Hi, I have been a nude model for 40 years! Started when I was a poor student and have kept going as I find it really relaxing. A lot of artists say that they prefer bigger models (male & female) and love to work with older ones too. Many younger models are very skinny and they say boring to paint/draw/photograph. They enjoy studying the folds,wrinkles etc it makes for a far more challenging piece of work. 25 years ago I sat for a an oil painting of me nude. It was hung on our then staircase and was quite a talking point with visitors and our cleaner  at the time loved it! I have wanted my wife to sit for a nude drawing for a while as we want to hang it in our lounge over the fireplace. I am 6'3" and 18 stone. My wife is 5'9" and 14 stone, very busty. Now that would be a talking point! I say go for it.

Hello April, I have taken a few pictures using tripod and camera timer. It is not difficult just needs practice. Easy to delete failures, good fun though.

Just a thought. If you look on flicker there are people who post photos of life drawings that they have done. Maybe someone on there would take a commission from a photo that you have taken of yourself.

Hi April,

I am an amateur artist and I love life drawing and painting. I have just completed a 24" x 24" nude portrait of my girlfriend, Rodica, in acrylics. I chose to photograph and then paint a rear view largely because I am not good at achieving a good or flattering likeness in facial portraits. I have participated in many life drawing classes (as student, not model) and so have met and spoken with other artists.

You did ask several questions. I will answer the easiest one first. No, sorry, I don't know anybody near to you in the US that you could contact.

Now to the harder questions. What constitutes a good nude model? This is subjective and depends very much on the artist. I find the fuller figure female form the easiest because of the flowing curves. I find the male physique much harder to draw or paint well. But some artists may prefer  more muscular or slimmer forms for the very reason that these may be more challenging. But I am just not skilled enough to take on unnecessary difficulty.

I think most artists will agree that whether working from life or from a photograph the lighting is very important. We like to capture interesting highlights and shadows. For me, the person and the choice of pose are usually secondary to this interesting use of light, with the exception of a figure, like in my case my girlfriend, whom I find truly inspiring in herself and motivates me to do her justice on canvas even when the lighting may not be all that interesting. This illustrates that the relationship between the artist and the model can sometimes be important.

Working from a photograph is not difficult, but to me it is less engaging than if you have at least sketched from life and/or have had an opportunity to view the model in the flesh from all angles.

The choice of pose is also subjective and is often best agreed between artist and model. I paint because I love the creative process. I do not exhibit my work so it doesn't really matter whether the pose or the setting is unusual or not. The more classical nude poses may be most appropriate for pictures that will be exhibited to strangers, unless you wish to intentionally surprise or shock the viewer. And the same can be said for the choice of background and setting.

I hope you find these comments helpful.

Thank you all for your input and replies.  I will look into many of your suggestions.  🙂  It was really very kind of each of you to share your thoughts on the subject. 
I will have to consider my options and take it from there.  🙂

I've not done any (posed) nude photography (a little natural, people doing activities only which if really can look good if the subject has become unaware of the camera but this is hard to achieve) I don't mean voyeur stuff BTW!!
Not done life drawing either but it's on my to do list.

But my contribution to your question is that I have started to do body painting and now have a bit of experience. I'm not a pro but the biggest thing that I have learnt is that the best results are when there is complete trust and a laid back atmosphere between model and artist. This means that you find the best results by pure instinct. There is no good or bad body shape but if the model is in tune with what you are trying to do it is so much easier and better.
If the model is aware of the light and your relative angle it just works. Constant instructions to move here and there etc are a huge negative.
Have a practice in the mirror and have your husband comment on what's good. Remember were looking for good only, no negatives, feel good, look good.
As the model, think creative and stay open minded. Relax, it's a bit like a dance in your head.

a good photo is not hard to do. its all about the pose. as a photographer it is about looking at the model and working out how best to pose the model. sometimes the model needs more direction than others but, if you have ideas you would like then put them forward. I keep a memory stick with all my photos of people on so I can show poses to people and see what it is that they like. I can then use them as a starting point.
Hope this helps
Steve

why not just get your husband to take a series of photos, indoors, outdoors, dressed, nude, on your own, both of you together,  the options are endless. have a couple of tries, then pick what you like and have it put onto canvas, or enlarged and framed. you can easily get this done online.
we have lots of photos here, and really enjoy taking them, some of my favourites are not posed at all.
we have several around the house, framed and enlarged.