Art Class Modeling

Like many here I've struggled with body image issues for much of my life.

To gain confidence in my body (and also to make some money)  I'm considering posing for an art class. When the job was first offered to me earlier this week I laughed and thought to myself that I'd never do such a thing. But I've been having second thoughts.  It pays really well and I imagine that after modeling nude for a class full of art students I'd never feel nervous in the same way again.  

I don't know anyone who's ever done it and I have no real experience with art, so I was wondering if anybody here had done this before. What was it like? Would you recommend it?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Original Post by syorek23:

Is it best when models can hold unique poses or is that even taken into consideration?

Art modeling is first and foremost about holding interesting poses.

While the artists look at the model very intently, they are not gawking at 'the naked model.' They are observing values of shadow, shapes of various forms and negative spaces, etc. The human form is the most complicated thing to draw, especially within the limited time of each pose.

I've been modeling for six years, and I just wrote a book called The Art Model's Handbook (ISBN 1442169699 on Amazon.com) which explains why nude models are used, how to choose interesting poses, props, security concerns, policies, etc.

A lot of people seem to focus on the nudity as the job requirement.  You hire a mechanic because he knows how to fix your car, not because he is wearing overalls. Nudity is like 'the uniform' of a figure model.

I'm a life model for about 6 art groups in my area, its honestly one of the best things I ever decided to do! I started a year ago, to earn money and just tick it off my 'things i want to do before I die' list :D and i've never really looked back.

From one small first booking, other artists notice you and word gets around and the next thing I knew I was getting bookings from more and more people - and now I get at least 2 jobs a week from it. The money is incredible, and now I have become friends with alot of the artists and it hardly even seems like work! Last night I made £50 for two hours work - plus free tea and coffee which is a nice perk for the breaks!

Sometimes the artists give you the pictures to take home at the end, as they end up with stacks and stacks of life drawings that they have nowhere to keep at home, so thats something to show my grandkids when i'm older!

The first time I did it I was nervous, but they are so professional and friendly and really only care about you as a subject to draw. As long as you can hold still and come up with a few interesting poses then you should do marvellously. They don't care about bodily imperfections or what shape you are - drawing life is all about seeing people in all their different forms, and they like variety.

I seriously could not give a monkeys about getting naked in front of people now! It has become second nature, and I accept my body for what it is. I would seriously recomend giving it a go. I have gained mroe body confidence in these last 10 months from doing this than I have in the last 20 years of my life.