Client request for nude commission

[Morris Darby]

Chris,

Great suggestions. Of all the figure classes I've taken, this is the first request I've had to deal with. Your ideas will be a great help. Also, something I failed to mention....later, I met her husband and he is a past business affiliate. I'm sure it would have been a very big surprise.

And I have about a two year jump on you with Pino. I read the story of his life, and have been viewing his paintings. I really enjoy going through his inventory.

Also, I am very aware of the policy here for nudes. I'm not really sure they fall into the "portrait" category anyway.

[Linda Brandon]

Hi Morris,

I would first research paintings of nudes to be able to show the woman the kind of tasteful, graceful work you have in mind for her.

Unless your client is very sure of her husband's gentle nature, I'd try to convince the woman to involve her husband in the process. He could either supply ideas or be there for the actual photo shoot. I know a sculptor who always has a third party in the room when he works with women.

My other advice is to be sure you would be able to find the woman attractive and to paint her that way. Personally, I think this is a key, visceral component of any good portrait painting. "Attractive" doesn't mean perfect or young. The older your client the more compassion you should show to her. I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job.

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

I know a sculptor who always has a third party in the room when he works with women.

I second Linda's suggestion. I'd be wary about how you approach the photo shoot and the actual posing. There are people out there who might conceivably expect an intimate encounter as a side benefit to the production of the portrait, especially with this theme, and in today's litigious society you should tread carefully. Having worked as a psychologist in public schools until I retired a few years ago, I had to learn to keep barriers up and to call for backups when a situation looked as though it had the potential to blow up. It's very sad when one can no longer put a reassuring hand on a child's shoulder, but we were constantly being advised not to do so. Similarly, male psychologists or social workers avoided transporting female students without a third person along.

That said, it sounds like an interesting commission and I'll be interested in hearing how it goes. Do keep us posted!

[Morris Darby]

Yes, yes, and again, yes.

A third party is a must! This is keeping with professional standards that are almost unique to this industry. I've worked and learned this from Cable Spence in his figure classes. He is strickly serious about the work and how to properly hold the classes.

I won't show the painting here (or maybe not the whole painting), but I'll let everyone know how it goes. It may be a good topic for instruction.

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Originally Posted by Morris Darby

Yes, yes, and again, yes.

A third party is a must! This is keeping with professional standards that are almost unique to this industry. I've worked and learned this from Cable Spence in his figure classes. He is strickly serious about the work and how to properly hold the classes.

I won't show the painting here (or maybe not the whole painting), but I'll let everyone know how it goes. It may be a good topic for instruction.

Whew! I'm glad to hear that this advice is already out there and widely recognized.

As the commission proceeds, why don't you give us a link to your site and do previews for us. Unless that, too, is against forum rules? Michele?

[Michele Rushworth]

Links to sites with nudes are okay.

[Jimmie Arroyo]

Great thread, I've always felt that nudes or any part of the body can be considered a portrait. Even a picture of someone's hands, I would consider a portrait of the person. Let's say at an extreme, a picture of old hands, slightly curled due to pain or some type of deformity, can be a portrait of my grandmother. I think once the picture is about something beyond the person, then it may fall from being a portrait. If the pic were meant to be obscene, and the obscenity is more important than the model, then it may no longer qualify as a portrait. Unless ofcourse, being obscene is the person's personality.

I have someone interested in posing nude just to have for herself, ofcourse I get to take pictures to use for my own portfolio. I would definitely consider them portraits as I always try to stress the person's personality through the work. Just my opinion ofcourse.