Aloha Oe

Honolulu artist Douglas Simonson specializes in fine art male nudes. All of his models are young, smooth and muscular; most are men of color (black, asian, polynesian, hispanic). Like Andy of towleroad.com, Simonson's ideal type seems to be brazilian.

One unique aspect of the website is Simonson's Diary. Each entry is a lengthy essay showing how he puts his paintings together. The entries are illustrated with images of every step in the process, from initial photograph to final product. It's fascinating. For instance, in the May 26 entry, Simonson tells how the painting "Hawaiian Surfer" (above) was created over the course of five days, from the original photo through eight drafts until the painting is complete.