A Lot of Free Life Models

[Sharon Knettell]

I have done thisat parties and fund raisers. It is a great way to really learn how to grab the salient features quickly.

Working and demoing from life in public is nerve wracking. I know this from the three years I taught at the Rhode Island School of Design. However nervous I was, I reminded myself that the model was free and the experience was invaluable.

First of all it frees you from the conception you have to produce a masterpiece, you just gotta draw and hope you survive.

Great piece Linda, thank-you for your effort in posting it.

[Michele Rushworth]

I did exactly what Linda is recommending for two summers when I was in college. (I was paid for it by a company who had all the necessary permits etc. but otherwise the idea was the same.) Over those two summers I must have done 500 full color pastel portraits from life, in less than an hour each. What great training and experience. It made me fearless about tackling anything and doing it in front of a crowd, too. I highly recommend it, even if it's done for free. Where else can you get models lining up out the door for your work?

[Paul Foxton]

Thanks for the post Linda, I think that's a great idea. I don't think I've quite got this bit:

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

First, make sure you can draw well enough so that you don't thoroughly embarrass yourself the first day

yet, but I'm working on it. I've got this filed away for later.

[Richard Bingham]

Maybe you should plan on embarrassing yourself the first day . . . what's the worst that can happen? If you get harrassed too much, hand the heckler the charcoal . . . one of two things will happen: either they'll "fold" and concede your skill, or they'll show you something and you'll learn from it. I'm betting on the former.

[Linda Brandon]

Paul, from what I can tell on your site, you are an exceptionally talented artist who is terrific with people - I predict lines going out the door. And I'd like to be drawn by you, too!

[Paul Foxton]

Heh, Richard, that's a good point.

Linda - are you sure you were at the right web site?

You've convinced me. If it goes well I'll come back and report, if it goes badly and I get beaten up, arrested or laughed out of town I'll just go very quiet and pretend I never went in the first place.

[Linda Brandon]

I've been getting a few emails recently about photos vs. life work and so I want to clarify my own feelings about the subject. My best day is when I get to work from life. My second best day is when I get to work from a photo. (I think I am paraphrasing a sports coach here, maybe Vince Lombardi...?) The point is, I'll try to get it done however I can.

All I'm trying to say is that any way you can get good work done is better than no way at all. What ultimately matters is your product, and you must get your work done before your lights go out and your time to make art is over. But working from life will make any work you do from photos much, much stronger.

[Clayton J. Beck III]

All my friends thought I was crazy when I did this. I would trade anybody a charcoal that they would sit for, for an oil that they would sit for me. I saw it as getting two models for free but most of my friends thought I was giving my work away too cheap. The good thing as I am not my biggest collector. I still do it now only it cost them three settings. Ha! Hey, an artist as to do what he's gotta do.

Clayton

[Chris Saper]

What great idea! ( I am still my biggest collector)