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Life Model Questions

61 replies

JL690 · 21/11/2023 12:08

A friend came to visit last night and when we were chatting she accidently-on-purpose let slip that she had done a life model session for a local art club last week. I don't know why, but I went red with embarrassment, and she found that hilarious.

Of course I had lots of questions about how many people were there, male/female mix, did she feel embarrassed and uncomfortable etc. I was surprised when she said that there were 8 women and only one man, and that she felt more uncomfortable with stiffness towards the end of the longer poses than being naked in front of other people. Then I went red again when she said the club was looking for more female models and suggested I should try it. I told her no way, but it's been at the back of my mind this morning to say why not and try it.

Has anyone here done it? What are the things to avoid or make sure are done during a session? My friend said she enjoyed it but is it always as good as she portrayed it?

OP posts:
EBearhug · 30/11/2023 11:11

I wish you warmth!

toycat · 30/11/2023 11:52

It'll be cold but they should have a heater on!

I modelled at a few sessions when I was pregnant, was fun and made £150 at each session for 1.5-2 hours. I often go to sessions to draw anyways so am used to how folks observe the person they're drawing. Would do it again but probably wouldn't make as much, less of a USP! 😁

Hope you have a good night

JL690 · 30/11/2023 12:05

@toycat I'm not getting anywhere near that rate and I don't think I'll be getting pregnant just to earn that amount either 😂 I can't imagine it being even minimally comfortable at all. How far along were you?

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SmokeyToo · 30/11/2023 12:29

Fascinating thread, OP! Dying to hear how your debut went.

toycat · 30/11/2023 12:41

I think I was about 7 months? I basically contacted a few places asking if they'd be interested - had to turn a few down as had a good few offers!

JL690 · 30/11/2023 13:20

@toycat That's interesting, I had never thought about it until my friend suggested it last week. It's very much a "why not" thing to see how it goes.

@SmokeyToo I will update the thread with how it goes.

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JL690 · 30/11/2023 23:46

So, my first thoughts on how it went tonight.
The art cub was very nice, the organiser met me and showed me where I would be posing and explained how the session would run. She'd already done that in an email but it was good to go through it again tonight. And they had heaters on both sides of the stage 😀The artists were arriving during that time and said hello then got set up. I went to change, as they called it, undress is what I called it lol, and put on my dressing gown. So far so good.

I spent about 5 minutes waiting for all of them to get set up and we chatted quite naturally all that time about nothing much. I guess they knew I was a nervous first timer. The organiser called for time to start and that was the moment of truth, so to speak. So I took off my dressing gown and got into the first pose I had practiced, avoiding eye contact with everyone and it seemed like no time at all and the organiser called time on it. It was a 5 minute pose but it felt like 2 minutes. My heart was really thumping for a while but everyone just got on with drawing like it was no big thing and that helped to settle me.

They seemed quite happy with the short poses and then came the two longer poses. One was before the tea break. Yes, artists have tea breaks! It was the 30 minute pose. I did get a bit of cramp and tried to subtly move a wee bit but no-one said anything so maybe they were making allowances for a first timer. At the break they said they had not noticed any movement! Beginners luck?

@EBearhug that was when I saw one artist had concentrated on my knees, the rest had drawn all of me. It was really interesting to see how they saw me. Safe to say, my face was not in any drawing 😀.

The long pose after the break was almost an hour and that was when I felt most exposed. I was lying on my back at an angle to most of the artists, they were on my left and my right leg was drawn towards my body, knee high and foot about level with my left knee. I say exposed because the artists were in a semi-circle and perhaps two were looking directly upwards from my feet, but I could hardly change position after I realised that. I was just a shape with interesting lighting after all! The things that go through your mind in these situations, honestly! It was a relaxing pose and almost too easy to fall asleep tbh!

So, when the drawing time was over and I got dressed, the organiser asked if I would like to be a model for them again! And I said yes. Next time is to be arranged 😂I feel quite proud I went through with it and a sense of disbelief they asked me back. Wow!

And I didn't realise how much I wrote here, oops!

OP posts:
EBearhug · 01/12/2023 00:13

I'm so glad it went well!

toycat · 01/12/2023 08:05

Brilliant! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

Dustyblue · 01/12/2023 08:57

Thanks for the update!

My 1st reaction to your post was that lying on my back, as you describe, might've left me feeling a bit concerned. However your next description of the situation shows it's all about the art, essentially.

Taa again for updating & pleased you enjoyed it. I will show this to my friend, she'll enjoy hearing your experience I'm sure!

JL690 · 01/12/2023 10:04

@Dustyblue yes, I was only thinking about how the long pose would look for the artists. My friend said that lying fully side on would not be that interesting, so I was lying sort of diagonally with my feet nearest the artists.
It was really interesting to see how other people saw me. They were all different and none matched my own impression 😆

OP posts:
JL690 · 05/12/2023 15:14

My next time has come round quicker than expected. The club organiser emailed to see if I could do a session for another group that the model can't do now, so I'm booked in for tomorrow evening 😀

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MalamuteDad · 09/02/2024 03:27

Have been to life drawing class, only to discover that my drawing skills were crap. I felt worried that I was obviously clueless whilst the other attendees were so talented and that it would look that I was there just ogle a model. That made me feel embarrassed, but if I'm honest, it left me thinking about contributing as a model myself. I think I do want to test myself to do it out of a sense of self development. Scary, but it's in my head like a song or jingle that you just can't shake. I do have the utmost regard for the models though.

Elleherd · 09/02/2024 07:47

People build up a lot of odd incorrect worries in their heads both about life drawing and artistic ability.
As many pp's have said from the perspective of those drawing, the model is a set of shaded and light lit planes.

Others attending are just competitors for good spaces, and they aren't going to be thinking only already technically accomplished people should be there.
Even if noticed, they will have accepted you as at the earlier stages of development just as they previously were.
Everybody's drawing skills are fairly 'crap' until they have put in lots of practice. Draw every day even if it's only for five minutes, and don't forget while it has its limitations, you can use yourself and a mirror as an entirely life free model.
The advice to you as a would be model is exactly the same as given further up, practice holding a pose and being still.

JL690 · 09/02/2024 10:34

@MalamuteDad I can recommend having a go at modelling, it really has improved my body image and it was only the first few minutes after disrobing that felt different. I've done three sessions now and don't get nervous about being naked any more, the focus is mostly on keeping the pose. The artists are always respectful and appreciate my efforts as their model, as I expect they are with every model.

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MalamuteDad · 09/02/2024 14:55

@JL690 thanks, I do really want to do it, if only to get it out of my system. I hope if I do it that is gives me confidence as I'm not body confident. I have medical scars to sternum and leg and a cheeky Apadravya genital piercing.

JL690 · 09/02/2024 15:08

@MalamuteDad Go for it. The artists who I model for like to see variety, they are not after "perfect" bodies. I'm not sure how to find the artists except by googling art clubs, or by word of mouth.

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MalamuteDad · 09/02/2024 21:30

@JL690 do they tell you when to do another pose? Do they offer props, Luke canes etc? Lol, you got me thinking...

JL690 · 10/02/2024 22:46

My club has someone who watches the clock and I do too when in a position that I can see it. They have seats, stools and things like that I ask for when I need them.

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MalamuteDad · 10/02/2024 22:55

I've given my details to a few clubs and will have a go if invited to. Where I live (S Wales, UK) not so many different clubs. I wish it was possible to go have a go and either get this out of my system or get addicted! I imagine it will happen one day, right out of the blue.

Runningwildish · 10/02/2024 22:57

I draw life models Id say ,
wear a dressing gown until you are actually working,
get changed in the loos or behind a screen if they have one,
If you are cold say so It's usually possible to do something about the temperature
Sit on your dressing gown if their seating looks grubby
discuss in advance positions and what you can and can't do eg Back problems
Wear knickers if your period, if you want let them know in advance
as a painter I'd also ensure that voyeurs can't peep into the room
Dont allow photos without your express permission and ask to see them before you ok them

Runningwildish · 10/02/2024 23:02

Also a body with a few wrinkles out rolls of fat is more interesting to draw.
Sometimes in advance ill ask a model to wear their own clothes, eg a summer dress or gardening clothes or rainwear

MalamuteDad · 11/02/2024 03:59

Thanks for your advice, though I am male.. see earlier post. Well I feel better as no gym bunny and have some medical scars and a genital piercing.

Runningwildish · 11/02/2024 09:40

The above applies to men and women, apart from the bit about periods
Som male models seem to get a kick out of it, they don't get rebooked

JL690 · 11/02/2024 13:46

@Runningwildish do you meet models before they pose for the first time to make sure they are genuine?

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