Le Scale dell'Eros [The Stairs of Love]

• Pastel on Somerset Paper
• 28 x 19 inches
• ready to hang, Framed in black and with Museum Glass [non-reflective]
  
• Available, ships from Hickory, North Carolina USA

     Le Scale dell'Eros [The Stairs of Love] depicts an inviting woman with an advancing blue panther on a Tuscan flight of stairs. This original pastel and charcoal drawing is really about the laws of attraction and getting what one wants.

     In general the female energy lures to her what she wants, whereas the male energy goes after what he wants. Lure and hunter. Yin and Yang. The woman has "panther blue" in her dark hair to reference that she may be exhibiting the female lure, but she has also the panther in her.

     Framed with a classic black frame, an acid-free mat, and Museum Glass [virtually no reflection]. Ships from Hickory, North Carolina, unless you care to pick her up.

     The second image here shows her in her actual frame.  The other images are mock-ups to show how the artwork might look in a variety of spaces.  You may also order prints in a range of sizes here:

https://borsheimarts.com/products/le-scale-dell-eros-the-stairs-of-love-blue-panther-fine-art-print

              Although life is (and people are) more complicated than this (sometimes), in general the female energy lures to her what she wants, whereas the male energy is to actually go after what he wants.  These are very different and dynamic means to a similar end.  In each of us are these contrasting energies.  We each use different tactics at different times.  "Stalker" or "Bait", "Danger" or "Fun" . . . ah, labels and the human psyche!  Pick your poison.  The panther represents the male "hunter" energy.  The woman has "panther blue" in her dark hair to reference that she may be exhibiting the female lure, but she has also the panther in her.

     
         My friend Ayala posed for me for this original artwork in the corridor of our flat in Florence, Italy, not far from Piazza Santo Spirito.  I added the blue panther later once I clarified the idea I wanted to express in this artwork. Her figure is in charcoal, although the red flower in her hair and the blue highlights and darks of her hair and leggings are pure pastel. 

     The rest of the painting is a mixture of pastel and charcoal.  I did the drawing on Somerset paper.  I used this paper once before on a purely charcoal drawing of a standing male figure, Francesco.  At that time, I found myself frustrated in not being able to add dark tones as easily as some other papers, but when I created this drawing of Ayala and the panther, I fell in love with the touchable-ness of the Somerset paper.  Maybe it was just a matter of experience or even materials.

         Although Ayala moved out of our flat (and we were only flatmates for one day -- her leaving after four years and my taking over the room of a dear friend) and soon I will, too, our other flatmate, Tomaso (a model and musician, as well as Fiorentino) actually named this artwork "Le Scale dell'Eros" (The Stairs of Love).  So, I have been enjoying the inspirations in Florence AND a little help from my friends!  I hope that you enjoy this artwork.

    Thanks so much,

    Kelly Borsheim

     
    P.S.  Like all of my pastel and charcoal artworks, this one has been treated with a fixative spray and will ship safely to your home or office.  Framed with a classic black frame, a mat, and Museum Glass [virtually no reflection].

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