I went to college to study graphic design. One of the classes required involved drawing nudes. It was called “Life Drawing”. Although I was a little nervous on the first day of class, I soon discovered I would have little time to really think about the fact that the man or woman posed spread eagle in front of me was completely nude.
The class was told at the beginning that no one was allowed to laugh or make fun of the models. There was to be no talking. Any breach of these rules would result in an F for the day. Two offenses involved an F for the course and expulsion from the class. The class was to be taken seriously and was closed to outsiders. In the center of the room was a dais where the model would go at the beginning of the class, disrobe, and pose.
From that moment on I would stand at my easel and draw. The class often moved fast where there was only time for a quick sketch before the model would move again. We practiced drawing blind contours where you are technically not allowed to look at your paper, only at the model allowing the pencil to follow the lines and shapes we saw. Other times we would be granted a longer sitting where we would be required to capture our subject in more detail.
must memorize them. You must capture the form, lines, and shadow quickly and accurately. To do it well we also studied the bodies skeletal and muscular anatomy. To draw the form well took practice and skill. For homework we were required to draw self portraits and close up studies of our hands and faces. During class, we were required to draw perfect strangers without their clothes. It wasn’t dirty, it was art and it greatly enriched my art education. Looking back on my experiences from that class I realize I learned another all important fact. All people are either male or female. While we all have our differences, in many ways we are all the same each of us unique and beautifully made.
I took an art class in college where I had to draw nudes too. The woman who used to pose for us was about as homely and "hygene impaired" as one can get. I guess it kept her safe from the men who weren't up to the task.
ReplyDeletehttp://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/04/atoz-ww-n-for-naughty-pictures.html
Joyce, the people I sketched were nothing to write home about but they had a lot of guts just posing up there with not a stitch on and 30-40 pairs of eyes staring at them! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
DeleteYour closing paragraphs are so true. And beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Thank you for sharing this, it brought back a little bit of "I love me" for me. On a lighter note, this reminded me of a Mr Bean episode and that made me giggle.
ReplyDeleteSuzy, it surely does. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
DeleteI took a few art classes but, since it was in jr. high and high school, nudes weren't included. The most difficult drawings I had to do were in biology and zoology, of microscopic objects.
ReplyDeletehttp://marypurpari.blogspot.com/2013/04/n-is-for-nerve.html
Mary, drawings with lots of detail is difficult because there is little room for error. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
DeleteI like to draw and paint but the human body is the most difficult. I bet it was an informative class.
ReplyDeleteTayla, I have always been fascinated with the human body and that has always been my favorite thing to draw, especially faces. In senior year I took an advanced placement for studio art with my thesis being the human form. I got top scores. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
DeleteSo wish I can draw. I do technical drawings but I have absolutely no artistic skill.
ReplyDeleteLanthie, I have always been able to draw ever since I was small. My kids both inherited the gift from me. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments.
DeleteI can't draw anything more than stick people! I do admire people who can draw and wish I had a little bit of that talent.
ReplyDeleteSally, thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!
DeleteI just "followed" your blog. For some reason, I thought I had followed you already since A to Z began, but I guess I hadn't. So new follower here!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to take a figure drawing class. When I draw people, the proportions tend to be off, and I think taking a class like yours would help me with that.
Cynthia, it definitely. I think it takes a lot of practice but you certainly learn rules of thumb to go by which help. Thank you for stopping by and for the follow. I appreciate it!
DeleteI can draw a great nude stick person but that takes real talent to capture a person, clothed or not!
ReplyDeleteJoJo, I bet your stick people drawings are masterpieces! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!♥
DeleteI can't draw, but I have heard that people are the most difficult thing to draw properly.
ReplyDeleteCat, I enjoy drawing people although they are challenging. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteAh nudes. I remember drawing nudes for my art major before I switched out. Tricky stuff! And you're right - I think the most difficult part is the time limit before a pose shift!
ReplyDeleteKatie, definitely because your natural tendency is to want to perfect your work and fill in the details and your simply can't with a time limit. You can only get the basic forms. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI studied graphic design, too, Kathy and had to sketch nude models. At first, I remember feeling so embarrassed and strange about it but as time went on it became much more natural and even enjoyable. They became beautiful forms and shapes, and not really people anymore. I do remember the jovial fellow playing the guitar and was quite relieved that the guitar covered all those bits that I was embarrassed to sketch.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Cattitude and Gratitude
Writercat59, I was nervous at first but once we got down to business, I went into serious mode and got to work capturing the model as well as I could. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteBeen there, done that. And yes, it is challenging. Forms, shapes, shading. Also discovered I am not an artist. At all.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Rob-bear, I discovered I really did love drawing the human form. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!
DeleteA few years back I was teach math at an art school. One of students mentioned she had to leave early most days because she had some nude modeling to do for the life drawing class. I told her no worries that is not something she to do in my class. She said it would have been easier than doing statistics all day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Reading some of your older ones too.
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Tim Brannan
The Other Side and The Witch
Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
The Freedom of Nonbelief
Timothy, I think I would have rather done statistics!!! LOL More power to her! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI really enjoyed both of your last 2 posts so 've nominated your blog for the Liebster Award. You can check it out over at my blog http://www.vickipaulus.blogspot.com if you would like to participate. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteVicki, I am so pleased you enjoyed my posts. Thank you for stopping by and honoring me with the Liebster award and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI have never been able to draw and have much respect for those who can, especially nude artists!
ReplyDeleteMegan, when you get down to it nude drawings are simply lines, space, and how the light and shadows define the shapes. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
Deleteit sounds very interesting. I'm doing an art class but we haven't done any life classes yet.
ReplyDeleteMagnumlady, I always enjoyed my art classes on the most part. They only became stressful at the end when it was time for portfolio and the need for perfection. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
DeleteI can't even draw a good stick person, so kudos to anyone who can draw and you know what it is afterwards.
ReplyDeleteA-Z
Sandy, thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥
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