Nude Art Modeling Is Not Sex Work!
71Nude Art Modeling Is Not Sex Work!
As my regular readers will know from one of the earlier articles (you can find it here), I am, from time to time, a nude art model. And I love it.
But everywhere I go, I seem to discover people who don't realize that what I'm doing isn't akin to stripping or pornography. When I advertise my services (which I do in a college town, dense with visual artists), I have to include a paragraph in my ad clarifying exactly this fact, but nonetheless, I get continual offers that have nothing to do with art at all. People seem to think that if I'm willing to take my clothes off for money, I'll do it in any context (and do other things as well).
Just today, I got an e-mail from an interested party telling me that, although he is not an artist, he would like to pay to see me naked in person, just because it's been that long since he's gotten laid or been able to see a naked chick.
"It's the same as standing for a charcoal drawing," he wrote.
No, dude, it really isn't.
Now, generally speaking, I have nothing against sex work. I mean, it's a complicated and controversial subject and I do have a number of nuanced and sometimes conflicting opinions on it (stick around kids, you'll get to read 'em all if you can stomach it), but I'm not one of those people who cries, "for shame!" at the very thought of strippers, escorts, erotic masseuses, and adult film stars. I also have no problem with the idea that some of the people who work in these fields might also timeshare the artists' podium with me from time to time.
However, I do have a problem with the idea that we seem, in this culture, incapable of separating the idea of nudity from the idea of sexuality, especially where women are concerned. Based on what I've gathered talking to my male nude model colleagues, they don't get the same assumption of sexual availability connected to their work as models.
Sure, sexuality is an important part of the perception of the human body, and it has a place in art, to be sure. I've done some photo shoots with a distinctly erotic focus too them - in an artistic, not pornographic manner (trust me) and found it to be a very rewarding experience. Somehow, though, women's bodies are perceived as perpetually existing as objects of sex, and I don't like that.
For this reason, most of the artists I work with seem somewhat surprised (though glad, I'm pleased to say) whenever I choose poses that vary from the norm. Instead of constantly reclining and trying to look graceful and coy, I give them reaching, pushing, pulling, working, pouting, scratching, slumping, or anything else I can think of within the human experience of body language. (To do less would be to cheat them.)
There's also an interesting way in which people - even artists - talk to a naked woman; they usually seem more comfortable conversing with me casually once my robe is back on, and sometimes, I swear, they take me more seriously when they can't currently see the goods.
Why? They're just clothes. I remain the same person when they're off that I am when they're on. I have the same thoughts about politics, arts, beer, and all of my other interests when I'm naked, and I possess the same talents and life experience when I am in the nude.
Well, I trust artists, at least, to come to realize that. If the rest of the world wants to get on board with that understanding as well, I'll be very glad of it.
CommentsLoading...
I've done a good deal of life drawing myself, and I know from experience that a true artist is only looking at outlines and shapes, and tones and negative space. The actually model becomes secondary to the experience of producing a work of art. To make any other assumption is to show ignorance. Well done to you for being so comfortable with your body.
I agree. Nudity and sex are completely separable issues. I can't imagine how anyone would view The Thinker as a sexual pose. Furthermore, a clothed pose can be very sexual. That's essentially the the goal of 90% of fashion modeling -- to be sexy.
Regarding artists being more at ease speaking with you when your robe is on, I think this is just awkwardness on the part of people who are fine within the standard decorum of a figure drawing class, but not otherwise at ease with nudity. I think it would be no less uncomfortable for them with a male model. When the model is posing (silently) and the artists are drawing, the nudity is normal and expected for all parties. During the break when posing mode is suspended, the robe comes on.
how can someone find side work as a nude model for figure drawing classes? it seems difficult, and dangerous, weeding out "artists" from all the other artists.
I just stumbled across your article.
It's very interesting to me from the perspective of a figure model, and artist, AND a sex worker to experience the massive difference. I've been working in the adult field for almost three years, since I was 18, but I only just started doing nude figure modeling about two months ago.
It was very funny to me, the first time I modeled for a class and shared my nervousness with one of my sex worker friends (who had never modeled before) to hear her response, 'Oh it's no different than stripping, there are probably just going to be more women.'
I think most people, ESPECIALLY those who get naked for a living in a sexual context, don't really understand the massive difference. There need to be more articles of this nature.
I agree with Lauren. I had a friend in south of France who was a frequent nude model at an atelier.
I was a complete outsider and was interested so I decided to try it out of curiosity.
It is definitely not sex work but its very important that you trust who you work with.
not all those who pose naked have been hired by people who could be considered artists.
i have posed at many sessions where even the stick figures of those "artists" were artistically challenged.
check out my blog at www.themodelundraped.blogspot.com
ever since caveboys drew stick figures on the walls of their "bedrooms" of naked cavewomen to masturbate to, has woman been the object of desire of man.
the rendering techniques and tools have become more sophisticated over the centuries, but the end result has remained the objective.
women who pose naked instinctively know this and for money oblige and disrobe.
men come to drawing/painting/sculpting sessions for the t and a.
women pose naked to give men what they came for.
men pose naked at these sessions because,....well, because they are men.
in the sense that we have come to understand what a "sexworker" is and does, no , someone who poses naked at art sessions would not be considered as such.
however, it is fair to say that many men who come to these sessions, will enjoy their memories and drawings of these nubile young, voluptuous maidens while they lustily masturbate. i hope that women (and men) are not so naive as to think this really is all about art.
and it is a lot cheaper than a traditional sexworker (for $15 - $20 you can be in the company of a naked person for three hours and take home the memories)
watcher by night 3 years ago
Thanks for a good hub! It's good for people to see the model's side of the story, especially if they haven't been involved in the reality of a life drawing class or session before. Although I haven't modeled, I have taken plenty of life drawing classes, and-- keep in mind that I'm a male-- I have noticed a tendency to receive comments from generally well meaning, but misguided people who say things like, "I don't know what your poor mind must be thinking, in such an environment". Of course, then there are the comments from not quite so well meaning, but still misguided people who generally give me knowing looks, frat boy-esque leers, pokes in the ribs with elbows and --well you can guess the general vein of the comments. Even for the ARTISTS it's somewhat disheartening for people to think that nude drawing is sex work. So I can well understand that it irks the models themselves.