Modelling
The model has one of the most important roles in the painting process. The model becomes the source of inspiration for the artist; being immortalized in a symphony of forms, shapes and colors.
General Information
In history you will always find stories of artist and their models. They were and essential part in the process as they provided the artist with the information needed for a realistic depiction of a person.
Contrary to popular expectations, models were used more that one might think. They were and still are being used in academies and ateliers across the world. The students studies the anatomy, form, and painting the flesh from a live model. That is crucial in their education.
You’d see a lot of artists, masters of anatomy who still use models. In reality one could work only to a certain point from imagination, after which one must call in a model to examine the forms of the body more closely, taking notes and producing a masterful work.
The need of a model since the second half of the twentieth century has been reduced due to the abstract movement in art. Nowadays people find photos a sophisticated replacement to a live model. While photography has its uses, a model has indeed posed for those photos thus proving its value.
If one opts for realistic depiction of people in one’s painting, they have to use reference in one way or the other for maximum clarity and masterful execution. That’s why there is a great need of models.
The Process
The pose that the model takes usually is determined ahead of time. It has been discussed with the model and in the day of the pose the model takes the pose on the podium.
Categories
One can distinguish three main categories:
Nude
Half-nude
Clothed
Nude
The most basic and understood is the “nude”. If one looks at drawings and paintings from the 19th century ateliers, one’d see studies done from a model; those are the so called academic nudes.
While drawing from the live model was more common in the nineteenth century, it is indeed a great tool for artists to this day. It is the most important exercise to practice when learning to draw and paint. Most ateliers nowadays still have it as their main discipline.
A case could be made that photos of models are more convenient, and while that is true (since they provide multiple angles and a model does not have to spend hours and weeks in the studio), the artist still need to take those reference photos.
Understandably, not every model is comfortable with taking nude photos of themselves for an artist they just met, however if they trust the artist, one could easily pose nude for photographical references. Hence the model does not need to stay for hours in the same pose and it gives a freedom for a more dynamic pose.
Consequently the payment for a photographical session is different to that of a live modeling. The photographical session has a fixed price while the live modeling is payed hourly.
William Bouguereau, “La Perle”, 1894
Half-nude
This option is good for people who do not feel comfortable posing fully nude.
It is understandable that some people might not feel comfortable being naked in front of an artist drawing them, and less having pictures taken of them.
Even if someone might not be posing for photographical reference, and/or they are unexperienced in modeling, they could easily pose in their underwear. It is advisable (and preferred) if they wore nude color skintight underwear. That helps the artist interpret that area better.
A female model might also consider only bikini bottom for the session.
It is a main priority that the model feels comfortable while posing.
William Bouguereau, “Le Travail Interrompu”, 1891
Clothed
A model could also pose clothed. Not every painting requires a nude model. Some might just need a portrait taken and/or hands and feet reference. Or given the occasion the model could be draped. Hence the possibility of a the model posing clothed.
Lord Frederic Leighton, “A Roman Lady”, 1859