Spock by the Pool

Fan Art
Title:	Spock by the Pool
Artist:	Shelley Butler
Date(s):	1995
First Published:
Medium:
Genre/Style:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
External Links:	online at AO3
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Spock by the Pool is an illo by Shelley Butler.

It portrays Spock from Star Trek: TOS, and was printed in First Time #41.

It is a companion piece to Coming from the Pool.

Revised

The artist revised this illustration and posted it to AO3 in 2023.

revised illustration from 2023

This is a recent piece that is a remake of one that I did years ago. It has always been one of my favorite pieces and since the previous one is lost, and because I love the idea so much, I decided to make this again. It is slightly different than the earlier version and this is just a photo of the finished matted piece.

Shown to Leonard Nimoy

In late 1997, a fan took her copy of First Time #41 to a book signing by Leonard Nimoy at Borders Books in Westfield, California.

I had some cajones tonight. Let me begin by saying that I'm not really an autograph person. In fact, I have no autographs, but tonight was a little different.

I took First Time 41 to the booksigning with me. For those of you who can't recall the cover immediately, it's the gorgeous Shelley drawing of Spock by the Pool — head down, forehead on hands, just the tiniest bit of double ridge penis showing. I love this picture.

Anyway, I wasn't sure if I'd be brave enough to ask him to sign it, but he provided me with the perfect opening during his reading. He read that exchange of letters between him and Isaac Asmiov about Mr. Spock being dreamy. So, I thought what the hell, it's now or never. I got up to the table, and I had to hand him the Alien Voices tape, cause that was like required. I think he thought he was done with me after he signed that, but I knelt down in front of the table so we were at eye level, and I slipped the zine in front of him, and said, "Isaac Asimov was right." He looked at the cover and said, "Wow. Oh wow." I said "Yes, my friend Shelley drew it." He said, "Who drew it?" I said, "My friend Shelley. Isn't it beautiful?" He made a sort of noise of agreement and starting flipping through the zine. He looked at the text, he looked at the front page with the little poem on it, he looked at the index with the story names, he looked at the back. At this point, my brain was completely disconnected from my tongue. I said something kind of inane about being in love with Spock since I was 9 years old. I said, "That's 25 years...marriages don't last that long." He laughed. He kept looking up at me and looking in my eyes. Perhaps trying to decide if I was completely insane? Then he started to hand the zine back to me. I said, "Would you mind signing the cover for me?" And he said, "Sure", and signed his name above Spock's leg. Then he looked me right in the eyes again, and said, "Nice to meet you", and reached out to shake my hand.

I walked away and nearly fainted. Then I stepped to the side and watched him sign other people's stuff for about another 30 minutes or so. He didn't really talk to anyone else much, they all handed him the normal sort of stuff to sign. But he was very gracious and allowed all these people to take their picture with him.

After almost everyone had gone, I was much calmer, and he was signing a few last things. I went up again and said, "Ok, I was brave enough to show this to you once, I guess I can do it again. I forgot to ask you to write, To Kim. Would you mind?" And said, "I'd be happy to." So I am now staring at this First Time 41 with my name and his name on the cover. Ok, it's been a cool week.

Fan Comments: Original

1994

I was lucky enough to meet Shelley Butler [at Shore Leave], and I bought the most GORGEOUS piece of her artwork you ever could hope to see - it's a signed and numbered print of Spock, but you can't tell unless you're "in on the secret", so to speak. He's nude (but not blatantly so - that's even more beautiful), stretched out next to a body of water in which you can see a hint of his reflection. I think it's supposed to be a zine cover. Anyway, I took it to Midtown to have it framed (again, a largely gay area), and the FIRST thing out of the guy's mouth is, "Mr. Spock!" Not "Hello," not "Can I help you," not anything. Well, after I picked my jaw up off the floor, you should have SEEN me hemming and hawing, trying to explain what j was doing with such a print. Anyway, it's beautifully framed and hanging in the place of honor in my new house, once occupied by a nude Mel Gibson (Yes, Shelley, the nude Mel did get tossed!) If y'all are ever down in Georgia, drop in and I'll let you see it for a dollar (I usually charge two, but CT readers get a 50% discount. Ha!)

1997

...the Spock on the front is just exquisite, I've been waiting a long time for the chance to comment on this artwork. I bought a print of it at Shore Leave '93, and it's been gracing The Shrine (my closet) ever since. It hit me like a ton of bricks from the moment I first laid eyes on it, and has never stopped. For those of you who haven't seen it, this view of Spock studying his image in a pool of water is worth the price of the zine. Wonderful use of light and dark, form and shadow, reality and reflection. Add to that a lovely, contemplative mood. Goes past the K/S genre and all the way to Art. Another fan writes that these two covers were an inspiration for her story, When Rain Comes: "I saw Shelley's SPOCK BY THE POOL drawing and the companion one of Kirk COMING FROM THE POOL at Robin's table at a convention. And my water idea kind of expanded a little to include a pool as well as the rain. To my mind, Spock looked absolutely anguished and disparaging in that drawing. I spent many pleasant moments trying to figure out what could have happened to cause that anguish.

Fan Comments: Revision

Gorgeous! I love the tension in the extended leg.

Have you a whole backstory to how he's come to be in this position? Forgive me if that's a stupid question or you've answered it somewhere else!

That is so NOT a stupid question! You are very perceptive about the extended leg! It shows Spock is not relaxing next to the pool. With his head down in his arms there is definitely sadness. And as far as a backstory...what a great idea! I had certain feelings when I drew him, but it is open to interpretation. Thank you so much for your insightful comment.

Wow. I have stared at this for a long time now. There is so much conveyed. I am in awe.

He is in some kind of distress. But his form is still so...powerful! All those muscles. That strength. He is not completely crumpled. There's a bit of pride or some inner strength in his posture.

The water is such a beautiful addition. Especially because Spock is not seen with tears. Perhaps he is crying here and the pool is quietly absorbing them, giving him the privacy. Perhaps he has come to the pool side because he is from a desert planet.

Sorry I have probably read too much into this but I will not be forgetting this art of yours!

I am literally at the Philon Awards right now and I wanted to look at this piece. It is so beautiful. I can feel the tension in his leg and the emotion in him and I'd love to stare at him for a long time and contemplate the backstory behind this specific moment in time. I'm obsessed with the way his forehead is resting on his hands. So much precision and beauty in this art work.

Oh, Elle, your words just melt my heart! Thank you for the beautiful perceptive comments. It’s been so fascinating all the different backstories that others have seen in the piece. I feel a sadness from him, but the water is somehow soothing.

This is an insanely beautiful piece. The musculature, the tension in the pose, the reflection in the water, wonderfully done. Thank you so much for sharing!

2004

This is absolutely gorgeous, and the reflection is incredible. You're an excellent artist!