[delt]

Some years ago when my wife was 40, I decided I wanted a nude painting of her. There was an artist I had heard of in Scottsdale that did very accurate paintings from photographs using some sort of new process. I called him and he was very helpful, but suggested that if I had several good nude photos I should get multiple opinions because the painting would be fairly expensive and you did not want your love and memory to make you choose a photo that might not be best in terms of pose, lighting and clarity.

I picked out four or five of my best with my wife from age 18 to 35, all full frontal nude. Some outdoors (my favorites), some at our pool, some at a nudist club.

I first showed them to a neighbor who had seen her nude at our pool and he picked out the best because the shadows would probably allow more clarity. My college roommate had seen her nude when we were in college but was reluctant to look at her in her late 20's and 30's. I asked why and he said she was my wife and it made him uncomfortable. I took some masking tape and covered her pubic hair and nipples and he picked out his favorite. His comment was that her breasts were a lot larger now after having children.

Of the 5 friends (all male) I wanted opinions from, two were very reluctant to see her naked, to my surprise. Both felt like it was being somehow being unfaithful to see her. I told all of them that we were nudists and hundreds if not thousands of men had seen her completely exposed at many different locations. Both looked at the photos when her pussy and nipples were covered.

When the painting arrived months later, all looked at it and agreed it was very accurate and lifelike. The guys who had not looked at her fully exposed photos had no problem seeing the painting of her nude, however, even though it was identical to the photo. I don't fully understand the difference.

My wife loved the painting, but would not allow it to hang where anyone could see it. It is in a closet, but I look at it often. To me, it is great art. I have shown it to a select number of friends when they visit.

A final note: two of the guys when they saw my wife nude in photos asked if I had more of her, hopefully spread open or hardcore in action. It turns out they had photos of their wives or former wives and we have shared each others photos several times. None of us gets to keep any of the others, but we look at them when we are together.