GAY HOUSTON ARTISTS Troy Broussard and Michael Anderson are calling their upcoming exhibit at Lowell Collins Gallery “Two Guys Painting” for a reason.

The title refers to their unusual style of painting in near mirror images of one another.

Anderson recalls “Troy and I met six years ago and had always talked about getting together to paint, but never did. The cosmos finally arranged themselves, and we painted together for the first time last year. We had such a good session that we immediately scheduled the next session. Since then, we have painted together at least once a week.”

Often setting up a still life or arranging for a nude model, the result is two distinct yet similar pieces.

“I have an obvious affinity for male nudes.” says Broussard. “We have a list of very hot guys who want to be painted. It’s becoming very in! But it’s tricky to stay focused on painting when you have one of the hottest guys in town lying before you.”

Anderson continues “We always order dinner, drink wine, and play music, from classical and jazz, to thumping club music. Most of our sessions have been on Friday night, and they usually go until 5 or 6 in the morning”

They try to make their sessions fun and inspirational. “It’s very bohemian,” says Anderson. “When we have nude models, we always include them in the evening with dinner, wine, whatever it takes to get the juices flowing. We do our best to make them feel comfortable, like we’re old friends even if we’re not. It’s so much more fulfilling to me than going to a bar or club, or anything else.”

Broussard remembers when they first collaborated “I was thinking since this was our first time, I wondered what it would be like. But we were using the same formula. I said to him ‘I think it’s funny you are doing it (painting) the same way I am.’ He replied ‘What other way is there?’”

Broussard and Anderson, both Louisiana natives met through the BCBC (Bayou City Boy’s Club) and recently co-chaired the decorations committee for Jungle 2004. They share studio space, specializing in still life arrangements and nudes. A selection of their recent oil paintings currently hangs in the Sunroom Gallery of the Zigler Museum of Art in Jennings, Louisiana. The men also exhibited work at Spa 1107, Houston, and at Pujo Street Café, Lake Charles.

THE TWO ARTISTS PAINTED TOGETHER in the marshland of Louisiana in November and traveled to Amsterdam in late December and early January to paint and search for inspiration. The duo have also dabbled in “plein” air paintings (the French term for painting outdoors) with portable art kits.

“You know Mike and I set up on Lazy Lane during one day,” says Broussard. “It was really beautiful. But as the day went on, the shadows kept changing and so the painting kept changing. It was maddening! I prefer to work at night. We even painted the recent eclipse.”

Enthused about their recent paintings, they feel that this body of work is “out of the ordinary perspective into the transformation of (sometimes) mundane objects into works of art, filtered through two artistic minds, with two distinct outcomes.”

Gay artists Troy Broussard (left) and Michael Anderson seem to always be painting in tandem.

Yet their pieces seem more intrinsically connected, two sides of the same coin. They hope that the grouping of similar compositions and themes becomes interactive with viewers, not only as an exhibit but also an installation, creating puzzles and comparisons within the mind and between paintings.

Broussard moved to Houston in 1987 from Louisiana State University and joined the Interior Design firm of Edward J. Perrault Design Associates, Inc. Today he operates the sole-proprietorship of Troy Broussard Interior Design, Art, & Art Consultation and resides in the Glendower Court neighborhood with his English Springer Spaniel Katie Scarlett.

Michael Anderson has been in Houston since 1992. He has a B.S. in Technology with minors in French and Art from Tulane University in New Orleans and a Masters in Environmental Science from the University of Texas.

A Montrose resident, he is currently a realtor with Michael Berry Properties and is a member of BCBC, having co-chaired the decorations committee for four of the last five Jungle Parties.

“Two Guys Painting” will open with a wine reception on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. The public is invited to attend. The exhibit will close January 28.

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