Hanging Out ... Artistic?!

DaraEden

I just got approached to do this artist's project and my role would be... life modelling?!
So I researched it and basically its staying in a nude pose while others draw/paint you.

Okay I really appreciate art but I don't think that I would appreciate standing in my birthday suit while others 'interpret'
my body.
But I have to know, has anyone any experiences like this?
And would you be tempted to do it??

juliecat1

Not from that stand point but I've been part of many classes like this. It's really relaxed. No one gets weirded out or crude. No pointing or giggling. It's really cool at the end if the class to see how every person interprets the exact same body differently and in their own style.

anels449

I've only drawn nudes, but plan on coming back and posing for the class at some point. As the person above said it's really chill. No need to worry. In my college classes at least, everyone was respectful towards the model. To me, drawing a nude it's not about "oh my god she's nekkid" it's studying the body and the shapes it can make. And usually when you're in a college level course, there's more of an air of professionalism because it's what they're going for job wise. Go for it, I'm sure it's a thrilling experience!

wolverine66

i have also experienced it from the artists' side, and it was as julie said. as an artist, personally, I never focused on the nudity of the bodies. I focused on sections, shapes, lights and shadows... usually my drawing wasn't even of the full figure, but a section i found interesting.

DaraEden

Thanks guys, that's actually really helpful. I think I will re-consider now

LorinaLynn

I went to a community college for art, and our life models weren't nude, just in a bathing suit or body suit. But really, anything an artist draws or paints, they're focusing on the colors, shapes, shadows, highlights.

I did some impromptu (clothed) modeling for a regular drawing class, and it is REALLY hard to stay still that long. Painful, actually. :laugh:

Slimat30

I've been a life model before. It's fine unless you have to hold an awkward pose lol! I was nude but it wasn't weird or embarrassing. You are more like an object for the artist

squirmmonster

I am also an artist. This is a legitimate thing. Well, I would say you should look into their group, and make sure it's a well-established group, and if it is, this is a very innocent, if sensitive request. Artists draw the nude human figure, because- believe it or not- it helps us draw people better, whether they are clothed, covered in midieval armor, or in a chicken suit. It's the baseline. And real artist groups are also very non-judgmental about bodies. They look for a variety of people in all shapes and sizes, so no matter what your body flaws, you don't have to worry about that. We draw people who are 300 lbs, 100 lbs, 200, 150, male, female... err. In times less scary than ours, we'd have also drawn all ages in the nude. Not for perverse reasons, for educational reasons, both ours and others. That's a very sensitive matter these days, though. Anyway, I'm on a tangent. My point is, artists are the best people in the world to see you naked! You could barter to keep one of the sketches, maybe. They will flatter you, trust me.

binglebandit

Having taken a ton of life drawing classes I can say that the students are very respectful and understanding. We can usually tell if it is someones first time and try to make it as comfortable as possible for them. People won't come up and talk to you if you want to be left alone and will give you privacy and breaks as needed. Really as an artist we aren't looking at and judging people we are just drawing them, like an object. If anything I would say artists are very understanding about body types since we've seen just about everything. What makes a good model isn't an ideal shape or anything, but being good at making a composition with their bodies and being able to hold a pose for a long time. We had a model once who seemed uncomfortable with having her legs even the slightest bit apart from each other, even while standing. It made all her poses really awkward because she always looked like a tree. Trust me, that's the sort of thing we are thinking about while drawing, compositions, shading, lines, etc. We aren't thinking about what we can or can't see, just how well it's going to translate onto our paper.

And in case no one tells you what to expect if you do go through with it. Normally there is an opening period of time with quicker gestures, to get the students warmed up. You may take several standing poses for a couple minutes each, or walk around while being drawn. Then most classes will go into longer drawings, and these almost always are sitting or laying down so you don't get as tired. You'll probably get drawn for 10-20 minute increments and then get a 5-10 minute break in between. If you need a break it's always fine to ask for one.