Whenever someone asks who my favorite artist is, I’m always stumped. The same goes for all creatives, from actors and filmmakers to photographers and writers.
How can I pick just one when there’s so much talent, past and present?
One of my favorite things about art and photo research is getting lost in internet rabbit holes and discovering new-to-me creatives and hidden gems by old favorites.
Recently, I’ve explored quite a few of these rabbit holes and found so many inspiring works that I started the list below of those whose work I like—and some I even love.
Below are just a few of the incredible output by creatives past and present that inspire me. Whenever (easily) available, I’ve included links to Wikipedia or other resources for more info about some of them.
Thanks for reading!
Clint
P.S. Feel free to share who inspires you in the comments.
ARTISTS + DESIGNERS + ILLUSTRATORS
BLCKSMTH (MICHAEL JAMES SCHNEIDER)
TOM OF FINLAND (TOUKO LAAKSONEN)
MODELS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
A. NOYER OF PARIS (ARMAND NOYER)
ADAM OF NEW YORK
ADRIEN GAGNON
AL MCDUFFIE
BOB BERG
BRUCE OF LA (BRUCE BELLAS)
CHAMPION STUDIOS (WALTER KUNDZICZ)
CLIFFORD OETTINGER
DAVID MARTIN
DAVID OF CLEVELAND
DOUGLAS OF DETROIT (DOUGLAS JULEFF)
DUNHILL STUDIOS
F. CHARLES
FRED HOLLAND DAY
GEBBÉ
HOMBRE STUDIO
J. BRIAN ENTERPRISES
JEAN FERRERO
JOE WEBER
JOHN BARRINGTON
JOHN HERNEC
KOVERT OF HOLLYWOOD
KRIS STUDIOS (CHUCK RENSLOW)
LES DEMI DIEUX
LLOYD'S OF MENTOR
LON OF NY (ALONZO HANAGAN)
LYLE FRISBY
MAURICE OF CHICAGO
PAT MILO
RALPH KELLY
RIP SEARBY
ROY DEAN
TONY LANZA
TONY RONDINELLA
WESTERN PHOTOGRAPHY GUILD (DON WHITMAN)
PUBLISHERS + STUDIOS
ARAX STUDIO
ATHLETIC MODEL GUILD (FOUNDER = BOB MIZER)
COLT STUDIO GROUP (FOUNDER = JIM FRENCH)
GUILD PRESS (FOUNDER = H. LYNN WOMACK)
OLD RELIABLE (FOUNDER = DAVID HURLES)
RA ENTERPRISES
SPARTACUS (WILLIAM MACLANE)
SPECTRUM
TOGOF STUDIO
VINTAGE PHOTOS
MORE FROM COLLIDE PRESS
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I am not as knowledgeable as you, Clint. I like van Gloeden (though a bit suspicious about his relationship with his models), Eakins, Singer Sargent, Scot Tuke, because they were pioneers and revived the artistic premise of seeing nude males as beautiful. I am interested in the transition of youth to man, in addition to finding young men attractive when vulnerable and free of toxic masculinity. Tom of Finland is erotic but he found certain men attractive that do not fit my ephebic preferences for more androgynous bodies. Chacun a son gout.