Tag Archives: portrait painting

Painting a new large portrait at last!

rah wip cu July 2017 Suzanne ForbesI am so excited and happy to be working on this portrait of amazing Berlin rockstar Rah Hell.

rah wip cu July 2017 Suzanne ForbesI met Rah IRL for the first time when she came to my art show at Tremuschi Ink.

Then I drew her performing in Donut Heart for their video release party and at Uke Boogie. We were talking about a plan to make a painting but had not sorted the details.

rah wip July 2017 Suzanne ForbesWhen I went to see Donut Heart again at the Lesbian and Trans stage at the Berlin Lesbian and Gay Festival last weekend, Rah was wearing the perfect outfit.

You all know how I like style and how a great outfit truly inspires me! I was like, would you please wear this awesome outfit to be painted and she said yes! She is wearing a sequined fedora, you will be able to see it better as I work on the details. We’re working again tomorrow, so there will be an update with the progress of this piece soon 🙂

yay I love painting portraits I love my life I love my Patreon Patrons who make it all possible so much!!

Trans Day of Visibility. A light in the darkness.

D and s Jan 2012 by Suzanne Forbes

D and s Jan 2012 by Suzanne Forbes

Every Trans Day of Remembrance my heart is shredded. I don’t know if Trans Day of Visibility eases that pain at all; I can’t know because my experience is only cis.

But I hope I can help to make trans folk visible and celebrated today.

alix of the inverted eye at fat city folsom eve by Suzanne Forbes 2008

alix of the inverted eye at fat city folsom eve by Suzanne Forbes 2008

I have shared my life with trans people always, and my art has always tried to make a beautiful and honorable record of them.

At Marquis Fetish Ball 7 18 09 by Suzanne Forbes

At Marquis Fetish Ball 7 18 09 by Suzanne Forbes

I am more committed than ever to documenting trans folk with love and respect in 2017, a frightening, regressive year after some incremental progress towards basic decency.

Jiz Lee at Nude Aid by Suzanne Forbes 2009

Jiz Lee in red jockstrap at Nude Aid fundraiser by Suzanne Forbes 2009

At Berlin Graphic Days Suzanne Forbes July 1 2016

At Berlin Graphic Days Suzanne Forbes July 1 2016

Many of these drawings are licensed Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs.

That means they can be freely shared, reprinted and re-used for any noncommercial purpose as long as you credit “Suzanne Forbes, artist.”

They can be printed out and displayed as well.

If the version online isn’t high enough res for your needs, just contact me and I’ll try and find a bigger file for you!

I make as much art as possible that belongs to the community. If you want me to make your picture, let me know!

You can find lots of free drawings in my  Visibility album.

Here’s one of my favorites. It’s from a fetish party at the Supper Club in 2008.

Liza at the Marquis Fetish Ball 8 30 2008 by Suzanne Forbes

Liza at the Marquis Fetish Ball 8 30 2008 by Suzanne Forbes

I will happily donate my art time and art to any LGBTQi art fundraiser here in Berlin, just ask! if I am well enough (I’m disabled and have chronic illness) I’ll be there with bells on!

I am so grateful for the support of my Patrons, who make my work possible.

I am an entirely Patron-Powered artist; If you want to help with my mission of art-documenting LGBTQi community, alternative culture and immigrant life in Berlin, just click here.