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THE WORLD OF NUDE MODELING
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Could you do it? Could you walk into a room of 40 people, take off your robe and let all of those people see, you know, everything? Could you stand there for two or three hours while they studied your every nook, cranny and crevice?
Stripped naked and scrutinized for hours by a room full of strangers. Welcome to the world of the life model.
For anybody suffering from a poor body image the idea of standing naked and being scrutinized by a classroom full of school boys would be the ultimate in harrowing nightmares.
The role of artist's model has a troubled history. Modeling for Pablo Picasso (which also included being his lover) tended to lead to breakdown or suicide. When Pierre Bonnard dropped one model for another, the first one killed herself. He married the next one, but he painted her lying in the bathtub so often, she must have turned into a prune. As an old man, Henri Matisse started painting his wife's young nurse. His wife got jealous and tried to get rid of the nurse, who promptly shot herself (although not fatally). Madame Matisse ended up leaving and the young model staying. Edward Hopper's wife, Jo, was the model for every female in all his paintings. This was too intense. He often slapped her around, and she retaliated by biting him.
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The lives and experiences of nude models hired to pose for students at university art departments are not as dramatic as those of their famous counterparts, but they all share in common a strong appreciation for artists and a similar goal share a similar goal - to participate in the promotion of the arts.
Practically every college and university in Southern California, whose curriculum we examined, has an art program and advertises for “life drawing” models. Few of the models that we interviewed think of themselves as “nudists” nor have they ever belonged to any naturist organization. Typically they are art students themselves, or friends of art students. A typical art department has about 10 models who are used in rotation so that artists can see a wide range of different ages and body types. "We want students to experience all of it - young and old, thick and thin, male and female," said Brad Loudenback, a Webster University associate professor. “The class is important for all art students because they must learn to understand the structure beneath before they can draw people with clothes on.” Observation must come first, he said, and then students can draw the person they saw in the coffee shop or have their friends pose for portraits. He said some art students may feel awkward when asked to draw a naked body for the first time, but few freshmen show any outward signs of discomfort. Below are a representative sample of models and their experiences as being the object of attention in a life drawing class: Emily Yoffe, Boston University I recently spent two classes as a model at Washington, D.C.'s, Corcoran College of Art and Design. This was an activity that perfectly fulfilled the Human Guinea Pig mandate: to humiliate myself doing things normal people are curious about but too normal to do themselves. I was given a list of guidelines, which included my right to ask that the heat be turned up and my obligation to "use proper hygiene at all times." I would be paid $15 an hour, almost three times the minimum wage – just to sit on your rump. On the appointed night I arrived early. I changed into my bathrobe in the restroom and waited in class while the students arrived. I was relieved to see they were almost all women between the ages of 20 and 60. I walked onto a platform in the middle of the room, and the students stood around me in a semicircle. The instructor told me to start with 10 one-minute poses. I asked if she had any particular poses in mind. She shook her head, "I never tell models what to do." Here is the distinction between naked and nude. Naked is when you step out of the shower before you've put on your bathrobe. Nude is when you drop your bathrobe in front of a roomful of art students. As I undid the sash to my bathrobe, I had the fleeting thought that I could say, "I don't know what I was thinking," then grab my clothes and run. But I opened the sash, took off my robe, and stepped up on the platform. I stood there, suppressing a strong desire to giggle. An hour into my first class as a nude art model, the instructor told me to get into a pose I could hold for 20 minutes. One of the rules was that I was not to comment on the students' work unless asked. At the break I looked at the portraits. It was flattering to be the object of so much attention. The drawings were wonderfully varied. The young man in front me did a light pencil sketch, while the young woman next to him created a chiaroscuro of my torso. I posed for classes off and on for about two years before other priorities intervened. Despite my initial fears I enjoyed the experience very much.
Catherine Kustelski Kustelski, 35, majored in English while in college and has since traveled all over the United States. She chose to live in St. Louis because of the art community. She has been figure modeling for about six years, but her first figure modeling experience wasn't a professional one. While living in Louisville, Ky., she and a group of women used to get together every Saturday. Since they were all artists who didn't have the resources to take more classes, they decided to draw straws to see who would pose for figure modeling - and Kustelski got the short straw. All of the women were very supportive, she said, because they could've been up there instead of her. During a trip to New Mexico, she met a woman who taught figure drawing and modeled for her. She began modeling at Washington University in 2000. She is now a full-time figure model, scheduling sessions at many area universities and colleges. Kustelski said she loves working with artists and art teachers and being a part of the college community. She loves inspiring artists. She uses her knowledge of dance and visual art to come up with interesting poses. Kustelski said she views her body as a good example of a figure for artists. She hopes other women can see how comfortable she is with her body and follow her example. "If a woman in class is looking at me and sees how comfortable I am with my body, maybe they can be comfortable with their's," Kustelski said. She said while her body isn't perfect, no one's body is.
Bruce Williams Bruce Williams celebrated his 52nd birthday this month, but his nudist beliefs are as strong now as they were back in college. Williams was one of the original University of Missouri-Columbia streakers during the 1970s and he graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism. In Austin, Texas, he was part of a nudist group. Taking the next step to figure modeling was a natural decision for Williams. "Since I followed a nudist philosophy, I didn't have a problem being nude in front of artists," Williams said. Despite his nudist philosophy, Williams said it is human to be a little self-conscious. Most people prefer to draw female figure models, because they are curvy and more marketable. Flaws are often more noticeable on the male body, he said. In addition, many people are close-minded when it comes to the naked body in general. Williams said few people understand the effort required to figure model, as well. It takes time and energy. He is a perfectionist with his poses, so he tries his best not to move. Some poses require him to twist his body or to extend muscles in a certain way. Williams said he has posed in a handstand for 45 minutes before. In order to maintain these poses, Williams said he turns inward and meditates, utilizing his knowledge of yoga. Williams says he enjoys the flexible hours of figure modeling, and the pay of $10 to $14 an hour is decent.
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Julie Wheat
Wheat, 29, is a full-time figure model who first tried figure modeling because she wanted to know what it was like to be the subject instead of the artist.
Wheat was voted most hyper in high school, so her family was more than a little shocked when they learned she had taken a job where she had to be quiet for two to three hours. Wheat said she was very nervous the first time until she took off her robe. After that, it wasn't a problem for her, she said. She didn't care what people were thinking about her.
"If people want to scrutinize me for the way I look, it's not that big of a deal," Wheat said. "If they got a problem with me, they don't have to draw me."
Wheat said she didn't always have high self-esteem. In high school, she wouldn't leave the house unless her hair was perfect. Now she doesn't care, even though more people are looking at her. She said people realize things about themselves as they get older and self-esteem gets better as people age. Including weekends, she works about 50 hours a week.
She has become accustomed to seeing others' drawings and paintings of her, but she remembers how surreal it was when she first started. Wheat said she received a 360-degree perspective of herself that she had never seen before. Now she doesn't bother to look at the artists' work unless she just completed an interesting pose.
She said some people assume that figure models like to dress with a "stripper look," but this isn't true. Others assume being a figure model is an easy job, but Wheat said it is very physically taxing. She has training as a dancer and in yoga, but some of the poses are still difficult.
Rosemarie Orwin
For Rosemarie Orwin this extreme form of personal therapy has not only proved to be a confidence booster but has turned out to be a nice little earner as well. Rosemarie, a former manager at WH Smith in Swindon, found she just couldn't bear office work anymore and decided it was time to bare all instead. So, a year ago, she decided to become a life model.
“I had a friend who used to model at Newbury College," says Rosemarie. “She said she really enjoyed it and said it was easy. I've never had any confidence in my body and thought, well, it's a bit extreme, but I'll give it a go."
Rosemarie's debut class in the buff turned out to be a group of 40 year old art buffs from Oxford:
"It was very nerve racking because I'd never been in front of a group of strangers with my clothes off before. And of course they're standing behind their easels measuring you and pencils are coming out at you.”
"But literally after I'd finished, I came out and punched the air with complete euphoria saying, ‘'I did it, I did it’.”
Despite not being the quintessential voluptuous, big breasted muse, since taking her clothes off Rosemarie's career has quite literally taken off.
She now poses for art classes, sketching groups, sculptors and photographers all over the south of England. But even as a seasoned model, some classes can still prove to be a bit of a challenge.
"The first boy's school I went to, I didn't realize it was a boy's school, and I actually did blush. I went into the room and the first boy came in, and than another, and than another, and I thought this is obviously a boy's school.”
"I thought 'Calm down, just control yourself, you're old enough to be their mother. Anyway, I just calmed myself down, and it was fine, but I could feel the beads of sweat coming up and it was quite nerve racking."
For life models, stripping off and posing for anything from a few minutes up to an hour without a break, it pays not to get too artistic with your poses.
"You don't know if it's going to be comfortable after 20 minutes, and even now I'll choose a pose quite often that I'll think after 20 minutes 'I really shouldn't have done this one'.
"When I first started, I was obviously very keen to please everybody and do what they wanted. I would sit in a lot of pain without saying anything, and I've almost literally crawled out of the door I've been in so much pain."
And as for trying to keep still, no matter what, for Rosemarie it's all a question of mind over matter.
"Sometimes when you have a really desperate itch and you have to scratch it, you can make yourself believe that it's not itching and it does go away. It's amazing what your mind can do to stop certain bodily functions… shall we say."
But pain, tedium, boredom and chilly drafts aside, are the final artistic results flattering?
"Facially, I would say most of the time, it's not flattering. I look quite gruesome, body wise that varies, but I don't take that as a personal thing.”
And you can see why…
Rosemarie's schedule is filled to the end of May. She has body painting bookings for a corporate event in Reading, is being turned into a range of ornaments for an international ceramics company, and may become a model for a mannequin sculptor. Just in case there's a chance of Rosemarie spending too much time with her clothes on, she's organized a series of life drawing workshops herself, several of which are already sold out.
Rosemarie is sitting pretty in every sense of the word.
“It sounds odd, I know, but I do feel a lot more confident. I don't know why, it’s just the way that’s happened.”
EMAILS IN RESPONSE TO THIS ARTICLE:
Stephanie:
This is so exciting! I plan to do it for sure. I'm a student at San Diego State University. I cannot ignore the sexual excitement of stripping naked in front of an entire class of students. I can hardly wait! It's a combination of fear, embarrassment, and excitement that turns me on.
“Nude Pete:”
Well done! I used to be a nude model at Newbury many years ago, and in the London area. It’s a rewarding thing and the artists are very friendly. I must be one of the most drawn nudes having been a model for over 30 years. I was a RAM member too, but I moved to Spain so had to give up. I now run a nudist club so I am nude all the time. Over the years nature got the better of me sometimes, but no one minded. It becomes an accepted thing nothing to panic over. Carry on - the good work!
Vincent Ravening:
Good article. I was a RAM member in UK, worked for colleges in Reading Have another advert on net now I am in Australia, mainly for requests to do modeling at hen nights Much more than just standing naked, men have to control certain areas and can be hard work but I enjoy the different poses involved, got into it through my naturist group and going into an art class for work It is great to be naked and liberated, wish i had posed with a lady too
“Ed From Oklahoma:”
I have been modeling for many years. I have trained many models. The most important part is don’t look at the artist.
“Dave From NZ:”
As an occasional model in Auckland standing still for long periods can be tiring but enjoyable. I became life model as a result of a dare from a female flatmate who said I would be too shy to try. I also will admit to being a bundle of nerves the first time, but did my 2-hour class without blushing. The ironic thing is I met my present lady in this class who no longer wants me to model nude.
Victoria Lynn:
It's 12:26pm right now, and I decided to be a nude model for my college. I will be modeling tonight from 6pm-10pm. I've never done anything like this before, so naturally I'm nervous, but being that its so out there, I have to do it! I'm doing research on it right now, and coming across your site has helped me in thinking of what I should do if I have an itch and on what to focus on. I'm really, really nervous! :)
Ermenegildo:
I think that Nude Models are special individuals because they truly appreciate art. I myself modeled before, and I think it's not that easy to stand au naturel in front of strangers.
Simon:
As a life model I find nothing disgusting about posing nude. We are all born naked. As a very shy person, taking my clothes off has given me greater confidence. Trying new things like this has kept me on my toes. If showing my nude body helps me to be part of the creative process, then I am all for it.
"Mrs. Wilson:”
Disgusting!!
Dawn:
Thank you for your insight... I am looking into becoming a figure model and appreciate you sharing your experience.
Enrique:
I think that nude modeling is a good thing because it makes you be part of the art process the students are discovering. I model from time to time in South Florida. I admire this art form.
Tim:
I used to life model in my 20's. After initial embarrassment you feel really empowered and liberated. Being completely naked in a room full of clothed people is the ultimate high! Would love to do it again.
Simon:
Showing full-frontal nudity to a crowd of strangers is a strange feeling at first but you soon get used to it. A bare penis is perhaps more disconcerting for the novice artist than for the model!
James Post:
As a life model myself in the Philadelphia area, I have to agree with your article. Every thing you said I have experienced. It was if I had written the article.
Verity Stanley:
I think that the responses here show a common misconception. Modeling is not simply a case of taking your clothes off and standing there, nor is it an easy option for nudists to earn money. When delivered properly, it is a highly specialized and vital part of the artists portfolio. The model is the muse, the catalyst - the inspiration for the work and not a passive "bowl of fruit with a pulse." It is a serious and far from simple career choice that demands dedication to achieve success.
Carroll Peterson:
When in college, I did nude modeling and enjoyed it. I am now a confirmed nudist and started a nudist group in the mostly rural state of South Dakota in the US.
Richard Antony:
Rosemarie is obviously a very talented model to be getting so much work. The difference here seems to be that she has turned it into a successful business. But what a gutsy lady to respond to a situation that normally throws any one out by taking such a bold step, - well done!
Pete:
I started nude modeling last month. I was more nervous the second time because the first time I had no idea what to expect. After that, baby, it became a lot easier!!
Compiled from articles in The Journal, Webster University, The Daily Free Press, Boston University, and an article by Michelle Olyola in The Daily Free Press. Reprinted with permission.
Source for article and emails at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2005/03/08/swindon_life_model_feature.shtml