of thoughts and ideas. You can catch up on the Festival details here!
Joey Veltkamp, 1977 in blue (detail) 2009 acrylic & resin on canvas
image courtesy of the artist
Joey Veltkamp, River Bears 2007 acrylic on canvas 3' x 4' image courtesy of the artist
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