MS WORLD LEATHER IS PROUD TO SALUTE
OUR OFFICIAL
ARTIST
RAY CASTRO
For the past ten years, Ray Castro has painted the portraits of international Leather title holders, including the Ms. World title holders for the past five. In his words, we now look into the history, the process and the connection he creates with each person he paints.
“Ms. World is a very exciting Portrait for me to paint each year. From the minute I arrive at the Ms World contest, I begin to study the contestants, learning as much as I can about their platforms, so by the time the winner has been announced I know what portrait will be in my head. I'm then able to take the necessary photos to take home and begin the portrait for her.”
Annie Romano Blass, Ms. World Leather 2001
“This Portrait was a special request, as I was not part of the event the year she won.
After seeing Annie's reference photo for the Goddess's portrait, I saw her very in an almost angelic image. I chose to combine the way I was seeing her and the subject of her platform, Lupus. I knew of her partners struggle with the disease, so she would also need to be in the portrait. I saw Salvador Dali's religious painting “Crucifixion”. A Lupus crucifixion, with symbolic elements of Native American healing, exploding from the symbol for Lupus, an orange ring of fire. I also had the painting blessed in a similar ceremony.”
(Note: They were photographed in their hotel room in Texas, 2004. I've painted both Annie and Jo twice, Jo in 2000 for her IMsL Portrait and Annie in the Portrait for the Goddess Lakshimi.)
Karen McGee, Ms World Leather 2002
“That was a very interesting year! Helping her develop her presentation, being her support system, generally watching her do the remarkable work she does every day. She was actually questioning her qualifications to enter the Ms. World contest but now we see the major impact she made on the event.”
“By the end of Karen's presentation while competing, I saw her painting in my head; an homage to Andrew Wyeth's painting “Christina's World”, thus “Karen's World “. It depicted Karen lying in the foreground on an Aids quilt representing a few of her personal clients who had also been friends. She is looking across the field towards the symbolic home that many of her clients friends don't have. ‘HIV and the Homeless' was her platform.
(Note: Karen was photographed on a sunny morning, on Gwen's front lawn. The symbolic home in the painting was based on my first home in Ft. Lauderdale.)
(I have also just completed a Mural in the nursery of Karen's Grandson.)
Goddess Lakshimi Ms. World Leather 2003
“In the Goddess's concept for a portrait I saw a breast exam of course, but one worthy of royalty! The royal bouduire would be bathed in pink with a view of the Detroit skyline, her home city. The home in which I imagined she came from to teach us all the importance of regular breast exams.”
“At first the painting was going to contain two anonymous students, but as the portrait developed, I saw the Goddess teaching her two predecessors. So now I needed to photograph Karen and Annie. Karen was easier, I just wasn't sure if I could get her to take off her bra! (I must say they were absolutely spectacular!) . Then came Annie….lets say it wasn't as easy to finally reach her, but she was great about meeting my very specific needs, providing me with one of the most beautiful reference photos.”
(Note: The Goddess was photographed in Her Hotel Room in Texas. She was very accommodating; she only asked I not show her “Hootchy”.)
Pandora, Ms.World Leather 2004
“While watching Pandora compete, I was getting images of the artist, Frida Carlo's work. I didn't want to do a literal translation, but just to be inspired by her imagery. I wanted to create a surreal, aesthetically pleasing autopsy, with blood red skies over Philadelphia.”
(Note: Pandora was Photographed in the Public area of the Host Hotel, with many on lookers, directly after the contest…..still wearing the outfit she won the Title in.)
“I look forward to seeing the contest every year, as much as I look forward to being a part of it, watching it grow and helping it build. The experiences it has given me can only be shadowed by the dynamic, vibrant women who have all become something special to me.”
Here are the samples of Ray's artwork done for the past winners of Ms World Leather
Annie Romano Ms World Leather 2001
Karen McGee Ms World Leather 2002
Goddess Lakshimi Ms World Leather 2003
Pandora Ms World Leather 2004
This page is under construction and more items will be added t the page within the coming days. More photographs will be added also. Please check back.
Last Updated August 21, 2005
