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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Life drawing (boring)

71 replies

JessfromKent · 22/04/2022 20:50

Long story short me and my friends are going away for a long weekend in a countryside villa and they’ve booked ‘life drawing’ for the Villa.

I’m not going to protest (although I’d rather not) but is it me or does it feel very degrading. Somewhat ‘take your clothes off and entertain us for an hour’, nestled in between a film and making cocktails or AIBU

OP posts:
JessfromKent · 22/04/2022 21:57

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2022 21:49

Did the person who booked it specifically request a male model, or just 'a model' and the one who was available happened to be male? Do they also advertise/offer stag/men's night activities with a female model?

It could be entirely innocent, but I'd be slightly concerned that either the company providing this might be using the 'life drawing class' description as a cover for the service they really expect to provide, the person in your group might have other intentions/understandings of what is included - or both.

If it is legitimate, serious learning artistic drawing skills, then it will probably be a great experience for everybody; but if you're expecting it to be 'a giggle', it probably will be awkward and a bit degrading for the model - assuming he is a 100% genuine life drawing model and not a 'model' (wink, wink).

They only offer male models to hen/ladies nights, it must be a demand thing.

i think it’s clear it’s an actual drawing class, led by a tutor but with a combination of the thrill that comes with having a naked man (otherwise we would be drawing fruit bowls).
And model (wink wink), sorry I don’t get you what does that mean?

OP posts:
Northbankwalker · 22/04/2022 22:06

@VaggieMight
it depends on the atmosphere of the group in my experience. If you are reserved it’s probably a waste of money, if you can enjoy the ridiculousness of the occasion then you’ll have more fun.

Sunnytwobridges · 22/04/2022 22:11

parietal · 22/04/2022 21:01

If there is an art teacher and the atmosphere of a proper class, that is great.

If it is a group of ladies giggling at a naked man, not so great

100% Agree. I think it depends. I would like this if it was like the art class I had in school. But with A bunch of giggling, tipsy women who were acting like teens would not be something I'd want to do.

the80sweregreat · 22/04/2022 22:15

I can't draw for toffee, so I think I'd find it embarrassing to be honest.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2022 22:22

i think it’s clear it’s an actual drawing class, led by a tutor but with a combination of the thrill that comes with having a naked man (otherwise we would be drawing fruit bowls).
And model (wink wink), sorry I don’t get you what does that mean?

I mean if it's a cover and the lines between model/stripper/other services offered are blurred. A bit like when men go to see somebody advertised as a 'masseuse' - sometimes they are going for a genuine, professional therapeutic massage, but very often, it's a cover for something much more seedy.

I'm not suggesting that this is necessarily anything as full-on as that at all, but you said it yourself that you/the booker is after a thrill. As I understand it, a genuine artist would be interested in capturing the features of the human body, rather than 'looking for a thrill' - and would be just as likely to be very interested in artistically capturing the bowl of fruit the following week.

It's just that, at one end of the spectrum, you would have a serious art class and at the other end it could be scene-setting for full-on 'adult' services. If, as it sounds, you aren't especially near the former end of the spectrum, I'd probably want to make sure in advance that it's nowhere near the latter end of the spectrum, unless that's what everybody's wanting/expecting, I suppose.

Viviennemary · 22/04/2022 22:32

Life drawing is a serious art form and there are many classes teaching it. Absolutely nothing like a male stripper. The very idea. 😮

JessfromKent · 22/04/2022 22:37

Viviennemary · 22/04/2022 22:32

Life drawing is a serious art form and there are many classes teaching it. Absolutely nothing like a male stripper. The very idea. 😮

I know that but there it’s popular amongst hen dos now and it’s a weekend away with my friends, drink, laughter etc so it’s not just about the art from my friends point of view.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 22/04/2022 22:43

I must say I've not heard of this new trend. It must be quite a recent err form of entertainment!

CrystalCoco · 22/04/2022 22:45

I would imagine it's optional, if you don't want to do it no one will force you

RoyKentsChestHair · 22/04/2022 22:47

If he’s done life modelling before - especially if he’s done it for actual art students as well as hen parties etc - he’ll be totally comfortable with being naked and know that his body is just a vehicle for demonstrating light/shade etc in the same way as a vase or bowl of fruit might be. It’s not degrading, it’s just about translating 3D forms into a 2D medium.

Like others on here I first did life drawing as a 16 year old a level art student. There was nothing remotely sexual about it, the models were all shapes and sizes, the less conventionally attractive they were the more interesting to draw - older skin, fat rolls etc made for a much more interesting art experience! If this model is a buff young man then he’ll be more than well aware that he’ll get some admiring comments etc but with a tutor there, the focus will be on trying to get a recognisable figure drawn not treating him like a stripper!

Pugfostermum · 22/04/2022 22:51

If it’s Hens With Pens the models are paid a far better rate than most classes offer them and most models jump at the opportunity to do these jobs. The class is very informal, so they’re earning well while not having to hold painful poses for a long time.
Quick, easy poses. What’s not to like for the model? Not degrading at all!

JessfromKent · 22/04/2022 22:52

Viviennemary · 22/04/2022 22:43

I must say I've not heard of this new trend. It must be quite a recent err form of entertainment!

I believe it’s taking over having a stripper on hen dos

OP posts:
etulosba · 22/04/2022 22:56

I'd wondered if the model even knows what kind of activity he's been booked for

When I was at art school, the male life model was one of the cleaners. In his 60s.

JessfromKent · 22/04/2022 22:58

Pugfostermum · 22/04/2022 22:51

If it’s Hens With Pens the models are paid a far better rate than most classes offer them and most models jump at the opportunity to do these jobs. The class is very informal, so they’re earning well while not having to hold painful poses for a long time.
Quick, easy poses. What’s not to like for the model? Not degrading at all!

It’s an independent agency as my friends quoted the price of that website and others and they were astronomical. Obviously they’ll have to be fit but I feel this is more of a ‘every so often’ income as opposed to a website like that with very frequent work.

My guilt came from
A) is it degrading having someone stand naked for our entertainment
B) I wouldn’t enjoy my adult son working in that environment

OP posts:
StillWeRise · 22/04/2022 23:04

I've also done life drawing in 6th form and it's not at all something I'd attempt after a few drinks. If there's a tutor then hopefully it will be a proper class. I remember it being challenging and very absorbing and not remotely sexual and really an unlikely activity for a party. I've never been to a hen do so can't comment on that. If flower arranging or pottery were also on offer then it would make sense. But life drawing itself is not at all dodgy!

Northbankwalker · 22/04/2022 23:12

My guilt came from
A) is it degrading having someone stand naked for our entertainment
B) I wouldn’t enjoy my adult son working in that environment

@JessfromKent

it’s not that big an issue. A presumably buff man will get naked for an hour while you draw him with the aid of a tutor, just enjoy it!

Viviennemary · 23/04/2022 11:43

I looked up that hens with pens website. I dont think they will be employing any moonlighting 60 year old male cleaners somehow.

Wilkolampshade · 23/04/2022 13:24

I used to life model for a living straight out of uni.
Not degrading at all and better pay than I could get elsewhere. Worked at grammar schools and sixth forms as well as local poly (as was then)
What WAS degrading was being taken aside into a side room at the dole office - (I scrupulously declared every hour I worked) - and being 'interviewed' by two men pretending to be checking on my hours, when they were clearly getting a leery thrill from it all, asking all sorts of inappropriate questions.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 23/04/2022 13:29

I looked up that hens with pens website

So did I, Vivienne, and I'd say this has no more to do with art than the guys who attend events naked under little aprons have to do with table service

Still, as said at least they almost certainly know what they're letting themselves in for

JessfromKent · 23/04/2022 13:58

Puzzledandpissedoff · 23/04/2022 13:29

I looked up that hens with pens website

So did I, Vivienne, and I'd say this has no more to do with art than the guys who attend events naked under little aprons have to do with table service

Still, as said at least they almost certainly know what they're letting themselves in for

Ok so I’ve enquired more and it’s an independent agency, there is an element of practicing drawing however the primary element is having some laughs and a naked man.

as it’s not as expensive as a formal site like hens with pens the owner uses local ‘fit’ men to pose nude but they won’t be as buff as a hens with pens agency and this certainly won’t be there full time job.

The owner confirmed the models know what to expect so that clarifies that up

OP posts:
YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 23/04/2022 14:05

Right. If it’s anything like the hen party version then someone will be expected to rub baby oil all over him at some point in the session 🙄
Rather you than me any day.

JessfromKent · 23/04/2022 14:06

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 23/04/2022 14:05

Right. If it’s anything like the hen party version then someone will be expected to rub baby oil all over him at some point in the session 🙄
Rather you than me any day.

Please tell me that’s not true.

OP posts:
TabithaTittlemouse · 23/04/2022 14:07

I love life drawing although have never done it on a hen do.

Loopytiles · 23/04/2022 14:22

It’s fine for ordinary art classes, but objectifying for a hen (or stag) do or girls’ get together.

Loopytiles · 23/04/2022 14:23

especially if the model is muscly and conventionally physically attractive.

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