Behind-the-scenes: Martin Führer
The allure of drawing perfect-looking men.
I caught up with artist and illustrator Martin Führer to talk about the art of drawing men.
When did you discover and start to explore your passion for drawing?
I’ve being drawing since I can hold a pencil in my hand.
It’s in my DNA – I inherited my skills from my father.
Have you undertaken any formal training in art or illustration?
No, I never went to art school.
I’m a self-taught artist, although I did have some mentors in my life.
Who are some of your art heroes or inspirations?
Some of my favourite artist are Adam Hughes, Andy Park, Gil Elvgren, and Alfons Mucha.
My work is strongly influenced by the Art Nouveau movement.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Inspiration is the main reason why I’m on Instagram – it’s so easy to find some of my favourite comic artists, painters, and photographers there.
Before Instagram, I used to spend hours in the bookstore – reading comics, old magazines, or watching Bob Ross on VHS.
What sort of images are generally requested for commissions from your clients?
The one thing that I struggle with the most is anatomy. I actually started making portraits of Instagram models as practice. Now, nine out of ten requests are for realistic yet stylised portraits of perfect-looking men. The irony of it all.
I don’t get too many weird requests, although one of the things that I’ve said no to was an erotic portrait of Charles Manson.
Who’s your favourite man to draw?
I don’t have a favourite type of subject or model, but my favourite things to draw are faces and eyes. I think it’s the eyes that make the drawing look alive.
What do you hope that people feel when looking at your drawings?
Being completely honest, I don’t like to think about other people’s reaction to my work – it gives me major anxiety. I’m always very happy to know when someone likes my work, but at the same time it makes me feel very exposed.
I guess every artist has different reasons to share their work. For me, it’s an exercise in confidence and acceptance – once it’s been released then I can’t change it, or fix it, or hide it anymore.
Martin Führer on Naked Men Talking
Check out my interview with Martin Führer on the Naked Men Talking podcast.
We talk about the hustle of being an artist, the appeal of perfect-looking men, the challenge of drawing portraits of men, and the overwhelming demand for Henry Cavill.
The After Dark edition
To see the sexed-up artwork of Martin Führer and to admire every inch of the men that he draws, check out the After Dark edition.
