Supporting Artists In The Trans, Erotic and Kink Space: Meet Paul Delamare

About Paul Delamare

The best way to support any artist, is to buy their art, then share it online. Paul contacted me recently about his books and I have since has a chance to check them out. Heartfelt, eclectic and as Paul would describe himself, ‘very Marmite’. Some people love them, others not.

But that is less important than the act of creation for an artist. 

Here’s what Paul had to say about his journey and art.

I guess the books have evolved from suppressing and keeping hidden my crossdressing. It has allowed me a way to show myself within an artistic frame. The process allows me to breathe, evaporate my anxieties and most importantly provides fulfilment.

Regarding the creative process I borrow from my personal life experiences and simply interweave my sexual fantasies. There are many influences that I surround myself with, most of them existing on the edge of society. Egon Schiele, Eric Stanton, Irving Klaw, John Coutts, Allen Jones, Ellen Von Unwerth, Bunny Yeager and Anis Nin all influence my creativity.

Although there is a personal accomplishment, I still find my art subject to cruel judgement and bigotry. My armour is the artistic page and provides me with the strength to stand up and slowly reveal myself. Obviously, when the opportunity presents itself, I adore wearing nylons, stilettos and suspender belts while creating. It’s a delicious sugar rush and as the years roll on has gone far beyond just a sexual release.

I find myself fortunate to have artistic talent. Before using art to reveal and understand my cross dressing, the burden of hiding my compulsion was detrimental to my wellbeing and caused me many health issues. When in relationships I have tried to inch forward with a ‘reveal’ (which I believe to be a large part of myself), the result has been rejection or an abrupt moral judgement by persons I’ve allowed close to me.

My future focus is to work towards morphing the art and the artist together. A book of ‘myself’ being gender fluid would be the icing on the cake. That said, I would have to have an understanding partner and be at ease about who I see reflected in the mirror.

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Paul Delamare aka Della is an artist, photographer, photomontage manipulator and writer. For forty-five years Paul managed to hold down employment while constantly duelling with the beast of adult responsibility. Marriage, children, bereavement, bankruptcy and divorce intertwined his heart with love and despair. Entering his sixth decade Paul found himself parentless, unloved and exhausted. But his vision of a self-publishing art emporium remained firmly lodged in his stubborn brain cell.

With desperation and abandonment Paul drew a line in the sand and began drawing his way back up the anthill. Turning his back on reality he created Hjort Pressen, a publishing platform that has proudly published three original titles, Wet Dreams, Pauline and Brushstrokes. The fourth book, Tugboat Annie follows on in that tradition offering creative flare and originality.

Paul lives in Surrey with his partner of four years and three cats. He enjoys cinema and art exhibition excursions with his two grown up children.      

Where to purchase books  www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Hjortpressen

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