Figure Drawing classes -- anyone?
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free skin care · Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:25 pm

Hi everyone! It's been a minute since I've been here. Laughing

I just recently started modeling for figure drawing classes at colleges and art centers. I have been told that this is a good way to get experience posing, and thus break into other types of modeling.

I've caught a bit of -- well, not flak per se, but some less than positive feelings from one of my friends who has known me for 15 years or so. He (who was in love with me for about ten of those fifteen years) is uncomfortable with the fact that I pose nude. Now he's not talking to me at all, even though he said before he was more or less OK with it once I assured him that I wasn't doing it out of exhibitionism. I'm not sure what I said that triggered his sudden cessation of talking to me. (And men say that GIRLS are sensitive -- give me a break! Rolling Eyes

) I don't get it, because he's extremely open-minded about nudity and such.

But, this wasn't supposed to be about that. I was just curious as to whether anyone else does figure drawing modeling, and whether it helped you to get an actual modeling job (like print, runway, etc.).

free skin care · Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:37 am

I know this isn't what you asked about, but I just wanted to say that the people who draw/paint you, don't really see you. I mean, I do see the model, of course, I just wouldn't be able to recognise the person if I met him/her on the street... It isn't about naked people, if someone want to see naked people go see a stripper or something. And same for the model, if exhibitionism is part of the drive to do it, him/her really picked the wrong aucdience. Wink

free skin care · Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:07 am

I second Schnee's response from the other side of the easel. I've taken a few figure drawing/painting courses and exhibition just isn't part of the game. As a matter of fact, I remember one of our models wanted to pose with her high heels on and our instructor nixed it as displaying rather poor taste. I'm glad he did, I would have felt uncomfortable had he not. Then he talked about the difference between being nude and being naked. With nudity, you still have your dignity. Being naked is without.

The best models in our life painting class were those who knew how create interesting shapes with their body and also knew where the light struck them to create the best positive and negative forms. Maintaining a pose for anywhere between 5-20 minutes is also essential and while I could admire one of the male models who was very well endowed, I took a more clinical POV while I was painting him. We artists can kind of be users; by drawing on what is around us for inspiration and looking at things with an artist's eye, we tend to look at things as they are and how to make it more interesting as an artistic subject. Which is all a long-winded way of saying I didn't really "see" them in any other way than art subjects.

We had an interesting mix of models in our class. A couple of younger women in their twenties and 30's with great bodies. One really knew how to pose so the lights would hit her perfectly. A woman in her fifties with all the apparent gravity but a wonderful strong and angular face I just loved to paint. An older man in his fifties that was very well endowed and had a spectacular body and another middle aged man that was kind of heavy. I respected them immensely for their bravery and generosity.

free skin care · Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:57 am

I didn't even see the models as people, they were just shapes.

It's kind of funny when you see a model outside of class though....like working the drive thru at Wendy's! Then one time I ended up going to a party at his apartment. I miss college....ha.

free skin care · Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:49 pm

That's exactly how it was for me when I was posing -- I didn't get the impression that anyone was seeing me as a sexual object. And it certainly wasn't sexual for me, or an exercise in exhibitionism, no matter what some people (the friend that I mentioned before) insist.

I just find it highly interesting to be an agent in the creation of art. I have always loved art but have never really been able to create it myself. But now I've found a way that I can make a contribution to something I enjoy. It's pretty cool! Smile

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