Most Popular 'mitchmen' Posts of All Time (2013)

According to my Blogger view stats, these are the 20 most viewed posts on this blog.

Again, this is for entertainment only, I don't know how valid or complete the figures really are and obviously posts from early years have an advantage.

No 2013 posts made the cut but there are 5 from 2012.

 

'531' by Mike Carcel

Click on the list entries below to link to the original articles  

Please tell me if you have difficulty with any links

1. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Mike Carcel                      (2010)           8095 
2. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Malex                                (2010)          5031 
3. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Franco                               (2009)          5008
4. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Jotto                                  (2009)           4881
5. Priapus of Milet - 1                                                               (2012)          4013
6. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Martin of Holland               (2010)          2396
7. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Heredia                              (2009)          2136
8. Vintage Bondage Blog                                                          (2012)          1946 
9. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Mahoney                            (2010)          1927
10. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Matt                                   (2010)          1774
11. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Manflesh                            (2010)         1683
12. More medical male bondage at mitchmen                            (2008)         1652
13. Mitchells' A-Z of Fetish Artists - Platter                                (2012)          1598 
14. Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Michael Mitchell                 (2010)          1554
15. A mention of Josman                                                            (2009)          1510
16. My initiation                                                                           (2012)          1454 
17. Mitchell's - A-Z of Fetish Artists - Klaus von Brandenburg   (2009)          1409
18. Heavy Bondage                                                                     (2012)         1386 
19. Bound Guys                                                                           (2009)         1333
20. A Tribute To Bound Gods                                                      (2011)         1327 

 

The prevalance of A-Z posts stands out, in fact all the entries are about artists except for six which contain good bondage imagery. You could therefore read this as a crude measure of different artists popularity. The next three artists outside the top 20 are Leo 1257, Neil Bruce 1249 and Marc 1216.

The winner (if that's the right term) is Mike Carcel which may surprise some of you, but he's been chalking up visits continuously and is in the top ten in most months, usually near or at the top. The follow up article on him which  I posted this year featured in the top 10 for 2013 (see previous post). I suspect this popularity may reflect the difficulty web users have in finding his work which falls fair and square in the 'difficult' category. Mike posts regularly on the net but it's usually in membership groups which are closed to search engines. His showing in this survey is testimony to his popularity in fetish art circles.

Other controversial, difficult-to-find artists also feature prominently - Malex, Martin of Holland, Mahoney and Heredia. All but three of the artists on the list (Malex, Matt and Martin of Holland) are still alive and releasing new material, which creates interest in their work. The absence of Etienne (with 723 for his top scoring article), probably reflects this and the volume of his work available elsewhere, he would certainly figure in my top 20 artists!

The other phenomenal performance in this table is Priapus of Milet which was posted just over a year ago and is rapidly closing on the top 4. Another post about this artist just missed the cut at 21 (1293). His work has made an amazing impact in a very short space of time.

It's less surprising to see Franco near the top and commercial big hitters like Matt, Michael Mitchell and Sean Platter, but I am disappointed that Kalabro (1013) doesn't figure in the list alongside Jotto, his co-worker. Nevertheless, I'm glad to see some talented 'amateurs' mixing with the skilled commercial artists, proving that erotic content is king for fetish fans.

Artists from T onwards (e.g. Tom of Finland) of course have not yet appeared in the A-Z series and I have yet to cover many prominent computer centred artists like Baron and Ulf. This list is strictly confined by my article selection process but the sequence does not necessarily reflect my preferences.

 To see previous results click on the MPP label below

Most Popular Posts in 2013

According to my Blogger 'view count' stats, 

these are the most popular posts of 2013 (titles link to original posts)

Philip Swarbrick - Cruising Leather

1. A-Z of Fetish Artists - Swarbrick                774
2. Hethong - Male Spanking                            707
3. Some Classic Japanese Bondage Art           681
4. A-Z of Fetish Artists - Sean                         647
5. A-Z of Fetish Artists - Sardax                      608
6. A-Z of Fetish Artists - Ira C Smith              520
7. Riding The Wedge - 1                                  498
8. Riding The Wedge - more contributions      497
9. Mike Carcel                                                  485
10. Arrest No 7 - Piss Patrol - part 5                  468
11. Robbie's Spanking                                        448
12. A-Z of Fetish Artists - Sergey                      439
13. A-Z of Fetish Artists - Skipper                     400

This is for entertainment only, I don't know how valid the figures really are and obviously posts from January have an advantage over December. On this basis No 8 (posted in mid-November) could claim a moral victory!

Interestingly No's 10 and 11 are the only ones with photographic content rather than artwork.

The list shows the interest in my A-Z series. My post on Philip Swarbrick scored about 600 hits in a matter of days when first I posted it, I suppose someone posted the link on a bigger site, but it's not done so well since. The letter T will come up for review early next year and there's a possibility the series may conclude in 2014. I will probably rework the early ones but I also want to pick up computer artists like Borg, Bondageskin, Ulf etc.

I will publish the all-time list of favourites in my next post.

 To see previous results click on the MPP label below

First Catch Your Rogue - 3 Riley's Marbles

Shifty antique dealer, Jimmy Bristow, heard that old man Riley had an exquisite collection of rare glass and was reputedly loosing his marbles. He tried to con the old man into selling them to him, cheap.

But it turned out Riley wasn't as daft or as old as he seemed. He even produced his 'marbles' for Jimmy to look at, he found them very impressive. Eye-wateringly so.

Old man Riley was surprisingly strong too and persuaded Jimmy to stay for a demonstration of how the marbles sometimes went missing when young men called. When poor Jimmy finally left, he was still empty-handed, but he did have an uncomfortable, lingering feeling of fulfillment.

For earlier items search on 'rogues' in the label list below

Men Sharing Clothes - 15 Painter's Overalls

This series brings together images of models wearing clothes already used by others before them. In this group it's a rather well stained set of painter's overalls belonging to the Photographer Gilles Crofta.

 

'Chris '

I can only identify this model as 'Chris'. I rather like his softly contoured bulkiness and young jock look. There's a distinctly unkempt look about his facial and pubic hair that certainly fits the workman image, nice hairy forearms too, but it does make the total absence of chest hair seem a little odd. I wonder who got the job of applying those pec smears? At this stage, despite the black oil stains, the overalls look as though they might be freshly laundered. But judging by Chris's oily body they are going to get pretty dirty inside if the shoot gets hot. There's lot of scope here for identifying paint spots for comparison with other pictures for those who doubt the re-use of this item of clothing.

Nick Hird (Hirdy)

Nick Hird's face and slender, tightly muscled body don't quite match the casual, macho image of the worker's overalls but the photography itself is quite interesting. 'Hirdy' has the air of a long-suffering renaissance martyr, an impression reinforced by the bruise-like mark on his forehead. He stands with hands overhead, body unprotected, resigned to his fate (as a canvass for greasy hands and a clothes horse for dirty gear). His finely etched torso seems to grow out of the rolled-down overall top, which has taken on the appearance of an improvised loin cloth, as traditionally worn by your actual mediaeval martyr on his last public appearance. The greasy smear across his lower abdomen makes you wish you were here earlier to witness it's application. 

 

Stuart Reardon

Stuart Reardon, moonlighting from his rugby career, certainly cuts the manly mustard, facially and physique-wise but looks pretty puzzled by the spade. Admittedly, the digging implement, paint spots and oil stains are a confusing collection, covering several, quite different types of manual labour. However, he's clearly not fazed by going without any underwear, which is what really counts at the end of the day. I'm thinking of a career in abdomen smearing.

Dwayne K

Dwayne K gets full marks for offering the most sweaty-looking, finger-marked body of them all, but he doesn't seem too thrilled at having to clad it in overalls in an even grungier state. Notice how he tries to keep the contaminated cloth away from his most prized possession, no doubt dreading the order to place his hands on his head. 

 

Craig Bramley

Craig Bramley must have been the apple of his mother's eye, but I'm not sure she'd approve of the tattoos, or the near-explicit exposure! Craig seems to be quite comfortable with the dirtying up process and this is the best picture of the lot for my money. We never get to see these models wearing the top half of the overalls, but here it looks as though they are of a bib and brace design, which is less sexy than the chest-revealing-when-open, 'all-in-one' style. Of course you may prefer to imagine the photographer has just shredded the garment on Craig's body. His face does seem like he's determined to retain some dignity in the face of humiliation.

 

Danny Reeve

Danny Reeve is having none of this erotic smut, he's keeping his Calvin's on thank you very much. This ensures he keeps his gear unsullied and the overalls are hoisted up at a respectable height. You can forget about those random oily body smears too. It shows a nice male modesty, getting into character. The baby oil is less helpful for this manly image, it doesn't really pass as genuine sweat and here's another man who doesn't look as though he really knows what to do with that shovel. I'm not quite sure what to make of the chest stubble, Danny's slab-like pecs probably looked great when they were shaved a few days ago and they'll probably look terrific again with a bit more grow-back showing, but they don't look very workman-like at this point. I can imagine the photographer getting quite cross about him turning up in this state, which might explain Mr Reeve's sulky expression.

 

Aaro Mack

No-one wants to be the last in line and the look on Aaron Mack's face and the way he's holding the overalls away from his body suggests he's also twigged that their recent history is suspect and they ain't that clean any more. Perhaps he's also being modest about showing his pubes and is getting a tongue-lashing for his trouble (so to speak). I love to see a handsome man discomforted.

My thanks to Gilles Crofta and his delightful models 

(and apologies for impugning their cleanliness!)

You can find a number of sites for Gilles using any search engine, Crofta's studio site has a gallery and Gilles on Facebook is quite interesting too, there's a plentiful selection of his images on-line if you simply do an image search.

For other articles in this series click on 'sharing' in the label list below

Manflesh has a blog

I'm pleased to see there is now a Manflesh blog.
This rather adventurous image is part of a series showing how his pictures are created.

There are lots of pix of his recent and older work and well worth a browse.

I've always admired the handsome faces of his men .....

 but I wish he'd start using a more subtle palette!
 See also my A-Z entry on Manflesh.

Rubber Suit

 Somehow I missed these pictures when they came out about a year ago. I'm not an avid rubber man, but I love the way these garments cling to the body contours of these models, even the sexy groove down the middle of his six pack. His arms are spendidly showcased too.

Notice how the neck opening and rolled back collar create a 'peeled back' look as though the neck is bursting upwards out of the constraining skin of rubber. 

Or you might see it as the lips of a jug, ready to be poured.

This mirror shot is quite atmospheric, as though an intruder has been caught in the act. The bare feet look a bit incongruous though.

I love views of the backs of heads, but preferably with a lower collar line than this. This model has massive musculature at the base of his neck which prevents the collar from drooping and revealing more. His reflection in the mirror appears to be a slender man at first, but those chunky rugby thighs testify to hours of straining in the gym.

 Who lies on a bed wearing a rubber suit and looking expectant?

Nice highlights on his pecs and thighs but one might have wished for a little more in-between. This studio seems to tread a delicate path between artiness and eroticism. I'm not quite sure it works, but the imagery is food for the imagination.

Close-up shots of unconventional parts of the body, always seem intimate. My comment about body contours and grooves down the middle applies equally here, tasty.

There are more free images in this vein at Hoxton Rubber

Their subscription policy - separate payment for each 'exhibition' - is a little unusual for a photo site. They don't seem to have a regular roll-out schedule either. As far as I can tell the images don't get any more explicit than this.

Cowboy antics from Klaus Von Brandenburg

Klaus Von Brandenburg - Cowboys Torment The New Sheriff

I don't remember having seen a Klaus drawing of Cowboys before. 

I rather like his portrayal of the hairy, squared-jawed sheriff 

becoming better aquainted with the local ruffians! 

Not exactly 'riding the wedge' (see below), but something similar!

My A-Z article on Klaus' work is here

Hurrah for Tom Daley!

British gays are feeling extra pride today,

 after Tom Daley, the UK's cutest diver and Olympic medal winner
 'came out' in a video statement. 

He chose this method to avoid anyone twisting his words - brainy as well as brave!

"Is it a big deal?" he asks.

Yes it probably is, but Tom, you've done the right thing

 and young gays throughout the land can stand a little bit taller today.

Well Done!

see the video here

Bound Guy Donovan

Donovan at Bound Guys

This is Donovan, handcuffed to a metal frame and naked as the day he was born. I like the tension in his straining body and his concentration on the frustratingly simple, restraining device.  His fair-skinned hairless body won't appeal to everyone, I suppose, but for me it highlights the absence of his usual cloak of protective clothing giving a sense that this nudity is not at all normal. 

The plentiful head hair (distinctly un-fetish-like) suggests he comes from a world of freedom, wealth and pleasure. In contrast his shaved groin reinforces the 'rarely exposed' effect and suggests that 'processing' has begun. Transitioning him to a domain of service and pleasure-giving where his captor decides what he will do, how he will look and what he will be allowed to wear.

I'm often an advocate of clothes as props, but this picture shows that a man and his handcuffs make a pretty good picture too. A simple bondage arrangement like this can be a lot more erotic than a plethora of ropes and straps and other gear which obscure the object of desire.

This image comes from a recently published series at BoundGuys.com. This often overlooked bondage site is refreshingly different to the muscle jock specialists. It features a wide range of ages and body types and the straight-forward, unglossy photography gives the images a nice sense of immediacy and realism.

Ministry of Silly Hats - 7 The Bowler

Jesse Santana bowled over

I quite enjoy looking at Jesse Santana, He carries more iron-mongery and tattoos than I like, but he flashes a delightful, boyish look sometimes and seems to have a flair for athletic, erotic, body acting that few porn actors can match (see below). My mild hero-worship took a bit of a jolt, however, when he was filmed a little while ago wearing this undignified, bowler hat.

The bowler is pretty much a vanished species, although it still turns up in Fosse-type, dance musicals and occasionally on the catwalk as an accessory to conjure up the respectable City Gent, in order to sell some mildly racy item of clothing, like garish Bermuda shorts.

Ministry Man

As far as I am concerned, however, the bowler indelibly represents middle-aged, grey, overweight and utterly un-sexy City Bankers in suits infused with cigarette smoke and other unpleasant smells. Dogmatic Men from the Ministry too, as immortalised in John Cleese's “Ministry of Silly Walks” (whose inspiration for this series I happily acknowledge!).

But sexy? No.

 D.O. Examines Marc Dylan's accounts

I thought a gentleman was supposed to remove his hat when entering! 

These video stills come from Raging Stallion's video 'Cockwork'. The title is an allusion to “Clockwork Orange” of course, which (together with Oddjob in 'Goldfinger') gifted this hat an element of menace, but it also restated the traditional connection with clowning. Thankfully the studio did not inflict this equally un-sexy indignity on Jesse and his colleagues, although the poor loves did have to wear bright orange knee-pads. Health and Safety. Ho hum!

Jesse interviewed by Dominic Sol

From, 'Suited for Sex' by the same studio, this still shows how city attire can be sexy, although the blue shirt is a trifle loud. Jesse gives us his confused, young innocent look as a searching interview gets personal.

Jesse Santana rides again in Cowboys

No innocence here! An nice example of Jesse's body-art athleticism from Raging Stallion's 'Cowboys' with Tom Wolfe. This image succeeds in being beautiful and romantic as well as sexy.

Back to the bowler. This effort by Kevin McDermott actually comes a lot closer to the spirit of Clockwork Orange. You can mentally flip this image from tomfoolery to menace by focussing on the face and teeth. If this chap was your boyfriend you might think it sexy, but whether the bowler really contributes anything to that feeling is debatable!

For other posts in this series, click on 'hats' in the label list below

Igor in Bondage

 

Bondage never looks better than when it's applied to a big, muscular man.

A construction worker perhaps?
Certainly he's guilty of 'builders bum'!

Igor, minus jeans, kneels in true humility.

Simply beautiful bondage by Vish Studio

Riding The Wedge - more contributions

When I initiated this theme I did not anticipate quite how many contributions from different artists I would uncover. I do not know the identity of the artists in the first 3 examples, so if anyone can help out I would be most grateful.

 The Diabolical Horse (artist unknown)

This group of pictures travels a long way from the original, simple wedge device in search of added excruciation (if that's a real word!). This must be one of the most inventive, an obstacle course that is absurdly challenging. However, the simple drawing of the victim at rest is surely one of the most convincing representations of the basic wedge effect, he is well and truly grounded on the apex of the 'horse', you can almost feel the pressure! The solid sides of the horse contribute greatly to the 'splitting' effect (compare the picture below)

 Treteau (Trestle) - artist unknown

By the same artist, this is a more basic model with added destabilising effect. 

Again, it's beautifully simple, sometimes less is more!

There's clue here that the artist may be French - any ideas, gents?

 Dildo Horse - artist unknown

We saw the dildo variant of the wedge in my A-Z article on Swordman, I'm not sure whether the wedge actually contributes anything to the torture with the dildo acting as go-between and you can see in this picture that the victim is actually raised above the wedge. Compare with the first picture above. I'm not sure what the outer dildo's are for, unless this is a wedge made for three! Actually, you get the impression that torture is not the primary object here. Having said that, it's a nicely rendered image with good body detail and an appealing facial expression. I feel I ought to know this artist but I'm afraid I don't. The drawing style and vibrator detail suggests Japanese origins to me.

For other posts in this series click on the 'wedge' label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - My Letter 'S' Favourite

It's my custom to pick a personal favourite artist for each letter based on fetish content, sensuality (or eroticism if you like) and technical skill. I automatically eliminate those artists whose contributions to fetish art are small in number, which rules out the likes of otherwise prolific artists like Steven and Sven.

For the letter 'S' I have more contenders than usual but no obvious winner. I suppose Sean is the pinnacle of fetish creativity in this group, but I would not discount SAJ, Skipper or Stud nor Sherwin's exploration of the crucifixion niche. Sergey's fiery cowboy epic is equally worthy but I must reluctantly discount him simply because I know of no other work by him.

I enjoy Spryte's work, and envy his humour, but cartoonists usually struggle to make the cut in my survey because I prefer an element of seriousness to be present, which is why out of my Spryte selection I like best his jungle plant picture 'Juice'.

When it comes to sensuality, Sepp, Silencio, Swarbrick, Sp-i-nt (and Sergey again) put in strong bids. Sabian's naïve work also has an inexplicably effective eroticism.

The technical leaders must be Sepp, Sherer, Silencio and Ira Smith. My choice is made more difficult this time by the presence of artists whose work goes beyond the simple depiction of erotic events and therefore seems 'important', notably Swarbrick.

My gut instinct is to narrow the choice down to Sean, Swarbrick and Silencio, with Sherwin and Stud close behind. Of the top 3, Silencio is my undoubted visual favourite, strong on masculinity but perhaps too light in fetish identity. Swarbrick's images are amazingly evocative and alluring, but again the fetish ingredient is incidental and they flirt with immaturity more than I really like. 

Sean on the other hand created some amazing imagery in his 'Bound and Gagged' period and this kidnap scene is quite a good example. It is not technically flawless, although Sean is not the first artist to be caught out by the perspectives of the hog-tie position (there's a similar image in Etienne's 'Sailor Beware' series). Anyway I love the underwear bulge. It's powerful art for it's time and I don't think the other artists in this letter are strong enough to displace him from the top spot. 

 

So my choice for the letter 'S' is Sean. I've chosen this final example by him of two buddies being introduced to the whip in a scene full of anxiety and energy.

For earlier articles in this series, click on the A-Z label below

or search by name in the masthead box.

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Sylvia Baker (aka 'Silverkitty')

Silverkitty - You Look Good Like That

 

Sylvia Baker's art inhabits fantastical worlds and contains mostly non-fetish themes, but she has produced some interesting captivity images worth mentioning here. This first example is beautifully simple, but as you explore, it begins to swirl with erotic charge. You realise the handsome, muscular captive is sweating with fear (and shame?) as his juice is extracted from him. He passively offers up his lips to his captor, whom he cannot see. You can almost see this hero slipping down the slope of submission. 

I often comment on the use of clothing in imagery and it plays a dual role here. It emphasises the captor's controlling position and his captive's vulnerability but paradoxically the removal of the victim's clothing has exposed his manly strength and beauty, attributes which make his plight all the more thrilling. The captor's sinister character is expressed with visual signals like the calculating, narrowed eyes and black gloves. It's classic, melodrama stuff really, but the artist has succeeded in reviving it's magic in a modern erotic context.

Silverkitty - Why They Call Him Master Miller

 

A good deal of fetish art and photography depicts bound men simply as isolated objects of sexual desire, available to feed the viewers imagination. Sometimes they are shown being used and abused, but nearly always avoiding any expression of tender intimacy. Thus the hovering kiss in the first picture is a rare phenomenon, but this monochrome image goes further in expressing the irresistible erotic appeal of the helpless captive, showing that it's an opportunity to touch and taste (a fate which some victims might find equally as unpleasant as outright torture). The captor's embrace restrains his captive, enabling him to apply his tests at close quarters and feel his subject squirming in response, feel his heart pounding.

Sylvia Baker's men often have Yaoi-like, chiselled, aesthetic faces and luxuriant hair (à la Playgirl) which makes quite a contrast to the traditional, butch, male stereotype of much fetish art. The Shibari style of bondage employed here is a further reflection of a man of thoughtful, unhurried tastes, with a desire to create beauty while reinforcing on his subject his complete helpless captivity.

Silverkitty - We Don't Give Up

 

The last two images, which come from the 'Ravenwood' comic, reflect a more traditional male ideal. The evidence of physical abuse of this chained captive gives context to the angry, defiant expression. The sense of lurking, 'real' violence gives this, and other pictures by the artist, a distinctive edge. However, the idealised muscularity and willowy body pose, topped off with tumbling hair and carefully judged chin and body stubble, conveys to us a sexual power, undimmed by torture.

Silverkitty - 'Ravenwood 3' Cover Art

 

In this final image the iron collar, chains and retracted arm position create a marvellous sense of helplessness and for some reason I find the glimpse of buttock cleavage rather pleasant! 

The face

is not quite so well drawn but full of pent-up emotion to match the immobilisation of his body. If you study the back of the head and the angle of the ears, it looks as if the face was originally drawn looking straight ahead, and then adjusted to show the angry profile. It makes a more interesting picture but the 'surgery' is not quite seamless, which gives us an interesting insight into the creative process.

I admit to having some discomfort about including art created by women in this series but I have introduced several in 'the letter S' based entirely on their merits as fetish artists. In Sylvia Baker's case there seem to be distinctive qualities, which I have pointed out above, seeming to reflect a slightly different viewpoint from my male representatives, but it's not an uncongenial one.

For more see Silverkitty on Deviant Art

For earlier articles in this series, click on the A-Z label below

or search by name in the masthead box.

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Syd

Syd Wheels is one of the originals, his spanking images are somewhat similar to those of C of Sweden, surprisingly so given the contrast in styles, Syd is a cartoonist, C more academic in his approach. But they seem to go for similar subject matter for inspiration – notably uniform situations and historical costume drama.

Syd - Scottish Spank

This piece, autographed Wheels instead of the usual Syd, has a marvellous retro feel in the realist style of vintage magazine illustrations. I don't know if Syd was a Scot or a soldier, but the uniform detail looks highly authentic and the soldier on the receiving end conforms to the manly Scottish tradition of wearing nowt beneath his kilt. Despite this, there's a distinctly feminine air about him - details like the kiss curl, the shaped eyebrows and fulsome lips. Syd seems to be borrowing motifs from female glamour to suggest a nancy boy, a concept from a bygone era. Dare I say he might even be mocking the masculine credentials of the kilt?

Syd - Cowboy Law

I particularly like this 'cowboy law' scene, supposedly in the bunkhouse although it's hard to imagine these dudes, with their artfully tied neckerchiefs and swanky shirts, bunking up with the other rough men. It's the posh togs that make this picture work so well, privileged young men brought down to earth with a whack,and how the foreman seems to be enjoying sorting them out!The foreground figure consoling himself is excellent.

Syd - Desert Rat Spanked

In my youth, the 8^th Army, 'Desert Rats' in their shorts were a source of manly inspiration for my homoerotic fantasies, but this final picture is one I never dreamed of, a Corporal spanking one of his charges whilst simultaneously jerking him off. I'm not 100% sure this is by Syd, but the face of the spanker has similarity to the first picture and once again there's an authenticity about the uniform that suggests familiarity on the part of the artist. Notice also the trace of feminity in the spanker's eyelashes and the hands of the man being punished. Syd doesn't quite make the spanker's impossible left arm action seem believable, but the hunched up pose as he twists round is beautifully captured.

I haven't found any site for Syd. Try Jockspank (link in sidebar), information welcome.

For earlier articles in this series, click on the A-Z label below

or search by name in the masthead box

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Swordman

 Swordman - Prisoner 05

 

Swordman's fantasy story lines and improbably youthful heroes don't exactly set my pulse racing, but I have picked out this one series, which catalogues the interesting ordeals of one particular boy-man. The first image is very simple in concept, but highly effective. The uncluttered style brings out the leanness of the captive's unprotected body, making it seem all the more vulnerable as he tenses, waiting for the punishment to begin. The sun streaming in through the window produces attractive highlights on his naked body, but also seems to be part of the set-up, spotlighting him and fixing him in the gloom of the dungeon, reinforcing his helpless isolation. 

 

Swordman - Prisoner 02

 

Another spanking image, once again depicting that moment of anticipation. It makes an interesting contrast to the previous picture. This time the victim is draped with oversized ironmongery which also creates an impression of frailty (notably the clunky waist band). The scary mega-paddle works in the same way and the torturer's flexing of his weapon tweaks up it's scariness. There are a couple of details I really love in this picture, the rust patches on the chains and the convincing way they drape, which is not as easy to draw as it looks, managing to convey a sense of their weight – which should be contributing to the torment. I love the torturer's cod-piece.

 

 Swordman - Prisoner 04

Compare the treatment of chains here, they are rigid and tensed which implies the body suspended below is far heavier than it really looks – even with the extra attachments in the offing. However, the compensation is an impression that the captive is stretched out and held very securely indeed, despite some evidence of leg movement. There's also a powerful sense that he is way up in the air, which is not just down to simple perspective, but also the clever positioning of the block of light from the window which creates a visual lifting as well implying an expanse of wall below him. The waist band turns out to have a humane purpose here, relieving pressure on the captive's back, just as well since otherwise his lower weight is supported only by his neck and twisted arms, nasty!

Swordman - Prisoner 03

 The series culminates in this splendid contribution to our 'Riding the Wedge' series (see label below for the other artists interpretations). Swordman's economical, cartoon-y style is highly effective in bringing out the technical details of the equipment and (below) the associated restraint gear, it's almost a workshop manual for would-be professional Sadists. Of course, Rule No 1 is to show the victim what's in store for them, unfortunately he doesn't look totally dismayed. Shafts of light in the background seem to suggest a realisation dawning.

Swordman - Prisoner 10

 There's so much going on in this grand finale that it's actually quite confusing trying to work out what the victim is supposed to be feeling. There's too much multi-tasking here for me and I suspect most will forget about the now hidden dildo-peg. Nevertheless the clarity of the restraint arrangements is commendable. A neat series.

I haven't found any site for Swordman, but I confess I haven't looked very hard! You might try the Yaoi Gallery. Information welcome.

 

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