How I did it: My first classroom art modeling experience threw me in for a curve. A few years ago when I was still in college and I decided to life model in order to make some extra cash and I loved art, I figured this was the perfect job for me. So I applied to model at a different college other than my own since they didn't allow students to model there. I took a life drawing class before, and also sat for two artist (but never for a class) so I wasn’t totally new to this and had some idea what to expect, so I thought. I took dance in college, I'm slim and in very good shape and at the interview I was in luck since they needed a fit female model for their anatomy drawing classes. Usually body types don't matter, but for anatomy art classes they preferred fit models so they could see the lines and body structure clearly to teach anatomy, so I got the job. I thought no problem this would be a cinch.
The day arrived when I got there I was feeling some butterflies in my stomach. I got to the class expecting maybe about 8 to10 students would be drawing me, about the same size as my school had. Instead it was a large class of almost 30 students, needless to say this really intimidated me and I started to feel very nervous at this point. Not a problem I thought, once the posing starts the concentration on the poses would distract me and it would be okay. I mistakenly assumed it would be like the life drawing class I took and do a series of quick gesture poses, but like they say never assume.
Well the time came when the professor had me drop my robe and I stood baring it all in front of the whole class, but instead of posing he just had me stand still in front of the class, to lecture the various details of the human anatomy. So there I stood facing about 30 strangers while they looked back at me scrutinized every inch of my nude body as the professor lectured referring to and using my body as an example. I have to say it was very intimidating, and OMG I was so nervous, having that many people stare back at me while I stood there completely naked. If I had been doing poses and moving around it would have been different, there would have something to distract me. But instead I just had to stand there and face the whole class while they all stared intently back at me in my nudity, and this went on for almost feeling like forever, it would end up I would stand like that for majority of the length of the class. My heart was beating so fast I could feel it as I stood there. Not to mention the professor would point and highlight various parts of my anatomy and had me turn at different angles to the side and my back to the class so they could study my nude body from all angles, then face front again, part of the lecture but very nerve-wracking also. I was so nervous although I did my my best not to let it show.
My nervousness lasted about maybe 30 minutes, but it felt like forever, then I started to calm down a bit and get used to it. Slowly I realized it wasn’t so bad after all, once I got used to it was no big deal. I started to concentrate on other things rather than the class looking at me. I think it was just my shock of having something different than what I expected and not being used to it that caused all of the anxiousness. After that everything was okay, and it really felt somewhat liberating. This experience made me realize I could overcome a lot if I had to. I modeled for about two more years after that. I posed for other classes too and even posed for that anatomy class often and in a way it was easier when you just stood there for lectures instead of holding a pose. And overall I enjoyed being an art model it was a wonderful and liberating experience. Read how I did it… 2 years ago
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