The first day of a new class is always exciting but a little anxious as well. Last term was no different. I remember when the instructor was going over the class syllabus and I found out we would be doing a couple of sessions with a nude model. What a feeling of dread that came over me. The entire semester I was totally freaked out about the whole thing.
It finally came time for the model sessions and I stressed about it for the entire week before. I wasn’t sure how I would react to drawing from a nude model. Not only was she nude but I had never really been very good at capturing the human form on paper. I just never seemed to be able to get the proportions right.
Would I be uncomfortable with the model? Would she be uncomfortable? A lot of the feelings I was having we’re coming from a place of empathy for the model and her vulnerability. Little did I know that my experience with these sessions would start me on a journey to learn the human form.
The model showed up for the first session and I’m not sure what happened but I didn’t really see her as a nude body. She became the object of the drawing and I was more concerned with capturing her essence that about her being nude. It ended up being a great and positive experience. It was also very enlightening how hard nude modeling is. Having to hold one pose for an extended period of time.
I have become very interested in drawing the human form. I recently joined a life drawing group. It has been a great experience. Very laid back and it seems that everyone is there for the same reason. We all want to learn to portray the human form. I think this is an important piece to my art studies.
Daylene Horn Art 