“The Brightest Boy”
In between Rob and Spike West, I had another interview with a young “stud “ named Kona. We have never spoken before this. So, this was such a risk, but it all worked out in the end.
I messaged Kona soon after I finished “The Guide” portrait. I also had to face a bunch of challenges, like driving out of state, planning a whole interview and photoshoot without knowing exactly where I was going, and trying to act somewhat professional, all while having no plan at all—just going with the flow.
The drive to Jersey Shore, Asbury Park, wasn’t too bad. It was mostly major highways, and then I got off at Neptune. It took about two hours from where I lived, which I didn’t mind. I arrived early and rested before the interview. I remember parking in the Empress Hotel lot, paying twenty dollars for just two hours. Afterward, I walked along the boardwalk for an hour, sitting on a bench to take in the sounds and atmosphere. It wasn’t too hot, but it was sunny. I wore light blue skinny jeans, my pink “Hula Girl” shirt, light brown leather ankle boots, a matching belt, and leather suspenders. I felt snatched and ready for the interview.
We eventually met at the front of the Empress Hotel. He came holding all his bright pink gear—a young and ambitious guy, excited not just to meet me but also for the interview and photoshoot. We entered the hotel, and he went up to the counter and said, “Room 216, please.” The receptionist handed him the key, and I was standing there thinking, Well, that was easy. Most guys make me pay for the room, or I had expected to do the interview in the lobby, but this worked too.
We got to the room, and instead of a bed, there was this big mirror with lights all around it. I felt like I was on RuPaul’s Drag Race—just smaller, with no cameras except the one in my backpack. We started the interview, and as we talked about his life, I noticed we had a lot in common. I felt like I had found someone who just understood me. I then steered the conversation toward leather pageants and contests, which I needed more information on at the time. We covered all the topics, giving me more insight into the world of leather contests and pageants.
Then it was time for the photoshoot…
The photo shoot was amazing. He put on all the gear and truly embodied the look. I had seen him at the first BLUF Philadelphia Cigar Social back in February, wearing the same outfit, and I knew then he’d make a great subject. I directed the pose, and he gave me this look, which is what you see here. Afterward, I drove back home to Pennsylvania and started working on the next portrait in the series. Although some time has passed since that interview and photoshoot, it feels like it happened yesterday. While drawing “The Bad Guy” and “The Spiritual Sir,” Kona invited me to return to Jersey for various events. I’ve since ventured outside my state borders multiple times, becoming more comfortable with traveling further.
The Process…
The Source
Some of the colors like the Fuchsia Hankie needed to be fixed.
This portrait came together rather quickly. The type of leather he wore was reflective, luminous, and bright fuchsia, so I couldn’t use too much black. I had to be mindful of not applying too much pressure with the pencils—something my high school art teacher would always critique in my still-life drawings. His face, however, was more challenging.
I struggled with placing his left eye, which was initially too high, making his face look off. The eyes are crucial, making up about sixty-five percent of any portrait, so I’m glad I fixed that. After about five more hours of blending and shading, I finally captured his face. His baby-faced look was easier to work on than the last four portraits because he had no wrinkles or beard. I deliberately avoided showing any blemishes, as I wanted him to appear flawless—like a fresh canvas, ready for the leather culture to make its mark on him.
Back to the leather—the difference in its texture was striking. His look aligned more with the BLUF leather standards, but it translated well onto paper. It not only reflected his personality but also his sense of style, which I was aiming to capture. The zippers and smaller details were fun to draw, though challenging, but I pushed through, and now it looks amazing. Compared to the other portraits, this one represents a shift, showing the newer generation of gay men coming into their own and leaving their mark on the leather scene and the world, which is what I wanted to showcase—not just with this portrait, but with the entire series.
The Brightest Boy
The Next Steps…
Before starting the portrait, I began networking. While drawing Rob, I attended my first leather contest, the inaugural Keystone Leather Contest, with my friend Gus. He and I have been traveling to different events since the beginning of the “Leather Man” series. The event was a lot of fun, and I met more people who inspired me. Three of them had the look I needed for future projects, but none of them were new to the leather community—they had been part of the scene for a while.
What I was looking for was someone brand new to the scene.
