06.10
LIFE MODELLING OR “ART-BUNGEE-JUMPING”.
I took up life drawing some years ago, at a local (Bundaberg) Art shop/studio, Art Plus. This was one of my first drawings, on the first life drawing session. The model was Sophia, who I was later to photograph (see this site). It was a moment of epiphany, seeing this beautiful woman take off her clothes in front of a bunch of artists – most of whom were women. We were all clothed, and Sophia, naked. I thought that we were the plebs, hiding behind this guise of cloth. Professing the freedom and open-mindedness of drawing a nude, but at the same time would never do it ourselves. I felt the empowerment Sophia had, the centre of the Universe in a sense, and thought “Wow, it must be amazing to have the courage to do that.” It was this first experience with life drawing that later drew me (pun intended) to have a go at life modelling myself. When I did, the feeling was ecstatic, almost euphoric. Liberating and empowering, as I imagined it would be. When I took off my robe, it was as though all the troubles of the world lifted from my shoulders, and the feeling lasted all day. I call it “Art Bungee-Jumping.” I would recommend it to anyone. And the extra bonus was, that I got paid. Some good coffee and lunch money.
Below: LIFE DRAWING OF SOPHIA, AND MY “CAREER” FOR A TERM AT TAFE ART CLASS BUNDABERG (AUSTRALIA) 2013 – ART BUNGEE JUMPING. LIBERATING INDEED.
