Yes, no, wait a minute...

Ah, life. There are many things you throw at me that catch me so off guard. Last Tuesday I was scheduled to model at a center downtown and unfortunately things came up and messed that plan up. So I called a friend, Eddie, who has been dying for more modeling jobs - perfect timing. He got to model and loved it! And I was able to cover my time.

This Tuesday a model was not able to make it so I took the opportunity to work. It was nice. I arrived at 6:30 but no one showed up until 7:30. So I stayed late. It was an up and down time for me. Sometimes I feel really inspired and everything I do feels fantastic and other times I feel so rusty and out of place. Anyway, it can be this constant struggle between comfort and awkward which is never pleasant.

After the first few poses I finally got warmed up and felt great - the rest of the session felt wonderful. Annelies had these big beautiful cushions to sit on, they were so comfortable. Oh and the music was perfect for the evening, it was a percussion mix of familiar songs like Shaggy - Angel and Three Little Birds  - Bob Marley. Anyway here are some photos from the session...

Corse Gallery Continued

Yesterday was the last day for the Romel dela Torre painting workshop at the Corse Gallery. It was an excellent workshop. So many painters of all backgrounds. It was a delight. I arrived ten minutes early, but the group had not gone to lunch yet, so I needed to stall for an hour. I started walking down the road but couldn't find a place to stop and read. On my way back to my car I ran into two women, Virgina and Barbara, that were in the group I posed for. So we sat and chatted away the hour. The second day working back into that pose was a little difficult. My upper thighs had almost given up but I figured out some nice stretches that relieved the stress. After that the pose was much easier to settle into and rather enjoyable. I personally really enjoy over the shoulder glances. There is just something about its indifference that I enjoy - it could be either an assertive stare, or an innocent glance - ah, it is pleasant. So the workshop went on and my neck and thighs relaxed that it became easier to access that pose. Holding it for roughly six and a half hours can be pretty strenuous on the body. - That is something that I always forget - People constantly ask me if figure modeling is difficult, and I reply no I really enjoy it. But then after the time has come and gone I remember, you know what... it is a lot of work and there are a few times I have hurt myself while modeling. Shall we list them?
1 - I reclined on my right arm for an hour - pain for two days
2 - I was all kinds of twisted every-which way and putting all of my weight on my left leg... needless to say my leg went completely numb for three weeks. There was a doctor visit
3 - I had tripped the night before the usual 3hour session on Sundays and while I modeled I ended up putting my right leg in complete pain. Sitting, standing, sleeping, walking - it hurt constantly for 2 weeks.

These experiences have helped me learn that stretching everyday can really add to more flexibility and less injury while working in still circumstances. But alas, here are more images from the workshop - I hope you enjoy!

Painting Workshop - Corse Gallery

The last time I worked for strictly painters - was a weekend painting workshop for the Women's Center of Jacksonville featuring Christina Foard - a local artist of abstracted figures. This was a great workshop - I held a four hour seated pose. Christina dressed me in this fabulous BCBG white laced dress with a polka-dotted petite coat surrounded by many patterned vibrant fabrics. But that is a different story... This is a post of my first internationally known artist and my first time at a wonderful gallery.

Yesterday - April 6th - was my first day working with Eileen Corse, owner of the Corse Gallery. It has been a great experience with an extravagant artist - Romel dela Torre. I am in a seated pose on a stool with my shoulders angled and head tilted downward. The first 2 hours were pretty great and comfortable. It was easy for me to get right back into the pose. The last hour though, I really started to feel it in my neck. My theory is that I already have a "bad" neck and have been going to the chiropractor so it wasn't seriously painful... it just became less comfortable. But anyway - the pose is really beautiful - I will let the photos show you.

This one on the right! I absolutely love her color pallet... totally up my ally. Artist is below...

There are some really fabulous works here - I cannot wait until the end of the workshop today. I will definitely have the "finished" images up this afternoon. They are just great paintings...

*Side Note* Listening to...Kid Cudi - I really dig the beat and the hiphop rap - I never disliked but never liked either. Note though, I tried modeling to this and did not enjoy it... not the type of music to keep me motivated while holding a pose. Reading... Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis Autobiography (lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Researching... Virgil Solis - Wise and Foolish Virgins Prints.

Slow and Steady - March 27th

Ah, I had restless sleep last night and woke up before my alarm this morning. I tend to not sleep well whenever I'm feeling anxious. Today was the day to start my running routine again. I haven't ran in about 2 months and it has thrown me off. So I got up and headed out, finishing up with some lovely pilates and push-ups. This really got me in the mood to model because I felt so awake and ready to start the day. On my drive over I put on some 80s music and jammed out.

I was a little upset when I arrived at the figure class because it was practically empty. Come to find out - there was a plein air  workshop, so most of the artists were there for the weekend. However, I did get the chance to meet some new faces.

The session consisted of some nice poses - at least I enjoyed them :) But it was a slow paced, relaxing type of modeling day. They were very comfortable poses, which I enjoy. And everyone was super mellow and enjoying the slow flow of the afternoon. We ended the session with a seated hour long pose featured on the About Me page. It was a great steady session. I have three modeling playlists and today I chose my Regina Spektor list. It consists of Regina, Unwritten Law, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I seem to really enjoy this playlist and it fit rather well with the pace of the session.

Here is a seated pose I held before the final chair pose.

Photo taken by Becky McGinnis

The Beginning... and Beyond

Well - this will make my first entry. Let us start at the beginning...

I started taking a figure drawing class with Larry Davis in the spring of 2009 - I had taken my first studio class a year and a half earlier. I was told by several friends (artists) that learning to draw the figure can help you learn to draw everything else. I thought, man that might help me improve a great deal. I personally have never considered myself an Artist but I do enjoy the atmosphere, the feeling of creating, and the liberty of expression that can become a personal work. So I considered modeling after the first week of classes. I was so influenced by the first two models we had... Ashley - a little above average height, beautiful hourglass figure, short pixie brunette hair, I was just fascinated with her presence and beauty and man she could really get into a pose. Then there was Jessica - slightly under average height, ballerina, big hips, small perky breasts, and long blond hair. She would hold anything you would ask, and being a ballerina she came up with some fantastic poses. I remember one day she came in with her toe shoes and stood on her toes for 3poses/5mins each. It was excellent! I made a triptych out of those... 

So, one day I was in the printshop (I was seriously involved in the printmaking program) working on a big 12 color print with an edition of 33 - that kicked my ass... and in comes my friend Vinny, this 60 something, big timey Irish printmaker from Rhode Island (who's catch phrase is "How you doin' my lil friend, I like yo face"). He says to me - Hey my model didn't show up and I know you're interested, get in here I need your help.  Thus. the beginning of my figure modeling experiences. 

It starts as a rush and ends with fascination. I was nervous, I had started a few weeks before, modeling privately for individual friends about once or twice a week, but a crowd?! There were about 20 people in there and I had never been nude in front of strangers... hahha that is an odd thought, but a very notable one indeed. But I walked in there and modeled away, meeting for the first time some of the most fascinating artists I would develop friendships with. Vinny tried to make me comfortable, not doing any crazy or awkward poses. It was probably one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. It was a little tense for me in the beginning - but over the next few years I learned so much about myself and how my body works. I have figured out what my body can tolerate when I model and I can also tell you how long I can hold a pose before some part of me starts to fall asleep - usually my hands and arms first. 

Modeling is definitely one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy almost every minute of it. It puts me in a rather quiescent state that allows me to meditate and reconnect with myself. 

These are some gestures by Lindsay Whelan.