Looking for outside perspective Modeling for my artist son’s project

[anhjnk]

To give context, I'm not upset, angry, or uncomfortable with my son. He's 19, extremely professional about his art, and it's a serious passion/side gig for him. He's painted me a couple of times over the years, as well as his siblings and other models. Last year he did his first artistic nude painting (with a professional model) and it turned out genuinely amazing. I’m really proud of his talent and work ethic

Yesterday, he pitched his next project to me. It's a 6 to 8 painting series focused on women in their mid 40s, specifically centered around me. He showed me the rough sketches and explained his vision, and honestly, I was really impressed.
Here's the thing he mentioned that 2 or 3 of the pieces in the series would involve partial nudity. He explained the artistic reason behind it, but was also super respectful and immediately told me that if I'm not comfortable with it, there is zero pressure and we don't have to do it. He just asked me to think about it

I talked to my husband about it, and he told me he supports whatever decision I make

I personally don't feel weird or offended by his request because I know the context, I understand his process as an artist, and I trust him completely. But because it's a situation you don't run into every day, I wanted to post here and get some neutral, outside thoughts.

Can't he hire a similar age model?

Your son wants you to model for him, nude?? Err no.

Ew no. I’ve done plenty of life drawing over the years and have contemplated life modelling too. There’s no way on earth I’d model for one of my DCs though. If you’re comfortable being naked in front of your adult DCs anyway it’s a different matter, but my family is very much ‘bathroom door closed’ and wrap up in a towel after a shower. My DCs may well have seen me in a state of undress as children, but I have no desire for them to see me nude as an adult!

I'm an artist. If everyone involved is happy with it, it's fine. No matter what any outsiders say or think.

See Lucian Freud's nudes of his daughters. Etc.

I would say no. I have done a tiny bit of nude modelling for art classes and that's fine, its professional, you get paid etc etc. I wouldn't feel the same if the artist was a relative. He could get a similar age/ build of model to you

Painting nudes is one thing.
Painting your mother nude is not the same thing at all.

Absolutely not.

I’m sorry but no matter how professional an artist he is, and he’s not he’s a teenage lad dabbling, there is no way he should be asking you for nudity,

As with most things that are legal in life, it's fine if you want to do it and nobody else's business.

Weirder to start a Mumsnet thread about it though, why did you do that?

Lucian Freud famously painted his daughter naked which has always struck me a really creepy. Unfortunately this is giving me similar vibes. He needs to have a rethink.

Weird

How will you feel if this goes up in a gallery or exhibition?

Do you have modeling release contracts or the equivalent?

I did modeling for a bf, painting and sculpture, but I personally would not do partial nudity for a relative, and definitely not a son or daughter.

Have done a lot of life drawing and also been a mature model for classes, some of which included my DD. If you are both comfortable, then absolutely go ahead.

Beyond weird

Haha ultimate dig there… well done. I’m certain he could find a woman who looks a bit like you and live out his Freudian fantasies that way.

This isn't a thing to ask other people's opinion about because it's such a personal thing. Lots of people are going to find such a thing really fucking weird.

But... If you are comfortable doing it, then that's fine.

If you aren't, then just say no.

Eww no

How do you feel about it?
For me it would be a no.
It seems a 40 plus model could meet his requirements for this porject,why does it have to be his mother? What does using his mother rather than a model bring to this project?

Doesn't it depend alot on what"limited nudity" is? If it's topless from the back that's one thing, full frontal legs splayed a different matter entirely!!

Generally a bit odd that he wants to focus his whole project on his semi naked mum?

I'm not sure it's that normal for a man to want to see their mum nude.

Can't he just use professional artists models?

I've done artists modelling before and you need to be very still for hours. It's not very fun!

What's his vision anyway?

For me a 19 year old man doing a series on women in their 40s is pretty fucking patronising. That's before you get to the nudity. Of his mum. Perhaps an explanation of his artistic vision will change my mind?

What is the essential theme he’s trying to convey that cannot be achieved unless he paints his mum half naked?

No thank you!

I wouldn’t be comfortable with it at all and would think it highly inappropriate but I’m guessing it might depend on what exactly the partial nudity means.

Is this your first post on MN?

It’s the human form, what’s the big deal?