I am doing my first job as a life model tomorrow for a new art group locally. There's never anything round this area much so when I came across the group leader organising it I asked if he had a model lined up. He hadn't so I offered and he took me up on it.
I've made it clear I don't have experience although I have looked into it in depth so I know what's involved. My biggest issue will be staying still (quite important) because I am a bit of a fidget. So it's going to be a challenge for me.
Nice one, would love to try it myself. Hope you enjoy it
Good for you
I think I would feel claustrophobic.
Antony
Good luck Andy, I started life modelling last March and haven't looked back, a piece of advice, do go for any poses that are too difficult as you will have to hold them for a while, start with something simple that you are comfortable and relaxed with.
G x
Naked is normal
Good luck mate ..let us know how you get on.
Very nice. I hope it goes well for you. Let us know how it goes!
Good luck, hope it goes well; make sure you report back here afterwards ๐
Hope all goes well today.
Chilled
Good luck Andy ! Hope it all goes well !
It's something that is definitely on my bucket list and hope to do it some day. 😀
Sean
Good for you, I'm sure you'll be fine as long as it's warm enough.
I'd be interested to know how it all went.
I'll look forward to reading your report
Mike C
Mike
Well I was looking forward to it. Arrived a few minutes early and sat in the carpark wondering if it was a good idea. But I decided I'd already committed and would be letting people down if I left them with no model.
So as it was the first group meet they met up in a pub first to chat. So I was given a drink and introduced and spent 20 minutes chatting to a bunch of people I never met and who would be studying my every detail very soon. I'm not sure if meeting people first made it easier or not but they were a friendly bunch and good for a laugh.
We moved across to the function room that had been prepared with tables and the heating full up. Cosy. As it was the first meet the organiser went through the aims of the group and a few 'rules'. The pan was do have a few short poses - i.e. 2 minutes to warm up, followed by a couple of longer ones.
As it was, the chatting went on a bit so less time left to draw. So I ended up doing two 10 minute standing poses and a 35 minute seated. I have no apprehension about dropping the robe in front of strangers - my worry was staying still for a long time.
Now I will say to anyone thinking of trying it - it is not relaxing. It is fairly intense and one feels under a lot of pressure to stay in pose for the time. My determination to not let people down by moving or breaking the pose meant I found out how it feels to go through the pain barrier! The 10 minute poses weren't particularly dynamic but they were enough that aches set in. The longer pose, although seated, was a twist and hand on top of a small branch which was digging into my and was quite uncomfortable - until the blood stopped and the hand went a bit numb so that was ok ๐
The most interesting part is walking round between poses and seeing how many variations there are between the styles of the artists and how many different looks I had.
What made it all worthwhile was the round of applause I got at the end and all the artists really were appreciative.
The group organiser has suggested I should go along as an artist next time. Now I am pretty rubbish at drawing but I am very tempted to have a go and it means I could be a stand in model in the event they couldn't get one on a particular day.
All in all - a great experience and I would do it again. But I would suggest anyone thinking of trying it, read up on it and find out whats involved. It's a bit more than getting paid to be naked. It's fun but it's also hard work.
Don't let me put you off though ๐
That was a interesting and detailed description.
Antony
Sounds like an interesting challenge but I don't think I could stay still for that long, although part of me would like to find out if I could I wouldn't like to let anyone down.
Stressed when dressed
Well as this was the first group meet and my first time modelling I offered to do it for free. That way I wouldn't have felt quite so bad if I wasn't able to do anything useful. It turns out they want to pay me now anyway because they were so pleased ๐
Look at meetup.com - you can search for meet up groups in your area and if you search for life drawing and art groups you might be able to find something like I did.