On Fathers day 2011 Borbay and I painted during two Broadway Bares shows at Roseland Ballroom.

The resulting four paintings are now being auctioned with all proceeds supporting  Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids.

You can bid now, the auction ends July 27th.  Remember all proceeds go to support the foundation.

Ari Lankin:

Lankin Painting From First  Show

Lankin Painting From Second Show

Borbay:

Borbay Painting From First Show

Borbay Painting From Second Show

The addition of live painting fit perfectly.  The show was called Masterpiece and had many great art historical references.

Broadway Bares proves once again that art is the sexiest thing in New York: looking at it, making it, talking about it, making love to it.

Let me take you there…

Two sold out back to back shows = early que.  Shot outside of Roseland as I arrive two hours before the first show.

Borbay and I meet up for a quick picture as we wait for the first show to start.

Getting a little more excited as the doors open for the first show.    We flipped a coin to see who would start at which vantage point.   The two vantage points were very different.  In this picture you can see a tiny Borbay setting up in the corner on the mezzanine ledge across the venue from me.  We decided to use the bigger canvas for the first painting.  The consensus was it would be better to go hard right from the beginning.

A shot from my first vantage point, just left of the stage in the elevated VIP area.  With some time to kill and a strong backlight showing through the canvas I decided to paint the canvas black.  Right before the show we got hooked up with a clamp light.  It’s a big help when you can see what you are painting.

No painting allowed until the show starts, but some valuable time is saved by laying out a preliminary palette.  This palette was inspired by the energy in the building and the promise of exposed flesh.  Amusing text messages were sent back and forth across the venue while waiting for the first show to start.

Borbay takes a shot of me mixing paint (center of the photo) before the beginning of the first show.

A finished shot of painting number one after an action packed 75 minute show.  Really dynamic show full of dancing, witty dialogue, sexual overtones and a beautiful set, or maybe a few beautiful sets.  In addition to the inspiring show, I would like to thank the group of loving patrons that cheered me on, and the friendly barista for quenching my thirst with unlimited adult beverages.

Painting number two.  New location on the ledge of the mezzanine.  Quite possibly the coolest place in Roseland to paint from.  Not only was I floating high above from a perfect vantage point, I was directly under a giant air conditioner.

Feeling the sexual energy from the first show I focused my attention on recreating a scantily clad man, and one erotically outfitted woman.  A rabid sold out crowd of over 3,000 rocked the house during the second show adding to the energy of my painting.

Borbay decides on a more architecturally anchored composition inspired by the set.  Read his great recap here.

A very low lit photo right after the final curtain call.  This painting has an expressive quality and a textured surface.  The set was alive with references to major artists from 18th-20th centuries.  The linear aspect of the background is referencing the mature work Piet Mondrian.

My hands after the second painting.

It’s been a pleasure supporting Broadway Cares.  It’s an important cause with a wonderful group of people involved.  Big thanks to Michael Graziano, Jerry Mitchell, Paula Caselton, and Sheila Buford.

Support a tremendous organization and bid on these special paintings.

You may remember in April we painted at the sister event in Las Vegas, Broadway Bares: 2 Hot.

LANKIN

BORBAY