Beauty, observed, at Spirit Gallery

Even if there is no longer a House of Medici to commission great works of art, Dee Whitcomb isn't doing too badly. A musician-turned-tattoo-artist/painter, Whitcomb has done commissioned canvasses for folks such as Joe Elliot of Def Leppard, Scottie Hill of Skid Row and supermodel Nikki Taylor. A new exhibit of his modern pinup paintings, "Schönheit" (German for "beauty"), kicks off with an artist's reception Saturday in New London's Spirit Gallery Tattoo. Whitcomb, who studied under hyper-realist Dru Blair, created the works - including "Untitled" (right) - for "Schönheit" while living for several years in a small village outside Frankfurt, Germany. Show runs through May 26 at the gallery at 207 Bank St., New London. Hours are noon-8 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; (860) 443-0484. spiritgallerytattoo.com.

For more exhibitions, see page D2.