I’m not sure why, but recently I have had a desire to be an artist’s figure model. Maybe it stemmed from my role as Dave in “The Full Monty”. I found that being disrobed in front of a crowd of strangers was truly liberating. I think the process of getting from point a, beginning rehearsals with all sorts of apprehensions about how I would be viewed on stage virtually nude (women aren’t the only ones self conscious about body image) – to point b, joyously doing a strip tease in a g-string before enthused audiences ranging in the hundreds, changed many of my insecurities. I think it was the realization that the hard work and effort that was put into the production truly entertained the audience. The commitment that all of us actors gave to our roles was appreciated. The nudity (or actually semi-nudity; there was lots of smoke and mirrors in that show) was secondary to the quality of the story, the wonderful music and the overall production. This leads me back to wanting to be a figure model.
I had an instinct that modeling for an art class would not be easy. I understand the discipline needed for acting and felt that modeling would take much of the same type of discipline. So I began my endeavor by researching as much as I could through books and web sites. I found some very good information which substantiated my suspicions, both that posing for a session would be taxing and that it would not be easy finding a venue to pose for.
I did two things initially that I felt would maximize my success. The first was to contact every art organization, University offering drawing classes, and art gallery in my local area as well as those within 100 miles. That effort paid off fairly well. One of the Universities replied back, and although they are not offering any life drawing classes this semester, beginning in the fall I’ll be called to pose for sessions. The Atlanta Artist Center replied and I was scheduled for a 3-hour costumed session late February (updates will be in another post). And I was scheduled for a 6-hour session with the Middle Georgia Artist Association in early February. This turned out to be my first session and I was very glad that I did the second thing I felt I needed to maximize success. I practiced.
For three weeks I posed every night working three-minute, ten-minute, and 20-minute poses. I scoured the web for pose sites, found many that were interesting and that I could do, worked out a repertoire to the point where I felt I could do it. Oh, did I mention that this session would be undraped?
Posing for artists for six hours while concentrating on being as still as possible, and focusing on ensuring that the artists would have a productive afternoon takes one’s mind off of being nude in front strangers. In many, many ways it was like acting as a character in a play, as I did playing Dave. The nudity was not the difficult part. Staying still for the same 20-minute pose for the 6-hour duration of the session, with 10-minute breaks between posing, was a workout. The next morning I was, to say the least, sore. It was however, truly rewarding and exhilarating. And I was told by many that I did a very good job, that there wasn’t any indication that the session was the first I had ever done. And that they will use me again during the next session they schedule.
For my first time, it was good one. I realized that preparation and effort always pays off. And that figure modeling is something that I will pursue in my life, now and more thoroughly when I retire. It beats being a Wal-Mart greeter.
