Good afternoon and welcome to Night Vision GraFX:

After receiving an e-mail from Google Checkout clearing my account as being acceptable on 13 August 2012, I received another e-mail today (19 August 2012) stating the same thing as before that "while reviewing your account your website appears to violate Google Payments content policies: - Unacceptable product category: Adult Goods & Services."  They have yet been able to answer my question about how my artwork is classified as "Adult Goods & Services" despite my repeated inquiry. 

I do believe it's time for a lesson in art.  Shall we begin...

Example 1: The Birth of Venus on canvas painted by Alexandre Cabanel in 1875.

The Birth of Venus by Alexandre Cabanel (1875)

Example 2: The Birth of Venus on canvas painted by William Bouguereau in 1879.

The Birth of Venus by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1879)

Example 3: The Creation of Adam on stucco painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (a church) in 1511.


The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo (1511)

Example 4: Nude Woman Having Her Hair Combed on canvas painted by Edgar Degas in 1886.

Nude Woman Having Her Hair Combed by Edgar Degas (1886)

Example 5: Self Portrait on canvas painted by Alice Neel in 1980.

Self Portrait by Alice Neel (1980)

Example 6: The Study of Human Proportion according to Vitruvius ink drawing on paper by Leonardo DiVinci between 1485 and 1490.


The Study of Human Porportions according to Vitruvius by Leonardo DiVinci (1485-90)

Example 7: Girl Before a Mirror on canvas painted by Pablo Picasso during his abstract stage in 1932.

Girl Before a Mirror by Pablo Picasso (1932)

Example 8: Venus de Milo carved from Marble by the Greeks in 150 B.C.E.

Venus de Milo (150 B.C.E)

Example 9: The Seductive Vampire Lady in ink on paper and colored using Adobe Photoshop CS2 by S. Patrick Abel in 2011.

The Seductive Vampire Lady by S. Patrick Abel (2011)

Examples one through seven are pieces of work by world renown artists.  Example eight is a piece of Greek sculpture dating before the birth of Christ.  Each of these artists do as I do, draw what we like or what we see around us.  Looking at all of the examples provided above what differentiates them from one another?  They all depict the human body.  The human form has been a subject of art for centuries dating back before most of the examples listed above.  The human body is a beautiful thing.  It is people who make it sexual.  Each example depicts the natural human body in all of its glory and is nothing to be ashamed of or to classify it as "Adult Goods & Services" in the least.  There is absolutely nothing sexual about any of these pictures.

Go to any book store and go to the art section.  Almost any serious book about art will have works like these contained within their pages.  Are they labeled explicit?  Are they covered with black plastic bags?  Are they kept near Playboy or Hustler?  The answer to all of the above is no.  They are readily available to any and all who wish to browse through their pages.  Go to an art gallery or museum.  I guarantee that you will find no less than a dozen pieces of art in one form or another that depicts the natural human body.  Since they display the human body in partial or full nudity are they considered to be devious or less than reputable establishments?  No, they are not.

Night Vision GraFX is a graphics company that offers a wide variety of different styles of art from pencil drawings to computer enhanced imagery.  There is nothing vulgar or anything that depicts the act of sex in anything that is displayed on this website nor will I reduce myself to poor taste in drawing something depicting the act of sex.  I am an artist.  I sell artwork.  That is all I do and nothing will ever stop me from doing so.  Art is a form of expression.  The last time I checked, the United States is still a free nation where its citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression as expressed in the Constitution of the Unites States of America.

I am an artist, plain and simple.  I am S. Patrick Abel, owner and operator of Night Vision GraFX freelance graphics services.  I sell artwork here...my artwork.  Like it or hate it, that is your opinion granted under the First Amendment, but do not impede my rights.

I received an e-mail today from Google Checkout concerning images that I have posted on my Blogger site.  Apparently ARTviolates their TOS and they have threatened to disable my account within five days if I do not add a button on my website that says those items are unavailable for purchase.  They have accused me of selling "Adult Goods & Services" through my website.  I am appalled that it is even suggested that my artwork would be classified as such since no piece of work posted on my website solicits or depicts the act of sex.  Hopefully they will get back to me soon with a response in regards to the e-mail that I sent them inquiring what is going on.  If not, I guess I will have to begin looking for another provider to host my website to expand my business.

-Patrick

NEW STUFF!

NEW STUFF has been uploaded to the site!  Well, not new art, but more of my art has been uploaded.  :)  Check out the Military Art, Colored Line Art, and Cartoon Art galleries to see the spectrum of my capabilities.  The Fine Art gallery was updated with my work as well as the Car Show Board gallery about a month or so ago if you haven't already checked it out.  Enjoy!

-Patrick