RedRump: 8 Questions with the Artist
Welcome back to Wednesdays with Gin. Every Wednesday I share a new post on Smiles and Spanks. This week’s post features my 8 question interview with RedRump, where I ask him about his artwork, creative process, and return to creating RedRump art.
1. Your RedRump blog went quiet around 2015, but the work continued to find an audience over the years. What made you decide, about a decade later, that you wanted to start creating and sharing RedRump art again?
Did it? I was not aware of that.
Mostly, it was a desire to be self-expressive again. In my professional capacity, I am always acting as someone else's wrist. But I didn't want to blog again. Too much time and effort for a dwindling audience. I can reach a wider audience on Twitter and not have to fight the algorithms of a platform like Instagram.
Also, going back and forth with you was the catalyst to finally make me take the plunge.
2. After such a long break, what feels different about creating RedRump art now compared with when you were actively posting on your blog?
It's definitely a broader audience, with more diverse interests than what I was used to on Blogger. I've gained a decent following in just the 6 months or so I've been doing it - so that is cool. Oddly, though, there are fewer commenters. The blog had a small but consistently vocal base. Twitter seems to be the opposite.
3. Your work became particularly recognizable for its retro-inspired aesthetic. Is that still where your imagination naturally takes you, or are you finding yourself drawn to different settings, characters, or eras these days?
I don't think my tastes have changed much over time. I do still love that mid 20th century aesthetic. Women's fashions - at least prior to the hippie era - were a blend of the demure and the sensual (Mad Men really showcased that well). Something about the coiffured hairstyles, the pearl necklaces, that whole prim and proper look - it just fits so neatly with the no-nonsense discipline vibe.
As for different settings and scenarios, I am drawn to fairly commonplace or formal settings. I don't really go in for the overly whimsical - elves, furries, superheroines, that sort of thing. My style is relatively realistic, so I try to keep the situations equally down to earth. I think it makes the fantasy more visceral, easier for the viewer to connect to.
“There is more to a good spanking than a good spanking.”
4. When creating a new RedRump illustration, what usually comes first for you: the characters, the situation, the emotion, or a particular visual image that you want to bring to life?
All of those are important, but if I had to pick, it would have to be the emotional element. There are so many emotions in play during any punitive scenario - fear, shock, embarrassment, shame, anger, intimidation, arousal, shame, suspense - a lot to explore from an artistic standpoint.
5. One thing that has always stood out in your work is that the spanking itself is only part of the story. The expressions, body language, clothing, and circumstances often tell you what is happening. How important is that sense of story to you when you're creating a piece?
Extremely. But often, the aim is just to capture that one single moment that is the most emotionally charged - it might be via a certain nuance of expression, or a curling of toes, or a twist in the top's body to get a little more force behind her strike. Story-wise, I think the most overlooked aspect of a punitive experience is the beforemath. For me, it can be as intense as the punishment itself. The anticipation is electric, increasing in voltage up to the first impact. Knowing what is about to happen is as potent as the happening itself.
There is more to a good spanking than a good spanking.
6. After being away from the spanking art community for so long, has anything about the response to your return surprised you?
Not much, though I'm surprised and pleased some people still remember me from the old days. It's always nice to hear from them again. Not that the blog had a huge audience, just a loyal one. I am happy with the response, though I've no idea if its growth is normal, below average, or above. Oddly, I sometimes lose followers. My guess is they follow, then have second thoughts, fearing their vanilla friends might notice.
One nice occurrence recently was connecting with Sardax, who has always been an inspiration for me. He says we touched base way back when, though I can't recall.
7. Now that RedRump is active again, are there particular ideas, scenarios, or styles that you're especially excited to explore that you haven't had the opportunity to draw before?
I have considered expanding my subject matter to explore a broader variety of Femdom, but am hesitant. I have a niche, and keeping to that is usually a good strategy for an artist. Also, I don't find most other Femdom activities as emotionally charged as those I depict now. And some I am just seriously not into, personally - I have no interest in scenarios I can't connect with myself, just to appeal to someone else who is into them.
8. If we check in with RedRump again a year from now, what would you like to have created or accomplished by then? Are there any projects you'd particularly like to see come to life, such as a book or collection of your artwork?
You may not like to hear this, but, honestly, I expect that a year from now - maybe sooner - RedRump may be slowing down again. I have a limited supply of material I can post from my stockpile, and growing vanilla career concerns may overwhelm what available time there'll be to produce new stuff. The career has been hot and cold this year, but prospects are picking up.
Those prospects are keeping a couple of RR projects on the shelf. I had an illustrated novella in mind about a college sorority that works out a deal with the football team to use paddling as a means to overturning their losing ways - it was inspired by my cheerleader/linebacker illustration, and published through the Kilohara Library of Spanking Fiction. Even started on the writing bit, but I doubt it will go much further.
As for a book of my own art, that sounds awesome, but I don't see that happening, either, really. I don't think there is enough of an audience out there for it.
Thank you, RedRump, for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m sorry to hear that RedRump may slow down again, but I’m very glad you decided to come back when you did. I hope we get to enjoy your work for as long as you feel inspired to make it!
