Tuesday, October 19, 2010

art drop outs!

A suprise today! I was modeling at at community college I have been to before. In fact, I started out with the first class of the semester, and have been so booked I haven't returned until today, a week before midterms. Originally, on the first day of class I was suprised to find 29 students - quite a large figure drawing class. Today, upon arriving, I have found the class had dwindled down to four students!! (there was an additional person sitting in who wants to take the class next semester... it was filled this semester!).
Apparently, there are no advisors for the students signing up for the class. The education majors have to take an art or science class - guess what the choose! BUT, there is no prerequisite for the figure drawing class, so many who sign up and are over their head , with no fundamental drawing skills,  andfind it too difficult to get a good grade, so they drop the class. Seems to me there should be at least "drawing 101" as a prerequisite for  the class, before they are dealing with a live nude model.
Ah well, at least the remaining students were dedicated to what they are doing, and showing progress. That always makes the class fun. And really, I prefer a smalll class!! So..it was good for me!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Really nothing "out of the ordinary" to report. I am doing about 2 classes a week this semester, at different schools, and a few other gigs here and there. It is fun watching the progress of the drawing students as the term progresses...some are quite good. The weather is starting to cool off, so it means back to those d*mn space heaters that roast you on one side, while you freeze on the other. I suppose in the winter I prefer dressed portrait classes!! But, alas those are few and far between. I think I mentioned before, there is one facility that turns the heat off at 3PM, and by 3:15 there is a definite temperature drop.

Just back at an art center today and had a nice session..here are a couple of pics. I was also given a nice one to take home. Those artists are the best!

Hit me up if you need a figure model in Chicago! Have a bunch of pics posted at:
http://www.modelcoast.com/?op=pics&id=77793





Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday the 13th and I started at a new art center. Well, new for me! A fun gig. There were about 14 artists in a workshop setting. These are people that have a handle on what they are doing, so the finished projects were further along than most I see from beginning art classes. Graciously, a number of them let me take snap shots of their work, and two handed me their original works! I am very happy to give them a good home.

The session was a regular 3 hour session. It is ungodly hot and humid right now, but because the room was air conditioned, the monitor offered to turn on a heater. I wisely declined! There were 3 three minute poses as a warm up, followed by 2 long poses.

Now, I am not a person who normally sweats up a storm, but because you could cut the humidity with a knife,I did develop a "glow" I had a tad of a problem with the first long pose. My  left hand was holding my leg, and as I becamed drenched with"the atmosphere" , it kept sliding. Really it felt as though I had been greased up! It was a battle to keep the pose....but I prevailed.
The second pose was a much easier seated pose, on a stool. The time seemed to fly by on that one even though it was a longer pose.

Not only did I recieve some art, and a number of reccomendations to other classes, the artists chip in a little each to pay above and beyond what the center pays. So, a check....and cash.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Summer break is over...Back to school!

Well, summer is starting to wind down as we head into August. Summer bookings were slow. I did this half dresses pose for an arts center. But, the fall art classes are starting up and so are the bookings. Start back in a couple weeks at an art center, and should have a couple of colleges back on the roster , too.
Looking forward to some nice creative collaborations, and hopefully , I can post some here. And realistically, looking forward to the checks, too!!! 

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

updates

Well, I have not been good at keeping up a blog!  I have had about 20 modeling sessions since my last post (and a nice vacation trip).  A number of university classes, one student project and sittings for a portrait class in Edwardian costume. With the exception of one ( later..) they have all been very routine. It seems I have been doing a  lot of classes that are focusing on long poses. I really enjoy short gestures; they can give you a good work out, and you really feel you stretched all your muscles. But...long poses it is! I did an interesting student photograhy project. Five nude males and one clothed female, recreating and reversing the gender of some old masters paintings. I haven't seen the outcome yet. The artist is going to hand color the prints. When I get a copy, iI will post it ( with her permissoin, of  course).
I find such a difference in teaching styles in the classes I pose for. Some instructors talk non stop for 3 hours, criticing and talking art history, some quietly critic work, and one just leaves the room for the pose and returns later to discuss the work.
Now the exception to business as usual. It really didn't effect my work, but .... At one of the Universities there is an overview drawing class, including basic drawing , still life, and figure drawing from a nude model. I got a call from the administration the day before asking me to bring something tight fitting to wear instead of posing nude. That is perfectly  fine with me, as I always have something in my "model kit". The reason, however, was that a Muslim girl ( college age)  was in the class and objected to nudism for religious reasons.She went to the administration with her objections. The instructor was, shall we say, a little less than happy about it when i spoke to her, but we did the session dressed ( actually in a wresting singlet). What strikes me odd is why would you take a drawing class that features drawing from the nude figure in the syllabus, if you had religious objections to it. And then , of course, the rest of the students did not get to draw from a nude model.

Friday, February 5, 2010

some class pics

from Drawing Club

portrait class
painting class

me, as the drawing club logo

Friday, January 29, 2010

New class at a junior college

Started the semester yesterday at a suburban junior college. Medium size class. 17 ( 10 f , 7m).
I don't know why I keep the ratio of m/f, but I think it interesting!

The class is a beginning drawing class, and the instructor was having them "block in" the figure. So , he wanted me to keeep my robe on for this. Actually, after the break, I mentioned fully clothed would probably be better, if he did not want nude, so at least my legs wouldn't be covered from the hip to knee by a robe. Thankfully, we did that , as the studio was COLD!

I know some of the artists from earlier classes there - there is a marked improvement in some of the work. I really enjoy seeing tihis. Makes me feel like , in my own way. I am contributing!

And speaking of contributing! I feel like I am contributing my time, as this college is the WORST for getting paid. They have a horrible sysytem that , it seems, no one can work. I got paid for some of my work last semester, but they still owe me for a couple of sessions. Plus , as I understandit, they are NOT sending out W2 or 1099's - you have ot access the system and downlaod it yourself ( fraught with problems)....Isn't that illegal?

By the way , Rubenesque as I may be....down the first 15 lbs today!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

University class

The class was on the larger side, about 23 students ,maybe 6 male, although I forgot to count. It was opposite the ratio of my last smaller class. A good instructor, but an average class for me. It consisited of a number of 10 minute poses for contour drawings and then a number of poses for gestures. The class met Tues and Thursday last week.

Following the Thursday class I had a one hour gig for the university drawing club, They were a tad disorganized,it seemed and the turnout was small, maybe 9 or 10 people ( 3 male 7female). However that was a good thing because the room was tiny. I could only do standing poses because everyone was seated so close ( in a circle). It was a little strange, just because I was on top of the artists , nearly brushing their drawing boards with my body!! However, hurrah, I did get paid on the spot. Much better than waiting weeks for a check to go through payroll.

With the beginning of school I am picking up! I have 10 bookings so far for next month. I hope to see some beautiful art from it.

Oh, PS. I found out this week that a drawing of me is the logo for the University Drawing Club! Cool!

Monday, January 18, 2010

starting the new year

The holidays are over and the winter semesters are starting up. My calendar is filling too! Modeling at least twice a week from the end of January through April. Mostly academic studios, but one portrait class with a pretty well known artist! My first class of the season is tomorrow, and I will not know until I get there whether it is a drawing or painting class...or what level for that matter.

Also interesting to see the ratio of females to males in the classes. Last semester I had a class of about 9 men and 2 women. That was, for me at least, very unusual! Let's see what tomorrow morning's class brings.