Side gig: naked model

[Bjorn]

I was wondering if anyone have tried posing naked as a side gig?

No, its not for a porn magazine. There is an art gallery who is offering courses to art students and the general public. There will typically be 10 participants (painters), 1 instructor and the naked model. $400 for 10 hours of standing still. There will be breaks and the 10 hours are spread across a weekend (1 hour Friday, 4-5 hours Sat & Sun).

I'm not overly confident about my body, but I don't think I will have any problem being naked infront of a few strangers. Worst thing that could happen? One of the participants is someone I know (very low chance). Getting a spontaneous erection. Standing still could potentially make me dizzy or pass out. One of the paintings becoming the next Mona Lisa.
Apart from that, it seems like easy money.

Any other down sides I haven't thought about?

[Astro Camper]

I would have to pay someone to paint me naked and burn the painting right away.

[JordanOfGilead]

As a 20-something male, spontaneous erection would be my biggest concern.

[FIRE Artist]

I haven't, but regularly go to life drawing drop in sessions.  It isn't as easy to hold a pose as you think.  Since this is a class, there will be no masterpieces made, so no worries of that! 

Likely you will be asked to hold progressively longer poses starting with one minute, moving up to long poses of one hour.  Novice models choose super dynamic poses that they cannot hold. 

It can get cold.  They should have space heaters for you. 

[FIRE Artist]

As a 20-something male, spontaneous erection would be my biggest concern.

I have never seen this happen to the many male models at the studio I go to.  The process isn't exactly erotic. 

[lizzzi]

In all seriousness, I would have to say that it sounds like easy money. Being female, I don't quite get why you would get a spontaneous erection...maybe a guy could chime into the thread if that is something that might really be an issue. But it sounds like it would be worth a try. Nothing ventured...

[use2betrix]

In all seriousness, I would have to say that it sounds like easy money. Being female, I don't quite get why you would get a spontaneous erection...maybe a guy could chime into the thread if that is something that might really be an issue. But it sounds like it would be worth a try. Nothing ventured...

It's just part of male anatomy. Gets less common as you get older. I get them less at 27 than I did at 13, yet they still happen for sure.

Typically one can discretely tuck it in the waist band. That'd be harder to do when you're nude and people are drawing you.

[JordanOfGilead]

As a 20-something male, spontaneous erection would be my biggest concern.

I have never seen this happen to the many male models at the studio I go to.  The process isn't exactly erotic.

Unless you're an exhibitionist... lol
But in all seriousness, I would personally be concerned about my mind wandering as it so often does during long periods of doing nothing and generally one thing can lead to another. 4-5 hours is a long time ...

[AZDude]

Standing still could potentially make me dizzy or pass out.

Just remember not to lock your knees. Keep them at least a little bit bent. $40/hour for literally doing nothing is a pretty good gig. If you start to get into trouble, just lock eyes with the least attractive man in the room. That should eliminate any possible erection.

[dude]

Screw that, I'd pop a couple Viagra (if all the Spam e-mails I get are any indication, the shit is readily accessible!) and go in with a 4-hour hard-on a cat couldn't scratch!

[Greenroller]

Screw that, I'd pop a couple Viagra (if all the Spam e-mails I get are any indication, the shit is readily accessible!) and go in with a 4-hour hard-on a cat couldn't scratch!

LMAO, impressive no doubt, a class I would thoroughly enjoy!

[lizzzi]

Never mind, dude. You don't want them having to post a waiting list for the class!    : D

[enigmaT120]

I wonder if viagra can withstand the laughter.

[mjs111]

I took a lot of art classes in college and drew from live, nude models.  Not every nude male model has to have a "Statue of David" look. In fact it's very helpful to the art student to get confronted with a range of body types.

Mike

[tardis]

I go to life drawing classes pretty regularly.  I agree with Diverging Artist- not erotic at all.  People are more interesting to draw than apples, but the process is exactly the same.  The best models are actually the ones who are the most theatrical I find- the ones who use their whole body to hold a pose that embodies an action/emotion.  A lot of the models at the main place I go are old and fat, so don't worry about body image.  :)  The most important thing is to get a range of types.

If you're interested, you can try taking two hours one day, and running yourself through a set of poses at home and see if you can do it and are still interested.  1/2 hr in 30 second, 2 minute, 5 minute and 20 minute poses.  One half hour pose (usually leaning or an "active" sitting pose on something).  One hour long pose (sitting/laying down).  Holding any position for longer than 30 seconds is really hard for most people, especially anything "interesting".  People will not be happy if you move.

[big_owl]

I've been offered many times by random photogs at the gym to be their subject for "artistic photography".  They'd always start by complementing my body, blah blah, talk about their photography business and mention that I'd be an excellent subject.  Then they'd list options available to me...which somehow always ended in "nudes".  This was mostly when I was in my 20s though.  Naturally I never took anybody up on this offer but it does seem as though I'd have made a good nude model in my prime.  Perhaps I could have been a famous underwear model...oh well we'll never know.

But yeah, I'd have no problem posing nude  When you got it you might as well flaunt it. 

[NICE!]

I've been offered many times by random photogs at the gym to be their subject for "artistic photography".  They'd always start by complementing my body, blah blah, talk about their photography business and mention that I'd be an excellent subject.  Then they'd list options available to me...which somehow always ended in "nudes".  This was mostly when I was in my 20s though.  Naturally I never took anybody up on this offer but it does seem as though I'd have made a good nude model in my prime.  Perhaps I could have been a famous underwear model...oh well we'll never know.

But yeah, I'd have no problem posing nude  When you got it you might as well flaunt it.

Did you come in here to talk about how hot you are/were?

[pbkmaine]

Nice, NICE.


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[big_owl]

I've been offered many times by random photogs at the gym to be their subject for "artistic photography".  They'd always start by complementing my body, blah blah, talk about their photography business and mention that I'd be an excellent subject.  Then they'd list options available to me...which somehow always ended in "nudes".  This was mostly when I was in my 20s though.  Naturally I never took anybody up on this offer but it does seem as though I'd have made a good nude model in my prime.  Perhaps I could have been a famous underwear model...oh well we'll never know.

But yeah, I'd have no problem posing nude  When you got it you might as well flaunt it.

Did you come in here to talk about how hot you are/were?

You overly self-conscious about your looks?  It's a thread about nude modeling on the internet, what did you expect?  Deal with it.

[goatmom]

You can make even more money being a model at a medical school so that doctors in training can learn to do a rectal, etc.  They get paid really well. Just figured if you don't mind being naked, there are more opportunities out there.

[Rufus.T.Firefly]

This conversation immediately brought the old timey SNL skit to mind - anyone else remember this gem from Will Ferrell?

https://screen.yahoo.com/sculpture-class-000000427.html

[Kriegsspiel]

I once posed naked for an art class. They didn't ask me to. I think they were making ceramic bowls.

[mozar]

+1 That's it's really hard to stay still.

[Jakejake]

Having been on both sides of the easel, my advice is if anyone is a jerk to you, you can get back at them in a passive aggressive way by posing with an arm or leg outstretched in their direction. Foreshortening is a pain for beginning artists to draw well.

[Erica]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

[lbmustache]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

How is posing for art students "degrading" in any way....???

That aside, this thread made me laugh. I've always thought about doing it but never have. It's easy money, might as well.

[Villanelle]

I once posed topless for an art photographer.  He was the husband of a friend, so I knew it was legit.  It was actually really interesting.   And another friend's husband is an artist and he and I talked a lot about me doing this, largely because he knows I'm pretty comfortable with my body (far from traditionally perfect though it may be, so rest assured this isn't a humble brag) and because I have an extensive dance background which he thought would mean I could do and hold interesting poses.  I never did it, though I'm not sure why.  He did mention that a lot of new models really have trouble holding poses, especially because they often just pick some shape they think is interesting, with no thought toward having to hold that pose for extended time, and being able to drop the pose and get back into exactly the same position after a rest.

[Kriegsspiel]

I'm willing to bet Da Vinci was naked when he painted the Mona Lisa. I'd recognize that smirk on anyone.

[FIRE Artist]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

Posing nude for artists is the exact opposite of degrading. 

[Lynski]

I took life-drawing classes in college. A lot of good advice has already been shared - re: the difficulty to hold a pose and that it's cold. Bring a robe or something you can easily put on/off during breaks.

As an artist, I could really have cared less what the model looked like. Though occasionally we had one model that was incredibly thin, and it felt like drawing a sick figure. The artists are drawing the shapes, not really paying attention to the person.

And I agree that the best models were the theatrical ones - poses actually doing realistic motions like reaching for something, picking something up off the ground, sometimes models used props like tennis rackets or swords - incredibly helpful.

Working with a good model is an incredibly valuable experience for an artist. Life drawing one of the most fundamental skills, and there's a lot of preparation and planning that go into being a good model. Think about the types of poses that would be beneficial to the class. Is it a traditional figure drawing class, or are the students in a particular training program? For some groups, action poses may be more in demand, and another may need more classic poses. Video game or animation students would have completely different needs from MFA students.

I got a laugh out of this :)

Having been on both sides of the easel, my advice is if anyone is a jerk to you, you can get back at them in a passive aggressive way by posing with an arm or leg outstretched in their direction. Foreshortening is a pain for beginning artists to draw well.

[Erica]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

Posing nude for artists is the exact opposite of degrading.

Perverts probably love it. What's your point?

[Villanelle]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

Posing nude for artists is the exact opposite of degrading.

Perverts probably love it. What's your point?

Weird that you seem to equate all nudity with degradation and perversion.  And kinda sad. 

Not all nudity is sexual, which I'm guessing you know as I doubt (hopefully, at least) you don't feel degraded when you disrobe at the doctor's office.  Of course, if you aren't comfortable with the idea of nude modeling, you definitely shouldn't do it.  But to suggest it is degrading as a general rule, and that the people in these classes are perverts is almost obsessively prurient.

[FIRE Artist]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

Posing nude for artists is the exact opposite of degrading.

Perverts probably love it. What's your point?

*****warning, there is a penis in the following link*****

Because this. http://www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-


Those who are a quaint throwback to the fig leaf era circa 1850, certainly won't get it, unfortunately for them.   

Artist = Pervert, now that is just all kinds of precious. 

[Erica]

Weird that you seem to equate all nudity with degradation and perversion.  And kinda sad. 

This ONE particular circumstance came up and yes, it entails nudity
This doesn't mean I equate all nudity with degradation or perversion. Nice spin though, you have a good imagination!

[Erica]

Artist = Pervert, now that is just all kinds of precious.

Whatever you say buddy

[Paul der Krake]

Can you listen to a podcast? Do you have some say in the position?

[Villanelle]

Can you listen to a podcast? Do you have some say in the position?

When I looked in to it, you have a great deal of say over the poses.  Friend with whom I discussed it, who got a degree in art and thus took many life drawing classes said the models always picked their own poses.   He said the students preferred my dynamic or interesting poses and the models who did those tended to be utilized more, but the actual posing was entirely up to them. 

[Goldielocks]

Can you listen to a podcast? Do you have some say in the position?

Hmm,  sitting pose .....   "Man thinking while listening to pod cast"....

[Paul der Krake]

Can you listen to a podcast? Do you have some say in the position?

Hmm,  sitting pose .....   "Man thinking while listening to pod cast"....

Better yet, "naked man mindlessly browsing the internet while earning $40/hour". I would crush that audition.

[NinetyFour]

This might be of interest to some in this thread:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/opinion/sunday/zen-and-the-art-of-art-modeling.html

[Squirrel away]

I would have to pay someone to paint me naked and burn the painting right away.

LOL.

[Cromacster]

I am sure you can find some line of work not so degrading

Posing nude for artists is the exact opposite of degrading.

Perverts probably love it. What's your point?

I'm curious, Why do find this degrading?  Is it more or less degrading than an actor/actress being nude in a play or film?  I would ask the same question about pornography whether print or film, but I feel I could guess your answer (correct me if I am wrong).  Is making money by using your body (in the nude) any different than laboring away at any other job?

[dude]

I have to say, there is a thread of, I guess, narcissism in me that wonders how I'd look photographed (artfully) in the nude. And a part of me that I know will look back with some sense of nostalgia about the strength and vitality of my "youth" (I'm 50 now!  WTH?) and would probably get a kick out of seeing those pictures.

I know a woman rock climber who was featured in the annual "Stone Nudes" calendar, which features female rock climbers, photographed in B&W, climbing at various crags/mountains.  Photos were very well done. I thought it was pretty damn cool she was in it.

[partgypsy]

I think the main concerns have already been mentioned, there can be spontaneous erections (I have taken a couple life drawing classes and yes this happens), which everyone ignores or draws around but could be embarrassing for you.
It is often cold in the studio, remember to bring a robe or something for your breaks and thoughtful teachers will have a space heater and a blanket to sit upon. Other than that it's pretty clinical, and yeah don't choose a difficult pose for drawing you have to pose for long. I don't see how someone sees posing for art as being degrading.  I would do it, except I'm a self-conscious sort. I kind of wish I hadn't been, then I could of had some drawings of myself...

[enigmaT120]

I would have no idea what pose to choose.  I guess I thought the teacher would request something.

[big_owl]

It is often cold in the studio...

I was in the pool!!!!!

[FIRE Artist]

Here is a good site to get pose ideas.

****warning, there are picture of nude models in the following link****

http://www.posespace.com

[okits]

Here is a good site to get pose ideas.

****warning, there are picture of nude models in the following link****

http://www.posespace.com

Geez, some of those look uncomfortable to hold for an extended period of time!  Though maybe it's not so bad if you're athletic to begin with?

[NICE!]

You overly self-conscious about your looks?  It's a thread about nude modeling on the internet, what did you expect?  Deal with it.

You're literally the only person that has come into this thread to add thoughts on how great you look. You could've easily made your points without telling random people about your hotness. You're also the only one that has now (unsuccessfully) tried to make it an insult.

"Deal with it."

[big_owl]

You overly self-conscious about your looks?  It's a thread about nude modeling on the internet, what did you expect?  Deal with it.

You're literally the only person that has come into this thread to add thoughts on how great you look. You could've easily made your points without telling random people about your hotness. You're also the only one that has now (unsuccessfully) tried to make it an insult.

"Deal with it."

Hey when you got a good body you got a good body.  LOL but it gets people like you so riled up.  I was actually the second person to cast insult in this thread.  You were the first.  Thanks for playing. ;)