(Art Brute is a new recurring feature that asks artists about their recent output.)

Jim Mahfood (also: Food One) is an illustrator with a style that straddles the line between charm and a grafitti molotov. His past clients have included Marvel, Playboy, and, yes, Colt 45. Earlier this year, Mahfood took part in The April Flores Toy Show at Los Angeles' La Luz de Jesus Gallery. The show tasked eight artists to paint limited-edition plaster molds based on the first ever sex toy of BBW adult film starlet Flores', er, parts. On the eve of a second sex toy exhibit, this time at San Francisco's Good Vibrations Annual Independent Erotic Film Festival, I quizzed Mahfood about his 'Gold Teeth'.

Ever think you'd be painting a plus size vagina?
Yes, I always knew deep down that my career would lead to painting on vaginas, whether real or plaster.

How did you get involved with April Flores and the first exhibit at La Luz de Jesus?
Through my man [filmmaker and exhibit curator] Carlos Batts, of course! Good guy. Talented motherfucker.

What kind of challenges did you face painting a sex toy?
The only thing tricky about it was the curvy-ness of it. Typically, I am drawing and painting on flat surfaces. This was pretty much the exact opposite of that. Sort of challenging but still fun as hell.

How did you decide on this concept? I mean, teeth...
I accidentally turned the whole thing upside down and noticed that it sort of looked like a mouth to me... So I painted it blue and added the teeth, and bam! There you go.

And what was the response like?
I showed up late to the show... I was there for the last 5 minutes. So I dunno, I assume most people either love or hate my stuff. It sort of doesn't matter to me. As long as April and Carlos dug it, that's all I really cared about.