sitting pretty
For 3 years I was an art model for schools all over Sydney. Many people ask me how did I get into it? The answer is I rang around a few art schools to let them know I was interested in learning how to become a life model. From there I attended a few sketch clubs as an observer and in the following weeks I was invited to sit in front of the class as a model.
After I modeled at a few places I felt confident to approach other art schools. I modeled at a number of interesting places like NIDA and National Art School. I also occasionally modeled at sketch clubs like the Arthouse Hotel in the city. I modeled for daytime classes and evening classes.
The two most important qualities for being a good model is reliability and professionalism. Teachers really hate it when models cancel a booking at the last minute or worse, don’t show up. They also told me they dislike models who behave unprofessionally (eg coming back very late from breaks). A good model is essential to the teaching process, especially since students are paying course fees and expect a quality lesson. So teachers will often only book models they know they can rely on.
When I use to tell people I am a life model they were very surprised and intrigued. They wanted to know if I got shy or embarrassed about getting nude in front of a group of strangers. To be honest, the first time I modeled I was petrified and concentrated really hard on not losing my cool. Since then I’ve learned to relax and realise that in an artistic environment being nude and natural is the norm. Nobody is paying attention to the fact that I am nude, but moreso on creating a good drawing.
Being a life model can be relaxing, rewarding, creative and fun, but it also requires an incredible amount of stamina to hold poses and not get bored. I’ve fallen asleep many times while I’ve been posing, because when you are sitting or lying still there really isn’t all that much to do! On a good day I did a lot of stretching before and during class to keep myself feeling energised and fresh.
If you want to be a life model, the best place to start is from the point of view of the artist. Attend a few sketch clubs with a sketch pad and observe what the model does. Take note of the poses they do. If you are still keen and confident that you can be a life model, let the coordinator of that sketch group know that you want to be a model, and how and when they can contact you. I would also advise against offering to work for free (I think it’s more professional to expect paid work and keep a high standard for models in general). Also, be respectful of models while they are working and don’t insist on trying out to be the model unless you are specifically invited by the model and the teacher. I’ve had people try to share the modeling space with me and I find it encroaching and makes me feel uncomfortable. You wouldn’t like it if someone insisted on sharing your job so don’t insist on sharing theirs.
Finally, when it comes to choosing poses, start off with the ones you can know you can hold. Poses range from a few seconds to a few hours, with breaks every 20 or 30 minutes. If you want some inspiration, visit an art gallery or investigate the figurative work of your favourite artists (I personally love Degas, Van Gogh and Rodin).
Enjoy.