They Had Style, They Had Grace...

Augusta Gray, was an
inspiration for Shaunna Rai's
look.

For the last three years, I have heard name after name, of queens that I will never meet.  Ashley, Marlena, and Augusta Gray, amongst them.  They represent, (for lack of better terminology) the Golden Age of Drag, in Maine.  Back when Styxx was the Underground, back when Shaunna Rai was still a baby, back when there were Gay Bars, from Ogunquit to Bangor.

Over the last twenty years, a lot has changed.  There are no longer any Gay Bars north of Portland.  The Underground has changed hands multiple times, and is now Styxx, (and a bar that was once the talk of the town, is now struggling to fill itself.)  Shaunna Rai has been doing drag for...well, let's just say, that Shaunna Rai is of legal drinking age now...

As long as I've known Shaunna,
Marlena's name has been brought
up many times.

I'll still never meet many of the queens from that Golden Age.  But, this week, something happened, that's going to help me get to know who these girls were.  And, I'm going to get to know the faces that go with the names.  And, eventually, hopefully, I'll get the stories that go along with the faces and names.  At the beginning of the week, I was invited to join a group on Facebook, called Famous Drag Queens of Maine.  A group, that I'm really sad that I didn't think to create... This group is both a blessing and a curse.  While I'm getting to know the queens that I will never meet, and meeting some of the ones that I still have the opportunity to meet, I'm having a hard time keeping up.

Ashley Nason is another name that
I have heard brought up a ton.

I decided, when I got my tax refund, that I needed to get a printer, that had a scanner.  (Talk about foreshadowing...) Once the group was up and running, Dan told me that there was a box in the closet that was full of drag pictures from years ago.  So, I made it my job to go through all the photographs, and scan them, so that they can get posted to the group, eventually.

When he said some, I figured, a couple of rolls worth of film.  I didn't really consider the fact that there would be 21 plus years worth of pictures to go through.  Nor did I consider that it would take, literally, forever to go through all the pictures, and scan and separate and post them.

So far, the photo history is there, but the actual verbal/written history is not.  Part of the goal of the group, in my opinion, is to not only honor the queens who have been a part of Maine's history in images, but also to let them live on in memories.  Someone like me, who doesn't know any of the history prior to three years or so ago, has no idea what Sportsman's was.  I don't know Augusta Gray or Regina.  Without a page like this, I would never know their histories.

Miss JoAnn, circa 1969.

In a week, I learned about Regina, a queen who only performed for HIV/AIDS benefits, after her partner passed away from it.  What made her unique, was that prior to her partner's death, she had no interest in doing drag.  She did it, as a way to carry on his legacy, and support a cause that was near and dear to her.

I have seen pictures of Miss JoAnn, who I actually do know, that go all the way back to 1969.  I've seen pictures of ClubKid MizzDiveena, when she was doing fishy drag, instead of the more severe ClubKid face that she does now.  I have seen queens who look like boys in dresses.  I have seen queens who look so feminine, that you would never believe that they weren't women.  And, I've seen the transformation of 20+ years of Shaunna Rai's existence.

Drag families, that I had no idea existed, have been emerging, and giving me many a name to research a little more...just because it's something that I can't seem to get enough of.

Ashley, Shaunna and Marlena made up the ISG.

I may be a little obsessed with the group, because, I'm spending more time refreshing the page, to look at what new pictures, or anecdotes have been posted since the last time I looked.  (Yes, I know, I have a problem.)  

And, now that I have names and faces of people who were part of Shaunna Rai's past, I can open up the playing field a little bit about what I know about the time before me.  

I'm a couple of keyboard strokes away from

 being able to ask Shaunna's creator about putting her in drag for the first time, and seeing now, how far that she has come from her origins.  I can ask people about Ashley and Marlena, two thirds (Shaunna Rai being the last third) of ISG (International Show Girls) and try to get a little more information about why it was called ISG, and what it was exactly that they did.

In what has become an attempt at documenting the present of drag, I now have a whole new source of information and inspiration, to keep things fresh and new. And, I might just learn a thing or two about the years of history, that only those who have lived it, know.

Thank you for creating this group. And thank you to every contributor to the page. And, if you have, or know of anyone who has pictures and/or stories about any of the queens, kings, etc. who have played a part in this state's history, please, share and help keep these memories alive. 

Who Are You? (I Really Wanna Know)

The best advice that I've ever heard given to anyone, is "Be the best you, that you can be."  It's so simple, that it takes very little thought to get the meaning.  Over the last few years, I've actually heard a number of "newer" queens say that they got this tidbit of advice from Shaunna Rai.

Like with any good actor, a drag queen has a character that they play.  You design your act around the character, and you dress and accessorize accordingly.  Surprisingly, though, many of the queens that I know, don't really know who they are.  And, it shows.

My first time in drag, I didn't have a name, but
I had a character...a hairy chested Britney Spears wannabe.
(Because I forgot to shave my chest.)

Why don't you know who you are?

You're on your third name, and you expect people to know who you are?  Your face changes every time you perform, but yet, you don't think that you look any different?  You're on stage, and you look like you want to run and hide in the furthest corner of the building.  What's going on?  But, I have no drag family...

I get it.  Drag is hard.

You're on your third name, because you didn't like the first two.  I get that.  But, every time that you change your name, you have to expect there to be an adjustment period, when people are going to get used to your new name.  I can think of at least three queens that I know, whose names have changed, since I've known them.  In all three cases, I agree with them, that the new name is more fitting than the previous names.  But, people are still going to refer to them as their previous name(s).  The longer you've had a name, the harder it's going to be to break people of calling you by that name.  If I decide today that I'm going to change my name to Willis (for the sole purpose of making sure that people will say, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?") it's going to take forever for it to take hold.  Especially with anyone who has known me for the majority of my life.  To them, I will always be Steve, and never be Willis.

Spice Andrews was a pretty girl, who sang live.  And, had
no self-confidence.  I was terrified.  I got halfway through
my song, before I realized that mic wasn't even on.  And
was told later, that the number was better when the mic
was off.  Not a great way to get introduced to doing drag.

You want to look like Nina Flowers.  You want to look like Raven.  You want to look like Tammie Brown.  You do realize that none of them look like the other?  They're completely different looks.  It's great to be able to have the looks in the bag, if there's a reason for them.  It's good to play with different looks, to see what looks best on you.  Play around with your makeup to tutorials on YouTube.  But, figure out who your character is.  Work with your face, and get the look how you want it.  Then, you can take a piece of Nina and a piece of Raven and a piece of Tammie.  But, if you show up for a show once looking like Raven, and the next time, looking like Tammie, and the next, looking like Nina, nobody's going to recognize you.  Unless the character that you're portraying, in drag is a chameleon, your face probably shouldn't change as often as your underwear.

So, you settled on a character.  You settled on a face, and you've made it into a show.  Congratulations!  The hard parts over, right?  Well, not really.  You see, from the perspective of someone who goes to A LOT of drag shows, the audience can tell if you're not comfortable.  I'm a horrible person to be around, when I watch a performance with no confidence level.  If you look like you're going to pass out, or are trying to decide whether to run away or not, I'm going to be able to tell, and you'll probably be able to tell that I can tell, by whatever is written on my face.  (I have no poker face.  Unlike Lady Gaga, "You can read my, can read my poker face...")  When you hit the stage, even if you're terrified, Fake It.  The more the audience thinks that you're comfortable doing, whatever it is that you do, the better it is for everyone.  I'm more apt to talk about how amazing you were if I know it's your first show, and you rock it out, than I am, if you've been doing drag for years, and look like you would rather be anywhere else than where you are.  If you look scared, etiquette says that I tell you you did great, and pretend like I didn't know how horrible it was for you.

So, your drag mother made you up, and then dropped you on the doorstep of a bar, and took off, never to be heard from again.  What's a girl to do?  She creates her own family, of course.  The gay community tends to do this a lot anyway.  So, follow the lead.  Drag mother did you up once, and then pushed you out of the nest, with a wig, lipstick and a dress?  Meet others in the area.  A word of advice though, if you're asking them for help, don't expect all of it to come for free.  Drag is an expensive hobby job.  You get what you pay for.  Every time you ask the fishy queen to help you out, and expect her to do it for free, it's probably not going to happen.  That's how you force people away, quickly.  And, when you have someone who will do it for free, they're not always going to be doing exactly what you want.  So, be careful what you wish for, because, quite frankly, you could end up getting it, and it won't be quite what you wanted.

When Dan did my makeup, there was no character
as I was just a model.  But, a Kathy Griffin look ended
up emerging at the end, after trying on a few different
wigs.

And, if someone is kind enough to take the time to help you out, get you into a show, or whatever, be respectful of them.   Nothing will get you blacklisted faster than having a pro get you, the new queen in town into a show, and then having you cancel an hour before the show.  And, if you've been doing drag for a minute, and you're being helped by someone who's done it for 20 years or more, at least do them the honor of listening to them, without trying to tell them what they're saying.  It stands to reason, and shouldn't have to be said, but it is amazing how many new queens think that they know more than their predecessors.  (Hint:  You really don't.  Hell, I really don't, either.)

  This is just stuff that I've gleaned off people in the last few years.  Thank you to Shaunna Rai and Cherry Lemonade for contributing most of this stuff in conversations we've had.  And, whether you're an old pro, or new to the scene, take each other into consideration.  Newbies are going to be looking for someone to take them under their wings, and teach them everything there is to know about drag.  And the old pros are going to more often than not give the help that's being requested of them, but if there's no respect for what's being passed along, that fountain of knowledge is going to dry up, and then you have to start the search for it all over again.

But, what do I know, I'm just a drag husband.

Feel free to share this, or to follow it, or to ignore it. Do what you like with it.



And, wherever you are in your journey through drag, just know that you've got someone out there rooting for you.

Your Makeup Is Terrible...

So, shameless plug, for Pride! Portland...March 2nd RuPaul's Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons is coming to Portland, Maine.  If you haven't already bought your tickets, what are you waiting for?  Do it now, by clicking here!

Earlier in the week, it was posted that Yahoo was going to be doing a livestream of the Battle of the Seasons, from Chicago's House of Blues, on February 19th.  As soon as I saw the information, I knew that I had to watch.  Because, well, I wanted to know what I was going to be getting into in two weeks.

I went into it with minimal expectations, because, well, you know how it is. You go to a bunch of shows that have famous people in them, and because you're practically in Canada, they dumb the show down to the barebones basics, and don't really bring what you saw on the show.  So you go into things with low expectations, so as to not be let down.

Michelle Visage Hosts

Yahoo, at one time, was my source for everything, and now, is solely my source for email, kinda let me down tonight.  Then again, so did my laptop and the work WiFi...  I probably missed about a quarter of the show, due to "technical difficulties".  However, I can't complain too much, because what I did see hyped me up for whats going to be coming to me, in two weeks.

Alaska 5000, I Have Nothing

Since I had to watch this at work, I made sure that I got everything set up early.  And, became very frustrated with a co-worker who wouldn't leave, and decided to start talking about stuff I didn't care about before he left.  Fortunately, Michelle Visage started her monologue as he walked out the door.

Alaska 5000 started off the night with a Whitney Houston song,  I Have Nothing.  And, showed off her vocal talents...both with her actual singing voice, and her comedic Louis Armstrong voice.  She was great as an introduction for the night.

Ivy Winters, in one of many
tear away outfits

Ivy Winters came out, and performed My Strongest Suit, from Aida.  I loved it, because it's totally a Shaunna Rai, kind of song, and Ivy pulled out all the tear aways possible.  (It also made me homesick for Seacoast Rep, because when we were there with Joslyn Fox, she did the same song.)

Gotta Have a Gimmick

Michelle Visage, BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon were up next, with Gotta Have a Gimmick, from Gypsy.  Although, I knew that Michelle actually was part of an 80's girl group, I had forgotten.  And, so when the number started, and she started singing, I kinda fangirled out.  Partly, because I knew the song, and partly because it was Michelle Visage singing!

Manila Luzon

Manila Luzon was up next.  And, I again was reminded how much I missed the Seacoast Rep shows, that we did last summer.  She was so nice, and I loved her.  She did a couple of songs, one of which, was Buy My T-Shirt.  And, she brought someone out on the stage, with a rack of t-shirts, and literally sold them from the stage.  I loved it.  (The whole time, Dan and I were talking through my facebook page, about the show, and it was determined that we will be bringing money to the show.)

Sharon Needles 

Sharon Needles I knew of, mostly because she won Season 4, and because she and Alaska were a couple, once upon a time...and, well, she does the Salem, Massachusetts thing at Halloween.  But, I hadn't really seen her perform before.  When she started off her number, inside a coffin, and worked her way through the alphabet, with the audience shouting OUIJA Board, I decided that I need to really start watching her on Youtube.  My only complaint about Sharon was that the cameras were going in way too close on close ups, and apparently, when you're in HD, with close-ups, you can see wiglines, very well.  And, it distracted me from the actual talent...but that was my own issue.

Here, was where my frustration with the night started.  Michelle brought out three audience members, and three of the queens to make outfits from trash.  I just about died, because this morning we went to see Benni and he was making Shaunna Rai an outfit of Ivy's, which Ivy wore out for this.  And, then, my laptop overheated and shut down.  And, wouldn't start back up.  And, the work laptop wouldn't load it.  So, I missed the end of it.  (I'm currently re-watching it...)  The trash couture wasn't what I expected...but then again, it's hard to get something amazing in 3 minutes.  And, I was very much reminded of Vanila Honey-Bush, when Adriana came out...

BenDeLaCreme

BenDeLa was up next.  Her intro showed her song, Devil Made Me Do It, and I had no idea that she had a song...She did a burlesque number.  Not like, Christina Aguillera and Cher Burlesque, but actual burlesque.  The nude body suit, glitter in the crotch, and the stacked bras with tassles, and I was dying.  I was reminded again, of why I enjoyed her so much last season.

Jinkx Monsoon

Jinkx Monsoon, I really didn't like during Season 5.  So, when I saw that she was going to be in the cast, for both the Chicago and Portland shows, I was frustrated by it.  My friend Wendy has been talking for as long as I've known her, about how amazing Jinkx is.  And, I hadn't ever seen it.  And, then, she took the stage...with a dead mic.  Decked out in a Fairy Godmother looking outfit, and singing Radiohead's Creep, she, changed my mind.

Raja

Raja was up next.  I don't really know Raja.  So, I really didn't know what to expect from the performance.  I was a little disappointed by it.  The look reminded me of Jessica Wild (from when she did the Seacoast Rep show) only there was a lot less dancing.  The lip sync was on point though.

Sharon Needles as Dead Joan Rivers

Snatch Game was up next.  Well, sort of.  Snatch Game was kind of the turning point of my love/hate relationship with Jinkx, on Season 5.  And, I used to love Match Game, which its based on.  So, Sharon as Joan Rivers, Alaska as LaGanja Estranga, Jinkx as Alaska, BenDeLa as a Drag Race Superfan, and Manila as Madonna.  I was actually a little disappointed by this Snatch Game.  It wasn't really as funny as I'd hoped for...with the exception of Manila/Madonna's "Ugly Edna is so ugly that when she goes to the Makeup counter, they beat her face with......Photoshop."

Michelle stayed on stage as the queens all shuffled off, and did a tribute to Amy Winehouse, by singing You Know I'm No Good.  (I could totally listen to it all day long.)

Ivy came back out, in a jacket, with fringe made from old VHS tape, to a song by Little Mix, called Wings.  She didn't disappoint, with her butterfly wings (reminiscent of her appearance on Drag Race) and stilts.  And, I was reminded of how much respect that I have for some of these perormances.

Sharon Needles's Dragula

Sharon was back up next with Dragula.  The look screamed Marilyn Manson, to me.  Possibly just because that's the only thing that I had to compare the sound to... I loved it.  Actually, I was impressed with how often, during the show, the queens actually were singing live.  Given that on the show, they pretty much only lip sync, I didn't realize how many of them actually do have singing voices.

If I hadn't already been reminded of why BenDeLa was one of my favorites, her Ariel would've reminded me.  (My only complaint was that Ariel's a red-head...and she wore her trademark black hair...)  I can honestly say, that I probably won't be able to look at The Little Mermaid the same again, now that I've seen what's really in Ariel's treasure trove...And, the mixing in of ZZ Top's Legs was amazing.  (Although, with the "Finale" of the song, I'm not sure that I want to have my parents see it, if this is, in fact part of the Portland show...)

Alaska 5000

Alaska took the stage again, with This Is My Hair.  A number that I thoroughly enjoyed, especially, when the Hair Monster came out for battle.  (I know the battle well, because there are mini hair monsters all over the apartment.  I actually kind of want one of my own...)  She then moved into Your Makeup is Terrible.  And, the only thing that could've made it any better, would've been if Mathu Anderson had come out of the wings, and made an appearance for the end of the song, like he does in the video.

Jinkx's Meryl Streep witch from
Into the Woods

 Jinkx came out in full on hag drag.  And, a badly hidden under-wig.  And, started the witch's rap from Into the Woods.  And, then with a shout out to Roxxxy Andrews and her infamous wig change during a number, transformed into Meryl Streep...well, Meryl Streep's version of the beautified witch...for The Last Midnight.  And, this was the number, that solidified me as a new fan of Jinkx.

Manila and Raja did an anime themed song.  I won't even try to figure out what it is, because it's not really important.  I enjoyed Raja in this number, much more than I did in her first one.  And I love Manila.  Watching them "battle it out" on stage was fun.  Especially, with the projection screen in the back showing the "battle moves".  It was like watching a candy colored version of a Pokemon game...only without the Pokemon...so I guess more like Mortal Combat in drag.

 One last number, The Battle of the Seasons, and then Michelle came out to Dude Looks Like a Lady, for the finale.  The show itself was amazing, and I'm so looking forward to it coming to Portland in a couple of weeks.  It will be a different show, though, as there will be some different cast members.

Portland's cast will include: Michelle Visage, Jinkx Monsoon, Ivy Winters, Jiggly Caliente, Darienne Lake, Alaska 5000, BenDeLaCreme and Pandora Boxx.  So, while I have developed a new love for a couple of the girls who I was on the fence about before this show, I have a few others, that I'll have to do my homework before the 2nd of March, to make sure I know who I'm going to see.  I need to Youtube Darienne, Jiggly and Pandora, so I at least have something to compare them to.

She's A Super Freak...

Recently, I came across a heated argument on a friend's Facebook page, about why he would ever want to do drag.  At first glance, I wanted to step in and throw in my two cents worth, about why it wasn't okay that these two people were bullying this person.

As with everything I do in my life, I don't react, without doing my research first.  My first response to reading it was that this person was being bullied about something that I know a bunch about...second-hand.  Until I read a little further along.  It turned out, that there was bullying from both sides.  This one's picking on why you would want to dress like a woman if you're a man.  And the "bullied" person, was picking out pieces of the first person's life to make into a big deal.

Who's right, in this case?  NOBODY.  Bullying is bullying, no matter who does it.  If someone else starts it, and you "finish it," it doesn't make you any better than they are.  It puts you on their level.  So, save yourself the hassle.  If you want to be able to claim bullying, don't join in on it.

Now, why would anyone, in their right mind, want to do drag?

This was the turning point, in reading the argument, for me.  This was where I lost respect for the person "being bullied."  When someone asks you, point-blank, why you're doing something, and you refuse to answer, on the grounds of "it's a free country," you're doing yourself a disservice.

The experience of it is different for everyone.  For some people, it's because they want the attention.  For some, it's because it gives them a chance to be someone who they're not, who can say and do the things that they would never get away with in real life.  For some, it's because they want to feel pretty.

 I did it, for a charity event.  For me, it was very uncomfortable.  I didn't mind the dressing up, and pretending to be someone else...but, I had a hard time with the performance part.  When it came down to it, I needed anti-anxiety pills to help me get through it.  Would I, knowing what I know about drag now, ever do it again?  Maybe.  It would need to be under the right circumstances, and I would need to know that the reason that I did it was for something worthwhile.  And, I would choose to do something a bit less stressful for myself.  When I did my "act," I sang live, in front of a bunch of people I knew.  (With no practice.)  I would probably lip sync if I did it again...and I would need to get some dance lessons...And, I would have to sparkle, like a goddamn disco ball.

Dan, on the other hand, gets into Shaunna Rai, on a regular basis, sometimes even multiple times during the same week.  For him, it's about knowing that he looks good.  He knows that he can do hair and makeup.  And, he knows that people are going to say that he looks beautiful, which is a compliment that he doesn't always get in the "real world."

The best advice that I could give to the bullied person, would be to stand up for what you believe in.  If you want to do drag for a career, then get your head out of your ass, and start letting people know that these are the reasons that I do this.  (Although, keep in mind, that "Because I can walk in bigger heels than your girlfriend," or "Because I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, and more of a woman than you'll ever have," are pretty much fighting words.)  If you do drag because you feel like you have more freedom to do what you want, say it.  If it's because you feel ugly as a boy, but pretty as a girl (or vice versa) let them know that too.

If someone asks you to be open with them, so that they can understand, where you're coming from, that's not the time to get defensive toward them.  That will just further add to the hatred, fear and violence that is already prevalent enough in the LGBT community.

I started this blog, to help people understand drag in a way that hasn't really been explored before.  Knowledge is power.  Take back some of your power, and put the knowledge to use by helping other people understand.  Because, that, my friends, is the one thing that is going to eventually get us over the hump, and allow everyone the freedom to be who they want to be, where they want to be, when they want to be.  And that, is when we win.

Chad Sell is my Hero...

Latrice Royale

At the beginning of the year, I decided that this was going to be a year to try to keep up on blogging, and try to crank out as many posts as I could.  But, I wanted them to be worth-while.  I figured I would keep with the posts about the shows that I go to, and random things that pop into my head that have to do with drag.  So, it seemed fitting that I talk about an artistic idol of mine, who is best known for his RuPaul's Drag Race girls' portraits.

The question became, how do I tackle this?  Do I just write about how much I love his artwork, and leave it at that?  And, then, during an overnight, the thought hit me...I learned of Chad Sell through Facebook, so I could probably contact him the same way. I don't know exactly what it was about the work that I loved, whether it was the cartoon feel of the illustrations, or just the graphic way of capturing the costumes and personality quirks of the queens, but from Roxxy Andrews's fringe dress illustration, I was hooked.  And I've looked forward to each new season, for the new illustrations.

So, in the middle of the night, I took a shot in the dark and sent him a message. I honestly didn't think that I would hear back from him, so I was very surprised when I got a response a few hours later.  Even more so, when the answer was a yes, both to being able to use some of his artwork in a blog post, and to answering some of my questions.

With the beginning of Season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race, being just around the corner, and the fact that I put in my requests right at the end of his annual Week Of Ru (when he posts daily, two of the queens from the new season, until the whole cast is revealed) , I wasn't concerned with how soon I got back the answers to my questions.  I was still basking in the fact that my hero actually answered me.

Immediately, after sending him the questions, I remembered that he has a blog on his website, and went to it immediately, to try to ascertain that I wasn't asking questions that he had already answered on his own site.  (After about 3 hours of trolling his site, that night, I didn't find anything that was quite what I asked, so I figured I was safe.)  I also reinforced my love of his artwork, by checking out his older blog posts.  There are so many illustrations that I am in love with, and would have loved to feature here, but, I'm featuring pictures that I got his express permission as an artist to use.

After what felt like a year (and was in fact only about 2 weeks), I got the response to my questions.  I'm sure that he's probably asked most of these questions on a regular basis, but he was very gracious about answering them all for me.  So, here are the answers, to my most burning questions.

When the episodes start airing, how do you decide which queens to draw?

After I watch each episode, I start sketching out ideas for my favorite runway looks and moments.  I tend toward the more theatrical, outrageous outfits with bold colors and shapes which lend themselves to my style the best.  

Delta Work's First Workroom Look.

I often start with rough sketches for a lot of the queens, but I winnow down that number throughout my day of drawing as I run out of time.  There are frequently queens and outfits I *wish* I had drawn, but I just couldn't figure out a cool way to draw them in the time I had!

(Because I draw some myself, I'm always most interested in finding out how other people's artistic process works.)

What does your process look like? (Do you sketch on paper, or do you do it all on the computer?)  From initial sketch to final product, about how long does it take you? And, what program(s) do you use?

Depending on my moood, I'll either sketch out my ideas in a sketchbook or on my computer.  My process has changed a lot over the years, but these days, I do most of my work on a tablet monitor attached to my desktop.  I draw in a program called Manga Studio 5, which I love and evangelize to all my artist friends.

Following the Monday night airing of each episode, I give myself all of Tuesday to work on that week's pieces. I make final touches the next morning and try to post my work by around noon Wednesday.

Some pieces come together really quickly, and other frustrate me endlessly.  I fuss over likenesses and color palette at the end.  The self-imposed deadline helps me keep things in perspective, though, and it helps shut up my inner perfectionist.

The most important question, of course was: Were you surprised by how popular the RuGirls' portraits have become?

Yes. It's awesome.

I have my own favorites, including the Latrice Royale picture at the start of this post.  So, I was curious:  Do you have a favorite portrait?

BenDeLaCreme: Black and White

I'm always my own worst critic, so there are usually little things that bug me about a lot of my work.  That's true of even some of my most popular pieces!  I'll always be particularly fond of the very first Drag Race portrait I ever finished of Delta Work's first workroom look.  Something about my All-Stars portrait of Latrice Royale still sticks with me.  And, I was really happy with how BenDeLaCreme's "Black and White" portrait came out -- she's one of my all-time favorite queens and I was trying to depict her with a sense of grace and intensity.  It's definitely not one of my most popular images, but I love it, anyway.

Any responses from the RuGirls, that I've seen online have been overwhelmingly positive, so I had to know, if there have ever been any negative responses from them.

I feel supremely lucky to have been embraced by the Drag Race queens and community -- every season brings new thrills, excitement and favorite new queens.  

I don't recall any negative responses from the actual queens on the Drag Race, though.  I think their approach to fans making art of them is to appreciate the effort, even if the final result isn't always very flattering.

A Self Portrait by Chad

 As he had just finished the Week of Ru, with the new Season 7 girls, I had to ask...Any predictions or hopes for Season 7?

I HAVE NO IDEA.  This is the first season where I personally knew some of the queens before they were cast.  So, that's weird and crazy. (Trixie Mattel and Pearl have both performed extensively in Chicago, and I've gotten to meet both.)

To me it's not so much important that all my favorite queens make it far in the competition. I just hope that they're depicted well and get a chance to show what they've got!

When it came to advice for budding artists, Chad's advice was this:

1. Get good.
2. Don't expect to be the best before you put your work out there.
3.  Find others who are excited by the same stuff you are.  Make art about that stuff, and they'll be excited about it, too.

Be sure to check out his website, www.chadsellcomics.com, during the Drag Race season, because he'll be featuring lots of fun interviews about the show, as well as his own thoughts and illustrations of the queens.

Books, postcards and prints of all his best Drag Race work are available at his Etsy store, https://www.etsy.com/ChadSellComics

And, aside from his illustration work, he's also written and drawn a ton of different comic stories, which can all be read at http://www.chadsellcomics.com/comics/.

You can also follow Chad on Twitter and Facebook.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/panja57
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chadsellcomics

If you're not following him and his work already, I suggest you do.  It's fun.  And, now that you have some of the inside secrets of what goes into the illustrations, keep an eye out for the Season 7 illustrations.

Chad, thank you again for your cooperation, and for being so sweet and responding to a crazy fan interview.  

An Evening With Danielle Dior

The host for the night,
Danielle Dior.

So, the night started out with me in a panic, that I wasn't going to make it to the show.  It was pretty much, in my mind, a case of, I wish I'd known sooner.

When I finally left work, on time, for once, it was with the expectation of arriving back in Portland at the end of the show, with nothing to do, but go home and go to bed.  The drive was long and boring.  And, finally, I made it back to Portland...where the roads were iffy, because we were still digging out from a storm that left a couple feet of snow.

Madame Sheena

I got to Styxx and Shaunna Rai was there, talking with a couple of people that we know.  I got a drink, and proceeded with talking about my frustrating day at work, with a co-worker, who had a hard time keeping track of residents. And, I was reminded that I smile, a lot.  My parents came up in conversation, about how accepting and supportive they are.

Lo and behold, the show had yet to start.  By the time the announcement was made that the show would be starting in five minutes, I think I'd gone through half my drink... Cherry Lemonade made a point of welcoming me to the show...and it made me smile, because who doesn't like a personal "Thanks for coming."

Cherry Lemonade in an Adore
Delano inspired look.

I'd smuggled my camera in, because, well, that's what I do.  I'm the picture guy.  And, for whatever reason, I want to document the drag that I see.  They're all the Candy Darlings, to my Andy Warhol.  (If you don't get the reference, Google it.)

The show started, and I had to say, it was a little odd to me.  Danielle is a Blackstones girl.  I hear, back in the day, when Styxx was the Underground, that Danielle was there a lot.  But, as long as I've known Danielle, it's been rare to see her out at Styxx, much less, performing there.  Danielle always starts the show off, with a thank you to us, the audience, for being there, and then goes into her first number.

Danielle Dior

Shaunna commented that she loved Danielle's outfit, and Cherry Lemonade came over and sat with us for a few minutes, before heading to the back to get ready for her number.

Madame Sheena was up next. I always enjoy her performances...although, my camera, doesn't as much.  She's a fast mover, and the camera tends to have a hard time focusing on her.

Madame Sheena

Cherry Lemonade came out for her number, looking like Adore Delano.  I loved the look.  She used the cage on the dance floor in her number.  At the end of the number, she took the mic, and reintroduced Danielle, for her second number.

Cherry Lemonade working
the Stripper Pole

Sheena came back out for her second number, and Cherry was back out for her second number.  This was one of the more memorable numbers for the night, because, well, the Stripper Pole.  While there was no upside down hanging, Cherry worked the pole, and I was happy to see that I got some cool pictures of it.

Danielle as Liza Minelli

Danielle came out for her next to last number.  I was a little disappointed, because initially, the DJ started playing the Madonna version of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina," in error.  The correct song was actually a Liza medley.

Madame Sheena

At this point in the show, I was apparently, in the photo zone.  Why do I say that?  Well, for one, I'd taken probably 1100 pictures at this point.  (I took advantage of the settings that I'd found before the last show.)  But, apparently, at some point, about halfway through the number, there was a wardrobe malfunction.  When editing the pictures later, I was very much distracted by Danielle's nipple staring me in the face in about 100 pictures or so.

Danielle Dior

Sheena did one more number, and Danielle came out for her final number.  And, just like that, the show was over.

I sometimes wonder if the shows actually go so fast for the performers as they do for me.  I think part of it has to do with the fact that I'm focused on things, usually, other than enjoying myself.  (Not that I give up the enjoyment of the show, for the pictures, because that's totally not the case.)  I'm just usually more in the zone of point and shoot, than watch, tip, enjoy, repeat.

But, I have to admit, sometimes it pays off to be the guy who zones out by taking pictures.  On the way out, I mentioned to Josh (the bar owner) that I had taken a ton of pictures.  He told me to make sure to post them, and he'd make sure that next time I was there, I got a drink or two on the house, as payment.  Not a bad deal, for something that I would've done for free anyway.

Don't Cry For Me Argentina...

...because, the Truth is, I don't promote you...

Drag is a dying art in the state of Maine.  Shows are becoming more and more of a rarity, and they're a surprise, when they actually happen.

Styxx, last weekend, hosted: An Evening with Danielle Dior.  I found out about the show about a week before it was supposed to happen.  And, given that I definitely didn't have time to get the time off for the show, I figured that it wasn't going to be one that I would make it to.  Surprisingly, due to the time warp that is caused by drag, I was able to get out of work, and back to Portland, in time to make it to the show.

But, it got me thinking.  The lack of shows, is compounded by the fact that gay bars in general, in the state of Maine, are not doing well.  And, as someone who has been doing a lot of promoting, and making promotional materials, to use online, or printed out, as hand outs, I have a few suggestions...again.

After hearing from Mimi Imfurst, that Styxx knew, months in advance that Mimi was going to be coming to do her show, why is it that we only got a poster a few weeks before the show?  Why would you not, as soon as you book a show, get promotional materials together?

I get that gathering together all the information, a month or more in advance, is a hassle, but promotion is your friend.  If you can't promote, you can't bring people in.  If you can't bring people in, you lose money.  If you lose money, your bar closes.  It's as simple as that.  Take the time, get the information together, and get a responsible graphic artist to throw something together.  I'm always game for making a poster.  It gets my work out there. It gets your event out there.  It's a win-win for us both.  (BTW, if you're interested in poster work, email me, for pricing details.)  The longer you have your promotional stuff out there, the more people will see it, and potentially, the more people you will get to your events.

Truth be told, making a poster or flyer for a show, really doesn't take long.  An hour, if you have all the information ready up front, maybe two.  There's probably a few adjustments that will need to be made.  But, nothing major, unless the artist and the patron have completely different ideas about what the material should look like.  (Occasionally, it does happen.)

I want to make it clear, that this is not just an issue with Styxx.  This is an issue with multiple venues for shows.  Styxx just happened to be the catalyst for the post. Queens get frustrated with the bars, because nobody knows that the show is happening, so nobody comes.  Bars get frustrated with the queens, because nobody knows that the show is happening, so nobody comes.  If you give the queens and the bars a chance to advertise the shows, there is potential for much more business...especially, given the fact that the queens I hang out with, often end up having drinks bought for them, by audience members.  This can only be good for the bars.  Especially, since half the time, the performing queens are not getting paid for the shows, or they're getting paid very little.

RANT OVER: