Paper doll tribute to celebrate Tom's of Finland's 100th birthday

I wish I had done this tribute to Tom of Finland (May, 8/1920 - November, 7/ 1991) earlier to celebrate his 100th birthday on May 8. Despite participating in the tribute on Instagram, I didn't have the opportunity to do it here.

Tom of Finland is well known for his illustrations and comics with homo-erotic content. Tom of Finland changed the mindset of generations by creating a male homosexual model against the stereotype that removes homosexuals from any aspect of masculinity.

I met Tom of Finland's work through a collection of postcards from Taschen publisher in the late 90's. Despite being impressed by the artistic and aesthetic quality of his work

Tom of Finland (2017) by Dome Karukoski

I didn't memorize the artist's name until I saw a TV report that talked about him and the importance of his work in changing the mentality of a century which was approaching its end. Tom of Finland, with his art, celebrated the pleasure and the joy of relationships between healthy and muscular men who proudly display themselves in military uniforms, leather clothes or simple clothes stretched to their bodies. 

He almost never drew a full nude. A naked man was handsome, but all he had to do was put on a piece of clothing and, more than pretty, it made him sexy- Tom said.

Tom evaluated the quality of a good drawing of him if, when drawing, he felt a great erection, otherwise he would change his drawing.

His "dirty drawings" (as he called them) in graphite and Indian ink gained popularity through Physique Pictorial magazine. The exhibitions appeared, followed by public recognition. Tom of Finland is today a reference in the world of erotic art.

There is a Tom of Finland's paper doll. It is Kake the main character of his comics which was a success from the first issue! Kake has a tight jeans and t-shirts, leather jacket and police uniform plus two caps.

Paper Doll - Tom of Finland Postcard (10.5 x 15 cm) Produced by Putinki   

The Tom Of Finland Foundation is a non-profit foundation that brings together all of Tom of Finland's work and keeps his art and memory alive.

Here it is my contribute to the challenge launched by the Tom of Finland Foundation to celebrate the Tom of Finland's 100th birthday. I searched for references in Tom's characters and drew a male pin-up with two clothes, a tight bathing suit with a marine cap and leather pants with with boots anda a police cap (apologize for the censor smile). 

Have fun!

My tribute to celebrate 100th Tom of Finland birthday

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Eu queria ter feito este tributo a Tom of Finland (8 de Maio de 1920 — 7 de Novembro de 1991) mais cedo para celebrar o seu 100º aniversário no dia 8 de maio. Apesar de participar na homenagem no Instagram não tive oportunidade de o fazer aqui. 

Tom of Finland é sobejamente conhecido pelas suas ilustrações e bandas desenhadas de teor homo-erótico. Tom of Finland mudou a mentalidade de gerações criando um modelo homossexual masculino contrariando o estereotipo que retira aos homossexuais qualquer aspeto de masculinidade.

Eu conheci o trabalho de Tom of Finland através de uma coleção de postais da editora Taschen no final dos anos 90.  Eu não fixei o nome do artista até ver uma reportagem na televisão que falava sobre ele e a importância do seu trabalho na mudança de mentalidades de um século que se aproximava do fim.

Tom of Finland com a sua arte celebrou o prazer e a alegria das relações entre homens saudáveis e musculados que orgulhosamente se exibem em uniformes militares, roupas de couro ou simples vestes de trabalho coladas ao corpo. Quase nunca desenhava um nu integral, um homem nú era bonito mas bastava vestir-lhe uma peça de roupa e mais do que bonito isso tornava-o sexy.

Tom avaliava a qualidade de um bom desenho seu se ao desenhá-lo sentisse uma grande ereção, senão mudava de desenho.

Os seus "dirty drawings"(como ele os chamava) a grafite e tinta da china ganharam popularidade através da revista Physique Pictorial. Seguiram-se as exposições e depois o reconhecimento do público. Tom of Finland é hoje uma referência no mundo da arte erótica mundial.

 Tom Of Finland Foundation é uma fundação sem fins lucrativos que reúne todo o trabalho de Tom of Finland e mantém viva a sua arte e a sua memória. Divirtam-se!