Wednesday 5 November 2003

Male + Artist + Pose + Model + Etiquette

Based on the above search that found my blogsite I would like to offer the following:-
Harriet's Guide to Etiquette for the Male Artist Model

  • An interesting pose requires you not to distribute the weight evenly through the body. It helps to lean on one hip or the other. Never do the same thing with both your arms. (this applies to female models as well).

  • Make sure you are washed - you will be naked after all.

  • Bring something to throw on between poses, especially for the breaks. A lightweight robe is excellent for this purpose. It is very disconcerting for the students if you to stand around naked while talking to them.

  • Try not to catch the eye of those who are drawing you, especially if they have a full frontal view of you.

  • (This is a personal preference of mine) Don't shave your pubes, especially if you have a really hairy chest and belly. Contrary to popular belief it doesn't make your willy look longer but it does make you look strange. And if you do it because you are a nudist - don't you think that goes against the grain of naturalism - your pubes are natural and a part of your human make up.

  • If you are sexually aroused by being naked infront of other people or by exhibitionism in any way, this is not the occupation for you, nobody likes a model with a stiffy, especially the art tutor (who may never hire you again). Generally they don't even like the murmurings of a stiffy (I am ususally impressed that men who do suffer from rude awakenings in the nether regions because a) they are often not embarrassed, and b) considering that it is frequently cold in the studio amazed at any action at all.

  • Just for the record - we like to draw finely cut bodies (in the muscle development sense of the phrase), but we also like to draw overweight people, the obese, odd looking, old people, tall or short, dancers, martial artists, builders, in fact anybody who can do something interesting and stretch their form in some way. We prefer not to draw people who are bored and lacking in concentration.

So go forth, be bold and make like a statue.

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