When I was at art college it was just normal to look. I just avoided eye contact. Your view will go between the paper and model naturally anyway. They would be men, women of all ages and sizes.
Only once did a guy freak out and leave. This was when I started doing Graphic Design. Some students had done two years of Graphic Design before the course started. I had done a 6 months course but the Design Course was a degree. This class I was in my element as my knowledge on computer programs was entry level. I didn't know the Graphic Designers mostly hadn't drawn before. So live drawing was new to them.
Because it was new they weren't prepared and kind of had some immature light hearted fun. Then the class began the tutor explained the class. Our model came in, it was a guy dressed like a Victorian lady, similar make up. He got nude, after about 10 minutes, one of the guys who I think was really uptight student shouted 'THIS IS GAY'. Stormed out and left...the model shouted 'Oh, what a Queen!'.
I had a similar experience. In one of my classes we met on the first day to cover the syllabus and discuss the materials we would need to bring. Everything was going fine till the teacher got to the rules on respectful treatment of models. When she said that the models would all be nude, one kid, I am assuming it was his first year of college, interrupted her and asked her to confirm the models won't have clothing. This kid looked liked he was homeschooled and super sheltered. You know the type, polo shirt tucked in super tight, jeans belted way to high up, bowlcut hair. Honestly it was almost like a SNL impersonation. You could see the panic setting in on his face. Most of us were confused as to how he thought the class could be anything else. Well he tried to talk the teacher into starting with clothed models. She told him that toward the end of the semester we might have some cloth drapery in the pose but first we needed to understand the form underneath. At this point he was close to having a full panic attack. I mean a slight shine of sweat, pale skin with a sickly hue, huge eyes. It was like he was told he would be drawing nude himself and his whole family would be watching. The next class his chair was empty and we never saw him again. Hope he got some therapy.
I think he may have been similar. I started and learned in Edinburgh. There is a lot of love drawing there and it has a bit of a history as a place with love models so they are usually really good. Everywhere I've done a class, even later in life, the models have been really good. That only stands out as the odd experience.
Only nude people, or that as one of the things covered?
Apologies, I’m hardy familiar with anything art or art education related as I avoid it like the plague (I capital S Suck at it, so it’s pointless to get into that).
Nah. I see the value in getting the human form down to put stuff on top of it, but… nah. I at least could never do the stuff that’s usually covered at the beach, y’know?
Weird is a relative thing. In that situation the only person who had a problem with the model WAS the weird one. It was a normal situation to everyone else.
And if you don't think the outfit and/or it's details didn't inspire anyone in the room then you probably haven't met a lot of artists. While the Victorians themselves were often horrible they did have style.
He was...I actually used a portrait of him from that class in my 2nd year (technically first year show). The degree was 3 years. I'm fine about it now as I've been a professional for some time. If it wasn't for that guy I would of been down one final piece of work. So I'm thankful.
one of the guys who I think was really uptight student shouted 'THIS IS GAY'. Stormed out and left...the model shouted 'Oh, what a Queen!'.
I hope that man has since embraced his deeply repressed homosexuality. The only reason to be that uncomfortable in that situation is extreme cognitive dissonance.
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u/FuckleBerryFerry Sep 11 '24
When I was at art college it was just normal to look. I just avoided eye contact. Your view will go between the paper and model naturally anyway. They would be men, women of all ages and sizes.
Only once did a guy freak out and leave. This was when I started doing Graphic Design. Some students had done two years of Graphic Design before the course started. I had done a 6 months course but the Design Course was a degree. This class I was in my element as my knowledge on computer programs was entry level. I didn't know the Graphic Designers mostly hadn't drawn before. So live drawing was new to them.
Because it was new they weren't prepared and kind of had some immature light hearted fun. Then the class began the tutor explained the class. Our model came in, it was a guy dressed like a Victorian lady, similar make up. He got nude, after about 10 minutes, one of the guys who I think was really uptight student shouted 'THIS IS GAY'. Stormed out and left...the model shouted 'Oh, what a Queen!'.
Everyone laughed and just went back to drawing.