Deciphering Erotic Aesthetics: An Analysis of 'Venus Visits the Homestead Resort'

Exhibited in the Baron & Ellin Gordon Art Gallery at Old Dominion University (ODU), “Venus Visits the Homestead Resort” is an oil on linen painting created by Mike Brewer. With a strong looking inward theme, it depicts a tranquil yet seductive young female figure standing upright as if she is stretching her flawless feminine body in a beauty pose. Behind the nude is a more subordinate setting where a silent pool reflects a mirror image of her surroundings. In addition, her unashamed nudity, closed eyes and smooth body stance enhances the erotic quality of the painting. Using several principles of design, Brewer’s mastery and skill in the usage of textures and colors enabled him to capture a naturalistic scene of a young woman posing as a nude Venus.
The texture suggest that the artist

deployed a tactile impression to reach out and provoke a feeling or emotion from the audience. For instance, the texture of the female body (skin tones) makes it very appeasing to the eyes. Not only can it excite the senses of arousal, but the natural representations (realism) of it can feel as if one could reach out in the painting to touch her. In fact, the texture was done so adroitly that it could be easily mistaken as an actually photo. The textures in a way have some emotion in them. One could observe how the background textures such as the walls, ceilings and the swimming pool releases an unwelcoming vibe. However, the lightly, skin colored textures on the nude invites a warm, smooth, gentle, seducing and mature energy atmosphere. Brewer’ powerful proficiency in his textures helps the audience to induce a strong simulation on the vision and mind, thus affecting the audience’s mood or emotions.
In addition to the textures, the colors seem to interact well with one another empowering the Roman goddess to become the spotlight of attention. The cool hue and colors throughout the painting augments a clean, calming atmosphere. Farther on the right radiates a warmer glow of life that consequently enhances the natural representations of the nude. The shaded colors in the background have a more relaxed and dull value, requesting the audience to just acknowledge its sole existence. With this in mind, the warmer and lighter colors emerge brilliantly, effectively revealing more of the woman’s beauty and body expression. By establishing a color precedence, the artist seems to interact with the viewer, successfully augmenting not only the realism value of the painting, but also its proportions and depth.
With the combination of the textures and colors, Brewer ultimately placed a powerful impression on composition and balance, as well as emphasis and subordination.

With the nude positioned in the center-front of the symmetrical room, it gives her a sense of balance and dominance over the whole canvass. The luscious textures and colors placed high emphasis on the figure and her seductive pose, while simultaneously restricting the composition of the background to remain subordinate. Furthermore, the historical writings of the Roman goddess, Venus, allowed Brewer to create an appropriate female in the nude, in an appropriate setting and atmosphere.
Venus Visits the Homestead Resort is clearly a true masterpiece that interacts with a viewing audience, provokes emotion or feelings, and helps instill the appreciation of such beauty and elegance in all kinds of art. Brewer techniques allowed him to show that the woman in the painting is the center of attention. It is her beauty and feminine shape that allowed viewers to notice and be lured in towards her image. The colors, textures, arrangement of objects, and the symmetry of the painting helps her to hold her ground in a graceful

way.