Art and Alchemy with Erotic Watercolor via Artist Lara McKenzie
Go with the Flow
Artist Lara McKenzie creates erotic watercolor illustrations from a female point of view under the moniker Wet Strokes Art. Penthouse spoke with Lara about how the COVID-19 pandemic kick-started the company, where her inspirations come from, and how she uses her artworks to empower other women to harness their sexuality.
How did you come to create Wet Strokes Art?
I’ve always done something to do with art. I’d say it was innate; it’s always been part of my being. Throughout school I studied fine art and textiles, and after school, I was trying to decide between the two, and I ended up doing a Diploma of Arts in Fashion Design at Australia’s National Art School. I ran my own fashion label for a while, but I’ve always had my heart in painting, so it didn’t last. Basically, I went back to painting and spent quite a period of time playing with a lot of different styles from hyperrealistic oil painting to acrylic abstractions. I was introduced to watercolor about five years ago, and it was a real aha moment for me.
Through oil painting, acrylic and watercolor, I was always painting suggestive flowers, and I was kind of on the periphery of erotic art. I never honed in on erotic art until I created Wet Strokes Art. Now I do that full-time. Wet Strokes Art was actually my COVID baby! I was painting but moving between styles and genres. I delved into erotic art around February 2020, and Wet Strokes Art was born.
What is it about watercolor that lends itself to erotic art?
As far as watercolor goes, I find it quite expressive and free. I like the analogy that I’m playing the alchemist with watercolor because you’re mixing water and pigment together and creating different mediums and textures, and you never quite know what the outcome is going to be. There’s a bit of the unknown, while at the same time there are elements of surrender and control with watercolor, which I thought was a really good analogy for intimate moments.
What draws you to creating art?
I find erotic art really exciting. There is so much potential for inspiration. I like creating art that celebrates sensuality, sexuality and passion. Not everyone is comfortable talking about sex, and I like that art can be a way of opening that dialogue.
Also, I’m a private, introverted person, so art is how I best express myself. I also find painting to be quite therapeutic. I’ve had periods of depression and anxiety in the past, and painting has been my therapist to get me through difficult periods. I feel like when I paint, nothing else matters and everything else shuts off. It’s like my meditation, and it brings me a lot of personal fulfilment.
Your art is very sensual and often puts the focus on female pleasure. Is this part of your intention with Wet Strokes Art?
Absolutely. It feels natural for me to portray pleasure from a female point of view, being a woman myself. I wanted to bring intimacy, connection and emotion into my artwork as well. Instead of a disconnected porn stereotype, I try to portray sensitivity through my erotic paintings. I hope my work empowers women and gives them a sense to go and explore. It’s important to remember that women are sexual creatures, too. A lot of the time women forget that, shelve it or prioritize other areas in their lives. I want to empower other women through my art.
What inspires you?
As far as artists, my all-time favorite is Georgia O’Keeffe. I’ve loved her work forever. I think she was so ahead of her time. Her paintings are so feminine and suggestive. She was revolutionary as an artist and as a female artist. As a result of her influence on me, that’s how I got into starting to paint suggestive flowers.
Is your work ever inspired by your own experiences or fantasies?
I would definitely say my own experiences and fantasies inspire my work. For me, for a painting to be successful and to feel like the painting has worked, I have to have a sense of connection to it. I need to feel immersed in what I’m creating. The research side of things can be fun, too.
What’s been the most memorable moment of your erotic career so far?
Besides hearing from Penthouse, the most surreal moment has been when a representative contacted me on behalf of a Middle Eastern sheikh who was interested in my art. They set up a meeting with me and him online, and I was expecting to be commissioned for an artwork. But what he actually wanted was to fly me over and become his in-house artist for him at his home. Although I was flattered, I politely declined!
Because Ms. McKenzie still works when we can all find her, you may do so at Instagram or via her website. Should you follow that Instagram link, you will discover that the company clearly views paintings different from photography.
