Tag Archives: queer art

Another collaboration with my eternal muse, Sadie Lune!

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Sadie Lune as the Lamp of Spring by Suzanne Forbes Feb 15 2022I always get excited about making a picture of Sadie Lune.

We have worked together so long and so fruitfully that I know our synergy can transcend the limitations of zoom. I know whatever I’m thinking about, Sadie will get it and bring it home! I had an idea for this session, because I have been drawn to a lot of fantasy tv lately.

Even though fantasy as a genre is a huge part of my history – my father read The Hobbit and LOTR to me as a child, just for starters – I identify as a Science Fiction person, not a Fantasy person. I read and watch primarily SF, and have since I discovered Larry Niven as a young teen.

Sadie Lune as the Lamp of Spring by Suzanne Forbes Feb 15 2022 detailHowever, recently I’ve been more obsessed with costume design and textiles than ever!

Casual Elf Sadie Lune in Berlin Feb 15 2022

Casual Elf Sadie Lune selfie in Berlin, Feb 15 2022

I have watched a lot of fantasy shows and movies that turned out to have pretty wonderful femme characters. There’s Wheel of Time, The Witcher, Cursed, and more.

I wanted to draw Sadie as a fantasy priestess, and she absolutely nailed the look! Her makeup and hair and outfit and props were amazing.

As we have passed through Imbolg (see next post for my big Imbolg project!) the weather and light have really changed, and Spring is coming.

I am more interested in transparent media and soft tools than I have ever been, and I use my watercolor brush pens more, as I did in this piece.

Luminous greens will be everywhere soon, and Sadie is the harbinger here.

My previous portrait of Sadie, on a very cold Fall day. You can learn about Sadie’s work on her (NSFW) website. And here’s her Insta, and her twitter . My flickr gallery of drawings and paintings of Sadie is here!

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to continue making art as a vaccinated but Covid-vulnerable disabled person.

With your support, I can work from home or safely outside and keep telling the stories of Berlin.

Noéline la Bouche as the Goddess Yemaya!

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Noeline la Bouche as the Goddess Yemaya Suzanne Forbes Feb 2 2022 hero editThis is a special drawing of a special person.

My beloved friend and Muse Noéline la Bouche has burlesque costumes and performance routines for many Gods and Goddesses, and one of the most beautiful is the Yemaya one.

Noéline performed as Yemaya for the wonderful “Winter is Coming” edition of Extravagant Shambles.

It was the last time I saw her dance live before the pandemic, and yet I didn’t draw her.

Because the performance was so beautiful, I wanted to focus all my energy on watching.

I didn’t draw everyone at this show – and I didn’t draw my muse Noéline la Bouche for an unusual reason. Noéline performed as the Goddess “Yemaya – mère de l’eau”, and I was so captivated by her dance choreography and costume for this number I actually decided to just watch! But you can see photos of her doing the act!

I wrote that at the time. Even if I could go back and change things, I would still watch Noéline dance in the dark cave of the club, my drawing tools down. After the show she came over and hugged me, still throwing sparkles of energy from the performance.

I am so grateful to know this amazing friend.

Noeline la Bouche as the Goddess Yemaya Suzanne Forbes Feb 2 2022I hope you will take a moment to follow Noéline, who has done streaming performances for many Disability-Positive and disability inclusive burlesque shows in the last two years, and created a gallery of glamorous pin-up selfies in a rainbow of colors using her handmade accessories.

Noéline has also created a project called “Self-Isolation Updates”.

Noeline-la-Bouche-in-headpiece-by-Suzanne-Forbes-Oct-31-2020-6In almost 250 installments to date, they have shared the experience of being chronically ill in a pandemic. She shares isolation, loneliness, doctor visits during the early months of the pandemic, and ultimately contracting Covid in Fall 2020 despite exhausting precautions.

Then comes Covid-induced kidney failure, medical crisis, experiencing medical racism and gaslighting, dialysis life and disability reality.

Noéline describes it all with incredible insight and wisdom. Someday I hope these entries will be a book, illuminated by the gorgeous selfies!

But right now, Noéline needs our help and support more than ever.

Compounding financial hardship, medical racism and the CripTax of disabled life means simply paypaling money to her would make her actual daily life easier. Could you do that?

We have a little auction going where the highest Paypal donor in Feb will win the original of the Yemaya drawing!

Paypal.me/noelinelabouche

Noéline’s website here, Insta here, burlesque accessory line here, Paypal.me here!

Noéline in a headpiece I made!

Many other Noeline drawings in my Noéline Muse Album on flickr.