Any tips that anyone can give me about posing nude for a fine art painting class?

Question

It is a community college art class and this will be my first time posing and I'm a little nervous. Any tips that anyone (either models that have posed before or students that have painted a life model) can give me would be helpful. Thanks!

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry too much about being nervous. The students who pay good money to take these classes will be serious artists and I doubt if there will be any leering or snide remarks.

When I was putting myself through college many years ago I posed nude for art classes. The money was good and I was an artist myself and it just seemed like a natural part of the process.

As far as tips go I'm not sure if anything I can say here will help you. But I can tell you a little of what to expect.

After the newness of the experience wears off (and it will quickly) you'll find yourself getting bored and your body aching from the posing. Your body will start to ache because no one is used to sitting or standing for an hour at a time in one position. You'll get an occasional break now and then but then you'll return to taking the same position. Until your body becomes used to not moving for so long you may experience cramps (if sitting) or muscle twitches (if standing).

My advice to you is to start practicing posing in awkward positions so that your body can become accustomed to doing so before you actually start posing in class.

It's not likely that you'll actually be picking the position you'll be posing in (those other answers about this are probably wrong) because the teacher will usually be selecting or suggesting the poses with you in advance (I'm speaking from experience here) because the teacher will be wanting the poses that will best benefit the learning process. Beginning classes: simple poses. Advanced art classes: more complex poses.

As to the boredom I can't really suggest now to fight that. But if I remember right I used to try to completely clear my mind and sort of stand there or sit there as if in an awakening sleep mode.

Answer 2

Do some stretching ahead of time; you will be less likely to get a cramp. Take a light robe and shoes that are easy to slip on and off. (Be sure to go to the bathroom first.) If you have long hair, take a band or some combs to be able to pull your hair up off your neck, so that the students can get the lines of your neck to work with your shoulders.
Ask the instructor what sort of poses he/she is interested in using. Generally, they want a variety of relaxed poses and action poses. Ask too, if they want you to bring a few props, perhaps a large shawl, a white sheet to drape, a fan, a simple hand mirror, or a low stool. The stool will be especially important as you might sit on it, you may keep one foot on it as part of an action pose.
Some of the best poses involve twisting or having limbs in assymmetrical positions. If you have the opportunity, you might look at the poses of classical Greek and Roman statues and the drawings of masters like Michealangelo.
Too, if you have any dance, yoga, or gymnastics training, those sorts of body positions would make for good drawings as well.
Work out a signal word with the instructor ahead of time. That way if you start to get a cramp from holding a pose or a limb starts to go numb you can alert the instructor. If you need a break, try to give the students another minute or two before you move in order to allow them to finish an area.
The students will likely be a little uncomfortable in the beginning as well. They will be very concerned for your physical comfort, often to the point of keeping the room temperature comfortable for you rather than themselves.
After a few sessions, you and they will feel calmer about it.
They will be grateful for the opportunity you have given them.
If you meditate, this is a great time to do so. The instructor may be willing to have you listen to music--just ask. The more occupied you can keep your mind, the easier it will be to pass the time.
During your breaks, you may want to leave the room, or you may want to walk around and see the students' work. Either is fine, it's a matter of what you are comfortable doing.
This is a critical part of the training for people interested in being artists. The students will be very grateful.

Answer 3

As a former art student, I'll try to help you out. Have some poses in mind before you get up there, that way you can get into another pose quickly if you need to (sometimes you do a few quickly to get the students use to doing gesture drawings). When it comes to the poses that you have to be in for more than a few minutes, pick one that you can hold for a while. You should talk to the instructor before class and see what he has in mind class and time wise because that can give you an idea of what you'll be doing. When you're up there, you don't really have to look at anyone if you don't want to. Models use to tell me that they would think of what they had to do for the day, or they would sing songs in their heads while up there to pass the time as well. Lastly, just keep in mind that you're helping the students out and that they are looking at you like an object (in a good way) that they need to draw, so nothing perverted is going on.

Answer 4

Put your best characteristics on display, and pretend there are no other people in the room. You may pretend you are modeling in the mirror for yourself, as I did when I was chosen to be the model for art class in college. Other than that, just try to stay as still as possible and remember your pose in case of interruption.

Answer 5

The Supreme court has ruled it illegal for myself to be nude in public.

Answer 6

Don't take offence if the drawings/paintings of you don't look to good.

Answer 7

make sure you take a shower berforehand!!!

Answer 8

DONT FREGGIN MOVE!!!