People pose for a lot of different reasons the main ones being the experience, the historical record and wanting to support art. Modeling nude is new exciting experience for some people, especially if you've never done it before. Thanks to movies like Titanic it seems much more glamorous then it is. By modeling nude you certainly have one interesting story to tell the grandkids.An advantage of oil paintings if stored properly can last over 2 thousand years, meaning that after you are long and gone and your photos have faded away there will be a record of your presence. Also, hopefully they as a subject will continue the artistic dialogue that is happening through the centuries.
Many people are aware of the artistic tradition of the nude and want to be part of that tradition. They are usually lovers of art and want to be part of the process.
Also a lot of people out there just don't mind being naked and want to be helpful.
Do you only work with females/attractive/hefty people?
I'm happy to work with any gender, appearance or age (+18) person that is willing to model. My preference is unique expressive bodies that seem to have good stories. I would love to work with a 80 year old grandmother that has birth 8 kids.
Do I have to be totally naked to model for you?
This question is often rephrased as, "Can I just wear a bra and panties?" The honest answer is "maybe". Wearing underwear is actually more sexually charged then wearing nothing at all. Everyone is initially skeptical of this, but have you heard the
story about the 2 ladies that were in the nudist resort that weren't getting enough attention? They started wearing panties and all of the sudden they were swamped with attention, until the resort had to pass a rule forbidding clothing. Well painting is the same way, if your naked there is no mystery left. Paintings with underwear clad people just seem less honest.
I used to say "No underwear, NUDE or NOTHING." But I was turning away lots of interested potential models, so I tried something new saying, "If you want to model in underwear that is fine, but you have to have the intention to model nude, if you feel comfortable please remove your clothing during the session." And do you know what, about 95% of people after about 10 minutes of sitting around in their underwear did feel comfortable enough to go naked.
So what is the standard nude modeling session for you?
Each of my paintings take about 40-100 hrs to complete so, I can't have models there the whole time, I'm used to working off pictures. Normally I would start the session with some short gesture studies in which the model strikes a pose for a minute or to while I do short loose drawings. This warms everyone up and allows me to see the model's range of motions. After that we may do some longer poses for detailed drawings, or we may chose poses together to take pictures of to base paintings off of in the future.
Will standing around naked feel weird/strange/sexual?
Maybe at first. Most of the models that I work with are first time models and they report it feeling very natural after the strangeness wears off in the first few minutes. The most common complaint is stiffness or being bored. It helps when modeling to be in good physical shape and to have an active inner life.
I don't think that I can be still for that long?
Modeling is athletic work, and speaking from experience models defiantly earn their pay. Models are sharing something with artists and as a whole artists are very thankful for their work. Most artists have an understanding of the limitations of the models, especially first time models. A good model moderator will schedule frequent breaks for the model, and most artists will take small movements on the models part for granted. Artists also expect models to know their limits and to stop if a pose becomes too difficult.
Will anyone touch me?
No, in standard modeling group artists will go to some length not to violate the model's personal space. When I was studying in Israel they were a little freer to go up to the model and adjust an arm back to exactly where it was before a break. Frankly, after 5 minutes of "no, no okay stop, back tilt your head to the left, and push up your arm more", I've wished that someone would come up and put my arm where it needed to go.
What would my mom do if she found out?
I have no idea what your mom would do if she found out, but she will not find out from me. I am as discrete as you want me to be. Some people want the exposure and appreciate links from this web-site to theirs, one person even stipulated that any painting title using her image include her name in the title. Others what it to be completely secret that they ever have modeled, it's all up to the model.
Could you draw me with this cool sword over my head, and flexing my muscles?
Acch! No, No, NO... If you've noticed my figures are not necessarily looking their best. I tend to make my models look older, heavier and slightly evil/melancholy. If you want an image that is sycophant go to a glamour photo place. I am more likely to do a picture of you frying bacon then welding a sword.
What happens if I get aroused, start my period?
Nothing, you might be given a chance to take care of it depending on the moderator. Your not going to shock anybody, at least I hope not. However, I want to emphasis that nude modeling is much more professional then it is made out to be in the popular media, and arousal almost never happens. I've modeled and draw from models and modeled for many years, and I've seen one-half an erection, and experienced none. I have noticed strings coming out of a few models but it is no big deal.
Can I bring someone along with me?
Sure, bring anyone you would feel comfortable with. I've worked at the beach I'm used to being watched while I work. Tell them to bring a book usually it's not that interesting.
What type of makeup should I bring?
For most of my work (except fashion) I would say none. However, there are lots of people that can't stand to be without, for them I would say light amounts in natural colors.
How much do you pay?
It really varies depending what type of session we are doing and your level of experience. I've paid with prints of the session, an electronic prints on a CD, setting up simple modeling sites, drawings, paintings, and money. Many models out there are used to working with commercial photographers that latter go sell the prints to magazines and pay $200.00 an hour, while a lot of universities pay their nude models $8.00 an hour.
Doesn't your skin need to breath?
I've talked to a lot of people that have very strange ideas about human skin, such as we will die if we have it all covered up it needs to "breath". Humans are not amphibians, we do not breath with our skin we breath with our mouths. Will it would not be good to leave body paint on for days and days, because of oil and dirt buildup it is perfectly fine to completely cover your body with paint.
What kind of paints do you use?
I use cheap acrylics like the kind you can find in the craft store. It has a pretty good coverage and it's pretty durable. There is some breakage in extremely moveable areas like the neck and elbows. If you want to get very serious about durability there are some very expensive alternative paints and creams on the market.
Doesn't it tickle?
It depends on your sensitivity, and where it's being applied. The large majority of people I've worked with find it very soothing and relaxing. I've had people go into a light doze when I was painting them, and I hated to wake them to have them turn over.
How long does it take?
Your skin is your largest organ. The average human has 18 square feet of skin. If that was just a flat panel that would take a while to cover, once you factor in the curves and creases of a human it adds more time. I can finish a full bodypainting in 3-4 hours but that is rushing it, I prefer to estimate 5 hours.
What's the weirdest thing that you've painted on someone?
A cable stay bridge
What's the weirdest place that you've painted?
What's the weirdest place on the human body?