If you can sit still for 20 minutes at a time, for three or four sittings, you too can be a model for a portrait painting. I had this privilege a few month ago when I was asked to sit for a local group.
Every 20 minutes (they use a timer) I was able to up and walk around and check their progress. Each artist works in their own medium – from pencil and charcoal to pastels, watercolour and acrylics.
I enjoyed the experience and the company of these talented people so much, I joined them. We met each Tuesday morning.
Portraiture is tricky and full of rules. So, the goal at these sessions is to get a little bit better at the craft. Practice, practice, practice!
I’m getting better, but still feel compelled to apologize in advance to whoever is modelling.
At the end of each session, the finished pieces are lined up and each one is critiqued in the most encouraging and nurturing way. For me, this is when the real learning happens.
WPC – Face
Rose Bay Letters 
A wonderful thing to do – my daughter is a Fine Arts student in England and they cry out for life models …. it is heart to quantify how much more useful it is than a photograph.
Thanks! This group has made it a policy to require each participating artist to arrange for a model at least once per season.
That helps!
It seems to be great experience!
It was really fun!!
I have no talent in this department so will only say I admire all of your determination, talent, and interpretation. ๐
Some of these artists are professionally trained and very talented. Me? Not so much. But I’m encouraged by their gentle guidance. I learn something new every week.
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Looks like there were some very talented people in the group .. ๐ What a great thing to be able to do
Well. There’s a variety of talent, for sure. For me, it’s an exercise in working outside my comfort zone. WAY out side. Thanks for the encouraging words, Julie!! Happy weekend!
We all have that comfort zone don’t we? ๐
Yes, absolutely!
I absolutely love your contribution to this photo challenge. It’s a delight to read and see! I don’t feel that I have the drawing talent but I am willing to practice and take classes. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m so glad!! It is always good to “try something new”. This has been such a positive experience for ma – I encourage you to give it a try.
I agree, Janet. I love learning new things. I was very disappointed in my art attempts as a young teenager/child. Maybe I’d feel differently as an adult. I’m more of a writer and photographer. But I will take a class like this, or perhaps model for one as you wrote about.
It’s definitely worth a try. I guess we all have stuff we’d like to be better at. For instance, I aspire to writing. So, good for you for honing that skill!!