Nude Modeling for Art

I was just wondering what the general public thought about doing nude modeling for college art classes. Until I find a job, i could really use some extra money. 

Do you all consider this a crass, whorish thing to do? In my mind, it's not a big deal.  But I just wanted some input.

ihey coffincritter

the letter said   "you should be ashamed of yourself.......and at your age!!!"

the phone call was like     "you make me sick!!!!!   asking people to send you their drty underwear"

the context:

i had placed a small ad in one of the big city's alternate weeklies (they do a lot on the arts)...not surprisingly, it did get the attention of some people in the media and the result was that two tv networks, one radio station, our weekly newspaper and one regional daily newspaper come to the house for interviews and the exposes were aired and printed (one tv network preceded the clip with an "adult content" warning)

two direct negative reactions in that context, to me, are negligible.

the concept was less "scandalous than it may appear: i was intrigued by the way we look at that very last piece of fabric that stands between the clothed us and the naked us.

but, as with all news, yesterday's news must make room for today's and so on......so the contributions trickled and then came to a halt....i still have the submissions, but, like i said, the artistic significance is in the number.

you are right about the "male/female......female/male(??) thing

i do believe that men and women are hardwired differently in so many different ways, but certainly sexually.

sex and the city....i thought, gave us a glimpse into the way women look at men and sex......then i got to thinking: maybe these are programs written by men to let us believe what women are feeling and thinking about all this

catch you later,

edo

When I was an art student in the 1960s, Life class was required.  I learned more about drawing than in any other class.  None of my male classmates said anything about any sexual feelings towards female models.  We female students did not feel uncomfortable in the least when drawing male nudes.  We respected all our models because they knew how to hold a pose and knew what the instructor was trying to get across to us in that particular exercise.  They understood how hard we would have to work to become skilled.

There is no shame in this work.  The hardest thing you will need to learn is to hold the pose.  If you gradually turn or shift while being drawn it will effect the work of the artists.

Original Post by stormywillow:

ihey coffincritter

the letter said   "you should be ashamed of yourself.......and at your age!!!"

the phone call was like     "you make me sick!!!!!   asking people to send you their drty underwear"

the context:

i had placed a small ad in one of the big city's alternate weeklies (they do a lot on the arts)...not surprisingly, it did get the attention of some people in the media and the result was that two tv networks, one radio station, our weekly newspaper and one regional daily newspaper come to the house for interviews and the exposes were aired and printed (one tv network preceded the clip with an "adult content" warning)

two direct negative reactions in that context, to me, are negligible.

the concept was less "scandalous than it may appear: i was intrigued by the way we look at that very last piece of fabric that stands between the clothed us and the naked us.

but, as with all news, yesterday's news must make room for today's and so on......so the contributions trickled and then came to a halt....i still have the submissions, but, like i said, the artistic significance is in the number.

you are right about the "male/female......female/male(??) thing

i do believe that men and women are hardwired differently in so many different ways, but certainly sexually.

sex and the city....i thought, gave us a glimpse into the way women look at men and sex......then i got to thinking: maybe these are programs written by men to let us believe what women are feeling and thinking about all this

catch you later,

edo

See, letters like that are just silly to me. If they don't like the idea, they don't have to send in underwear. End of story (or at least it should be end of story, but it seldom is, is it?)

Sex and The City was written by a combination of men and women I believe. One of the women who lives in my bassist's building was a writer for it, we see her in the hall sometimes taking her dogs out. Like with anything else, I'd say no one thing will be a blanket reveal for what all women everywhere think and want. I'm a woman and I was often perplexed by the behaviors of the women in Sex & The City (particularly Miranda and Charlotte, for different reasons). I also never quite got what the (no pun intended) big deal was about Mr. Big, since he had virtually no character development through the whole series--what was there to like or even dislike? 

hi claire,

there is very little i can add to the stuff i have already posted in this conversation, except to say that much, if not all of it, is based on  a whole range of first-hand experiences, observations, and of course the inevitable conclusions and always questions, like, the young fellow who was ticked off because he was asked to enter the room from another doorway because the usual one opened to the outside, letting in plenty of cold air (winter here in alberta!!) : was this evidence of his disdain for models, or was he by nature (and nurture) a self-absorbed individual?

as much as we might dislike others drawing general conclusions, there come moments we must do so....statistics 101.

the medical profession treats and cures a whole bunch of ailments based on statistical experiences.

for more in-depth insight in the trials and tribulations, may i respectfully suggest you read my blog.

coffincritter,

you have a band? what sort of music? and what's your instrument? i don't play, except banging on some drums, but i love music

edo

to be politically correct.....

the model is naked; the drawing, or painting of a person posing naked is called a nude because that sounds so pure, so innocent, so non-sexual, and above all, so non-threatening.

I did it when I was in college.   After the 1st time, it was an easy $40.  That 1st time was awkward, I admit.  Talk to the instructor so you know what to expect and bring a robe or oversized Tshirt with you, which you will not remove until the very last minute, and it will be handy if the class takes a break. 

And don't look at the sketches if you are sensitive about your body.   Some of the students won't be real good with proportions.

Kay

kay,

as an artist as well as a model, i found it most interesting to look at the students' artwork.....

i thought it was cute when they apologized for "insulting" me with drawings they felt were quite bad and not "true-to-life"

i always made a point of putting them at ease about that.

and i would not be true to my point of view stated elsewhere here, if i did not mention that i also was quite interested in how the students did in rendering the male genitals...from a psychological perspective that was quite interesting and revealing and gave me lots to ponder.

and finally, i made a point of checking to see where the talent was: those students were presented with the more interesting "pose points-of-view"in subsequent poses and sessions