In the course of developing these paintings I was fascinated by the Cubists and how they tried to understand the elements beneath the surface. I looked at Sonia and Robert Delaunay, Juan Gris, Pablo Picasso and the geometric painters of the 1920's and I became aware of the design factor in my works.

I simplified the backgrounds, made them very abstract and flattened the background image, then started to depict nudes and half naked figures. I began to strip my subjects.
The topless boys and the naked girls reflected the unveiling of the erotic element. By half undressing the models one enters a state of anticipation and excitement; you become aroused by the possibility of what is about to eventuate.

I abstracted the background so that one is more aware of the central figure and sculpted these figures so that one becomes aware of the person beneath the alluring flesh. It’s all about layer to layer and about how we approach to deepen and understand what we are attracted to, and get closer to the subject as we want to know and engage more intimately. Then getting into a different situation when one is unclothed and understand the state of mind one enters into when the clothing is not there to protect you.

The show is entitled STRIPTEASE because it fascinates me how the sexual psychology can change; especially how in these works I examine the calculation of the effect a naked or semi naked figure will have on another person. -Richard Morrisson 2010