Woman Paints Portraits … Of Porn Stars

New York-based artist and model Katelan Foisy says she’s a naughty American because she’s a member of Pornsaints—an organization of porn star-painting artists. What do you think? Read the interview Katelan gave TNA, then decide for yourself.

TNA: So, you say you’re a naughty American because you paint portraits of pornography actresses, right?

Katelan Foisy: Yes, I do.

Have you always been a fan of pornography? Or are you a fan of pornography?

I am. It started really young (laughs). I was talking to this guy I’m seeing right now, and we were talking about how we got into porn. As a child, I was just really into it – finding magazines and scrambled channels. There was something about the way that everyone looked, and the aesthetics of it, and, of course, the sexuality. It just brought me in, and I kind of always knew I’d end up in some area that involved sex or erotica or porn.

So, did you watch a lot of it when you were in school?

I did. When I was in high school, I used to visit my cousin in college so we would go to her boyfriend’s house and watch porn. Those hour-and-a-half trips to Boston really paid off (laughs).

Yeah, I guess so. When did you decide to do something with porn?

When I was in college, I did a small stint writing erotica for different Web sites. That was fun. And then after a while I started getting more into art because that’s what I was in school for. I didn’t do anything with porn for a while, though – until maybe last year. I was looking something up on the Internet and I found Pornsaints. I thought, “This is right up my alley.”

So you contacted Pornsaints …

I did. I contacted [director] Francesco [D’Isa] and he wrote me back telling me my stuff was great. Then he told me to paint a portrait of porn star Nico Elise. The moment I saw the porns she was in, I was like, “I love this girl.”

Had you known her by name previous to being assigned to paint her?

I hadn’t known her. I feel like I saw her picture but didn’t know her name. When I did my first portrait of her, I saw the Santa Muerte candle – the Mexican saint of death – in one of her porns, and I decided to paint the portrait in the colors of that. When she saw it, she was like, “Oh my God. I’m part Mexican. When I saw that, you just, like, totally got me.”

Wow.

Yeah! I did finish doing another one of her recently for the Pornsaints show in Philly, and I did it again, playing on the whole Frida Kahlo thing, but I gave Nico two different personalities: one was porn star, and the other was like new wave, punk-rock girl. I meshed those two together, and she really liked that one, too.

Is she the only one you’ve done so far?

I’ve done her and I’ve done Misty Haze.

Cool. So you spoke with Nico Elise afterward?

Yeah! She actually spent the night at my house like a month ago!

No kidding! Are you guys good pals now, or something?

We’re good pals now. It’s really fun. She was coming into Philly and she decided to stop off in New York and she called me up and was like, “Hey, I’m in your city.” I was like, “OK, I’m coming to see you.” We went out for a couple of drinks. She had to leave in the morning, so I just invited her over to my house. We just spent the night drinking beer and talking about porn until like 6 in the morning.

Did she try to recruit you?

No (laughs). We were just talking. She’s an artist, too. We talked about the whole aspect of art and porn, and we talked about the industry. She really likes working with Naughty America.

That’s always good to here. Did you also get to spend the night with Misty Haze?

No, not yet. I actually sent her some prints of the one I made of her, and she made a video blog of it.

When you’re painting these girls, does it turn you on? Is it erotic to you?

These girls are my muses. They’re just so beautiful. One thing I always respect about girls in the porn industry is that can do things that are so amazing to me. My whole focus is to show how beautiful they are, and show the essence of them … like what are they into. Like, when Nico said to me, “Wow, you got me.” That was great to hear. When I get that e-mail, I know that I’ve done my job.

Now, do you do any kind of research, like watch their films?

Absolutely. I watch hours upon hours of porn. I research for a good day or two. Like watching every porn that they’ve done, every interview they’ve done. Sometimes I’ll contact the girl and ask what she likes. I’ll also ask them to send me pictures of themselves that they really like. Then I piece everything together and try to find one thing that connects it all, and I’ll focus on that.

Are you working on anyone right now?

Right now I’m getting ready for a show in San Francisco with Pornsaints. I’m going to have the two pieces with Misty and Nico, and I’m also working on some stuff with sex and religion. I may also do some images of Erica Kane.

Is there any one person who you really want to do?

I’d really like to do Tristan Taormino.

For any specific reason?

She just really fascinates me. I remember being in college and talking to my friends about her and seeing her as a very porn-friendly, out-there girl. She was one of the first saying, “Yes, I have sex. Yes, I have anal sex.” We were just sort of blown away by her. She was going to schools and speaking about it, and it just really fascinated us. It was just really impressive at that time.

Wow, you’re really into it. So, are you now an official member of Pornsaints?

Yes. I’m a Porn Bishop.

That’s a great title. I can deduce that you plan on doing this for a while, right?

I think I am. This is an alleyway I feel very comfortable in. I’ve always been a very sexual person. It’s definitely making sex OK. OK to look at, OK to talk about. It’s something I’m very interested in, and plus I do have this whole crazy virgin-whore complex going on.

What’s that all about?

Basically, it’s when you feel like you’re torn between having to be good and virginal. But then there’s this other part that’s like, “No. The naughty is much better.”