haskinsmaleart.com
Biography
of David W. Haskins
picture of David
W. Haskins - December 2010
· 1955
Born in Framingham, Massachusetts USA January 14th, a Capricorn.
Mother broke water in Woolworth's! Being her fourth child, she
thought she had it down.
· 1960 - 1970 Excelled in art and math in grade school.
Sketching and a passion for cars were a favorite pastime. Warm
feelings for adult men.
· 1971 - 1972 Junior and senior high school years, tried
heterosexuality…didn't like it. Always thought something
was missing. Began sketching men.
· 1969 - 1972 Trained to be an architect but pot smoking
got in the way of learning calculus. Excelled in art, biology
and technical drawing.
· 1973 - 1975 Attended Babson Institute for business education
at parents suggestion. Hell, that's all they'd pay for! Took art
appreciation courses as electives.
· 1976 Blasted out of the closet when mother discovered
her naked son with then current suckbuddy, post orgasmic. Father
vomits.
· 1976 - 1989 Love relationship with Cliff Chirgwin lasts
thirteen hard working, hard partying years. Both Cliff's and Dave's
parents came to accept their sons' sexuality.
· 1976 - 1987 Serve time and much effort in family owned
Oldsmobile dealership in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Began cleaning
toilets, proceeded through all positions in the Parts Department
and all clerical and managerial positions in the Service department.
Last three years held the position of Service and Parts Director
along with being on the Board of Directors. Instrumental in the
computerization of the entire dealership operation. Lusted after
most of the technicians…
· 1978 Designed and built passive solar home with lover,
Cliff on a 17 acre lot in Holliston, Massachusetts, a dream come
true for both of us.
· 1976 - 1985 Helped run three successive suburban gay
social clubs, hosting many events in our home in the woods. Cliff
and Dave had met at one of these meetings.
· 1987 Decision made to leave family business due to a
ceiling to advancement caused by a then homophobic uncle and a
need to pursue a CAREER IN ART.
· 1988 Courses in artistic anatomy at Boston Museum School
of Fine Art.
· 1988 In September, lover, Cliff was diagnosed with esophageal
cancer. Five months of chemotherapy, radiation and David's full
time care could not help. Cliff's liver failed causing body death
on February 5th, 1989. David realized Cliff's spirit move from
his body and float above…giving them both proof of the life
after.
· 1989 resumed art courses at Danforth Museum of Art in
Framingham, Massachusetts under the tutorage of Boston artist,
Michael Dowling. Training in drawing, painting, pastels, landscape
painting, fresco, and TEN semesters of Figure Drawing.
· 1989 - 1991 Executor of past lover Cliff's estate, 26
months of red tape and TAXES.
· 1989 -1992 Two mismatched rebound relationships. Gave
them both a real good try but I had to terminate them (the relationships,
not the ex-lovers).
August 1990 -
while attempting to purchase a life insurance product, blood test
results revealed an HIV+ status. Devasting emotionally at first,
but got through it. And I am still around and very healthy.
· 1992 -1993 fell in love with a lusty, hairy, farmboy
stud. Purchased and renovated a circa-1900 bayside cottage in
Hull, Massachusetts with year round over bay sunset views. This
lover, David C. Anderson, at 41 succumbed to complications of
AIDS, twenty-one short sweet months after this relationship began.
· 1993 August brought the unexpected meeting of Danny,
WHILE CRUISING FOR ANONYMOUS SEX IN A NOTORIOUS MASSACHUSETTS
PARK. (We lived 16 years together but in 2010 we chose different
residences. I love Danny emensely as one of my closest friends.)
· 1994 A horrible storm filled New England winter
helped make the decision to move to SOUTH BEACH very easy.
· 1994 Missing creative drawing, took figure drawing class
at South Florida Art Center. Frustrated by having to draw too
many women models. AND THEIR TITS.
· 1995 Purchase South Beach condominium after falling in
love with the neighborhood and its then bohemian/international
atmosphere.
· 1995 August: Began hiring local gay men to pose for current
series of artwork in pencil, charcoals and pastels. What a blast
to FINALLY be doing what I was born to do!
· 1996 Eight works displayed as part of the international
symposium GAY DESIRE at the Mantel Inn hotel lounge, South Beach,
during the entire month of April. Continued drawing more hot men…
· 1997 Published in HOTSPOTS! magazine on March 14, a two
page spread featuring six works. Still more men sprawled in front
of my easel.
· 1997 One-man art show BODY LANGUAGE at nightclub SALVATION,
May 10th,featuring three works in the downstairs entry lounge
and eight more dramatically lit upstairs. Over 1000, mostly men,
some questionable, were exposed to David's work for the first
time. Many returned to particular pieces that moved them. This
night was an incredible ego boost.
· 1997 - 1998 Works displayed at the gallery ART FRENZIE
in Wilton Manors / Fort Lauderdale throughout the tourist season
culminating with a one-man show displaying 42 works during February
1998. Good exposure, sales made…even found two new models!
· 1998 Published in SCOOP magazine on March 18th. Drew
my first man in leather.
· 1998 Display of works at THE EROS LOFT GALLERY in Pompano
Beach, August 1998 to March 2002.
1998 Display of works at CATALOG X in South Beach, September 1998
to June 2000.
· Late 1998- early 1999 Creating this web site for the
Internet.
February 15th
1999 - 3:00 AM The Male Art of David W. Haskins website
launched.
February 28th
1999 - Six works installed in the amazing gay male artist virtual
gallery: El Museo del Gayo From Spain, this virtual gallery had
fantastic art in 15 galleries including over 100 gay artists ranging
from Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci to contempory artists
such as David Hockney, Michael Leonard and Douglas Simonson. To
have my work included among these heavy hitters blew me away.
Unfortunately Spanish critics have brought down this wonderful
site many times and currently it is not running.
After five weeks
on the net, my website is trashed on March 23rd 1999 by phobic
minister at Fortune City. Advise: Don't bother creating a site
with any nudity at this phobic company.
March 30, 1999
- With some help from net friends, I was informed about my 2nd
webserver and the site was running soon after again.
April 1, 1999
- The artpiece, THREE STUDIES OF JIMMY is published on the front
page of Miami South Beach's WIRE magazine, the longest running
weekly publication on South Beach.
April 2, 1999
- Published in HOTSPOTS! mag, Florida's largest gay publication.
Art work featured: HE LIKES WHAT HE SEES.
1999 Creating
a few more original pieces with more hot men, including the hairiest
muscular man and the most experienced sexy man I've ever drawn...both
pieces in my 1999
Artwork gallery.
Years 2000 to
2002 - After living & creating in a cramped Miami Beach condo
Danny & I moved to a home in Shorecrest, the most northeast
neighborhood in the city of Miami, also one of the oldest and
quietest. Besides a large very private yard, the property has
a large bright room used as my studio. My house partner Danny
and I spent many months removing many unfortunate design elements
(including horrid popcorn ceilings in 7 of the rooms) of the former
owners and made the property our own with many rare sub tropical
plants, fresh paint & refinished terrazzo floors. Updated
electrical with lots of track lighting showcased much of my artwork.
As of May 2002 we finished painting all of the interior rooms
and finished the design and execution of a tropical version of
Monet's gardens. In winter months, the back yard proved to be
a wonderful backdrop for my handsome models.
January 23, 2001
- My father, E. Douglas Haskins passed away after a major stroke
6 days earlier. He was a wonderful warm funny man who cared for
his family above all else. He trusted me to be his estate executor
to ensure the well being of my mother in her last years and his
four children. We all miss him dearly. My father helped make it
possible for me to continue along my creative path.
In 2002, I was
finally back at my easle but not enough.
December 29, 2002
- My mother, Mary G. Haskins passed away after a nasty fall earlier
that month. Mary was a determined mother, grandmother, great grandmother,
a loyal wife and a credit to her community. She devoted most of
spare time to volunteering in various charitable organizations
including The American Red Cross and her church. She was politically
involved in town politics as a town meeting member for over 30
years and campaigned for others she deemed worthy. Her love of
gardening certainly transferred to me. Her fiesty loving spirit
will always be part of me.
With both parents
gone in less than two years, the early months of 2003 left me
feeling quite disoriented. I had no idea that their passings would
have such a strong emotional impact on my middle aged life. Doug
and Mary were amazing role models for me and after some adjustment,
so supportive of my different paths in life. I'll forever be indebted
to them.
November 29, 2003
- Hosted a gallery night for a South Florida gay male nudist club.
Two friends, who are members, convinced me to have this gallery
night to showcase my art. The club supplied the wine and cheese,
etc. Ninety men came to disrobe, view my art and be sociable.
Two men bought art and I got 5 new models from contacts from the
evening. The profits were donated to a local shelter for HIV+
homeless in Miami.
By December 2003
five of the club's members posed for me. Hadn't been this busy
with my art for over 4 years and it felt GREAT. The folks' estate
business plus our home/garden renovations really cut into my artwork
time during the last few years.
Early 2004 - Back
in art creation mode regularly and also ramping up for web site
improvements (now employed) and preparations for production of
affordable reproductions of many artworks.
April 3, 2004
Affordable high quality photo prints in sizes from 5X7 to 20X30
available of 49 (now over 160) works through business partner
Shutterfly.com. Note cards and more are available
of the same images as the photo prints displayed at the Shutterfly
site.
February 2005
- "UNZIPPED" magazine reviewed "The Male Art of
David W. Haskins":
"What's Black
& White and Stiff All Over? written by T. Hitman of "UNZIPPED"
magazine.
Years ago, artist
David Haskins and his long-time partner Danny fled the chill of
New England winters for the warmth of Miami, where they finally
set up the perfect studio in which he could create. Now Haskins'
breathtaking male nudes are getting much deserved exposure, thanks
to the artist's online gallery. The viewings are divided into
separate wings, each devoted to a specific medium: chalk pastel
drawings, commissioned portraits, black and white pencil drawings,
oil pastels, etc. Some of the most stunning works are in the colored
pencil gallery, where studies like "Carter" (a tough
trucker-type posed on his back, with his hard dick snaking over
his hairy stomach), and "A Contemporary David" can be
found. The later is a personalized tip of the hat to Da Vinci's
(correction: Michealangelo's statue) nude, represented by a Latino
who swings an uncut cock with a luscious trunk of foreskin below
his six pack abs. Haskins never uses photography as source material
for his art; as an added erotic plus, all of it is based on South
Florida men he's hired to pose for inspiration. Judging by his
"Early 2004" sketch page, it's been a hell of an inspiring
year for Haskins: "What Goes Up Gets Drawn" shows another
hunky Latin god, barefoot and boning; "In The Eye of The
Beholder" is a close up of a cock with a Prince Albert piercing;
and "True Love" depicts a comforting take on romance
between two older gay men, perfect for Valentine's viewing."
2005 - The first
half of '05 was very busy with creation of new works. The second
half was less so due to family matters which needed attending
to.
February 10 thru
June 27, 2006- 13 pieces displayed at The Boy Bar 1220 Normandy
Drive Miami Beach, Florida
October 9 through
Nov 16th 2006 - pieces displayed in the multi-artist "Art
Erotica" exhibit at Art Expressions Gallery 1212 NE4th Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304
January 4th, 2007
through March 31. 2007 - 6 pieces displayed in a multi-artist
exhibit at Art Expressions Gallery 1212 NE4th Ave. Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida 33304
September 27,
2007- Art Review at GayArtblog.com:
"A very prolific
artist, Haskins’ gallery of homoerotic art is a collection
of the artist’s charcoals and pastels from 1995 up to today.
Although the rendering of anatomy has been clearly bettered over
the years, Haskins’ constantly has infused his erotic drawings
with sensitivity all the way. A very nice (and very large) body
of work on the whole, even though the similarity in technique
and motif do make the gallery a teeny bit monotone after a longer
visit. But absolutely worth a visit, if only for the poetry and
sensitivity of his nudes."
December 6, 2007 - Art Clients can FINALLY use their credit and
debit cards to purchase original artworks at this site.
May 2009 - review
at Manhunt Daily Blog
"Drawn To
You: The Erotic Art of David W. Haskins
There's a calmness to the erotic art of David W. Haskins that
you won't find in fellow artists like Ismael Alvarez's work. Instead
of rock hard cocks and explicit action, you get men napping, lying
on their stomach or cuddling with their partner.
When a hard cock does appear, it's never in action--as if a man
had fallen into a deep slumber of naughty dreams and became aroused
as a result. The tones of his images are subdued, oftentimes fading
into the background and allowing the viewer to focus on the true
male beauty that lies before their eyes.
In other words... these may be drawings, but I'd totally jerk
off to them seven or eight times in a row."
- Dewitt
July 9-15, 2009
- Discovered that my website was not working. The next day I learned
the reason why; my former web host had gone out of business and
left me virtually stranded. After a few frustrating days learning
what I needed to transfer my domain and sending many emails, I
finally found a new host for my site and a new registrar for my
domain. During my wait for responses to technical details, I took
the time to reorganize my site to make it more consistant throughout
and easier to use. Color, contrast and brightness level were also
adjusted on many of photo captures to be more accurate to the
originals.
July 15, 2009
- Reloaded this improved site to the web.
2010 - Art production
reduced due to a decision to move from Miami to Oakland Park,
Florida. Both our previous home and new one needed seemingly endless
repairs, upgrades and lots of painting. Months were devoted to
these improvements. As of June 2010, I was finally back to my
art business, updateing this site with 4 new works and ready to
work with models again.
2011 January -
added "Reviews" page to this site including emails from
today back to 1998.
2011 June - added
2011 Artworks page to this site.
In response to
many requests for REPRODUCTIONS of my work,
in addition to
PHOTO PRINTS of over 160 of my works in sizes
ranging from 5X7 to 20X30,
there are boxes
of 12 - 3"X5" NOTE
CARDS, MUGS and 2 sizes of MAGNETS
now available
at very affordable prices at:
my Pro Gallery at Shutterfly.com
MODELS: Always
looking for more.
If you live in
or are visiting the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area, have transportation,
are comfortable with your masculine looks and want to contribute
to my portfolio of work by posing, please view my Model Information
Page
Thanks for your
interest in my art and life.
Please email me
with your thoughts at maleart@bellsouth.net
Gallery
Index & Purchase Information