[MD] Painting

[MarshaV]

At 10:01 AM 10/30/2008, you wrote:
>Just jumping in for a quick thought...
>
>as an artist, I get together with other male and female artists for
>a weekly drawing group where we get together and hire models-
>
>90% of the time they are nude; every now and then we get a shy
>model who prefers to leave underwear on (of course you can guess
>that MOST of the time it's the men who want to leave some thongs or
>underwear on...ha ha ha) - this is not a class or even classroom like
>setting other than the fact that it's a group of artists all studying
>a nude - most of the time we have wine and some snacks and music while we
>all work (if we can agree on what music to play)...
>I have been both model and artist in this situation.
>We don't tell each other what to paint, what medium to work in or any
>thing else (though we don't usually bring oils (too smelly in a small room)
>and only critique each others work when asked. We all split the model fee.
>Sometimes we get lucky and get two models posing together.
>
>We hire who we can get - but we often have just as many male models
>as female. We joke about who shows up for what models and so on...but
>mostly we are all professional artists and we just want a body to draw.
>
>Naturally, it goes beyond that - there is a level, as artists where we
>are simply clinical about it and then there is a level where you bring
>the complexity of your personality and all that it involves - your
>male & female sensitivities to the artistic process.
>
>We have about an even split of male/female artists -
>Every now and then, we have had both gay male models or gay male
>artists - but most of the group is predominantly hetero or perhaps bi-sexual
>or try-sexual (will try anything once)...I don't really know.
>
>I think women are easier to paint because
>of all the yummy curves... And I don't say 'yummy' because of my sexuality
>but because of the visual aesthetic...guys usually have fantastically sexy
>broad shoulders and great upper arms and lots of interesting details (and I
>don't just mean the penis) to paint as well - but mostly I say I find
>females easier to paint because I'm not that great of a figurative artist
>and lots of curves are easier than lots of muscular detail (for me).
>
>Most of all of our group of artists can and do hire the models independently
>of the group to work with privately (all for art...no hanky panky going on)
>and many do...so Marsha - seize the moment...go find the male models -
>privilege has nothing to do with it...just do it - you're an artist.
>
>Maybe you can find a similar group that meets in your area and start finding
>some models to work with.
>



Nice post.




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The Universe is uncaused, like a net of jewels in which each is a 
reflection of all the others in a fantastic, interrelated harmony without end.
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