5 Nudes: First Timers

Five life drawings of newbies

Supine Student © Simon Goss ARCA 2018

What possesses a person to pose nude for a life drawing group? It could be any number of things — boldness, vanity, poverty, exhibitionism, pride, philanthropy? Whatever it is, and whatever it takes, there has to be a first time, and this is a fascinating stage in a model’s career to investigate. Over a long career in the life drawing room I have had the privilege to witness a model’s very first nude session in public on many occasions. I have chosen a small selection here of life drawing debutantes that I felt worthy of inclusion, as they had inspired me to produce at least one drawing that was a testament to their daring and poise, under what would be the most unusual of circumstances for many of us. You may yourself be comfortable naked, with partner or even in company (you may be a naturist, who knows!), but how would you feel if you were the only one undressed, and everyone else in the room was not just staring, but studying your naked body intently! Now, imagine doing that for the first time…

1 Ingenue Seated

Ingenue Seated © Simon Goss ARCA 2006

This model was very young (19) in comparison to the regular stable of models we usually drew. It is a long time ago, but I remember that her calmness assuaged the fears the life class host had about her being too young. She began the session partly clothed, keeping on, of all things, her t-shirt. When she gained confidence, she removed that too and gave a set of willowy, serene poses that would have been the envy of a lot of more experienced models. For this pose she sat in an uncomfortable chair with a twist that looks a little forced, but displayed an amazing confidence for her age. I never saw her again so I have no idea if this was a one-off for her (perhaps she didn’t enjoy it), or she may have gone on to pose elsewhere, who knows?

I am left with this early watercolour study in the style I was developing back in 2006 and which, to some extent, I still employ for most of my nudes. This one is unusual in that it is in watercolour painted over a standard 3B pencil rather than a water soluble graphite that I began using soon after. I am happy with the almost washed out colour here, in the sense that it is paler and less saturated as the body recedes from us. Having a strong colour on the arm in the foreground brings that forward and out of the page. I suspect that the lack of colour on the hair is due to my running out of time, I would normally have worked into it a little more.

2 The Body Positive

The Body Positive © Simon Goss ARCA 2018

Around 2017 I began attending the local University Art Group’s life drawing sessions, which had been made accessible to paying artists to raise funds. These proved to be a great eye-opener, in that each and every model they had (a different one each week), was a novice from the substantial student body. This was remarkable, not least in that they had so many volunteers, but also as they were all so damned good at it! It seems that a lot of people, students in particular perhaps, have posing nude for a life class as part of their bucket list.

This model explained to the group before posing, that she was a Psychology student who was making a study of body positivity and its effects on mental health. She felt that she could put her experience as a debutante nude model to some use in her thesis. The drawing is sound and I am happy with the slightly undercoloured painting — it was only a twenty minute pose. I am not usually a fan of coloured hair on a model (it’s hard enough to make black, brown or blonde hair look convincing), but this student’s purple and blue shades actually worked well for me here. A note about the pose — there is an obvious anonymity to it which seems fitting, as if the model would rather not be recognised at a later stage, such as this.

3 The Hamburger

The Hamburger © Simon Goss ARCA 2019

Another debutante came as a one-off to the regular group at the Elysium gallery/bar in Swansea. They cast their net widely among their clientele, colleagues and attendees to find models for the life drawing sessions, so I am not sure where this person was scouted. I do remember, however, that she was a student (yes, another one) from Hamburg. My other handful of drawings from the evening confirm that the model had an all-over tan and very red cheeks and ears, as if she had been out in the sun all day. I find a tan hard to paint, as the even colour disguises some definition in the body and robs me of the blues and greens that lurk beneath the skin of a pale model. I suspect that is why I chose to surround the figure with a turquoise scumble to contrast her tan skin. I think I have captured the weight going up through the shoulder as the pose went on, and I am happy that this was a decent likeness of a clear-eyed young woman facing the room with confidence. The drawing and proportions here are solid, the composition sits well on the page, and I do so love drawing a draped hand! I really should use the combination of Scarlet and Permanent Magenta, which is evident on left knee and right elbow, again - it gives a very satisfying, vibrant glow.

4 The Sub

The Sub © Simon Goss ARCA 2023

It takes a special person to put their hand up to volunteer at the best of times. When the reason is that the booked model has not turned up, and the life drawing room has about thirty eager attendees (most of whom would keep their hands in their pockets when asked to fill in), it is even more commendable. So it was with this young woman, who stepped up without the merest hint of nerves and stripped off in front of her oh-so-recent peers. She held a series of twisting, standing poses with verve and aplomb, and was remarkably relaxed in the seated poses. The model’s composure (or lack of it), is transmitted around the room, and can be the difference between a difficult session and a successful one. This was firmly the latter.

As I had a back view with no face or hands to draw, this ten-minute pose gave me time to add colour to what was a rapid drawing in soluble graphite on cartridge paper. I was particularly taken with the deep cleft in the curve of the model’s spine and filled it with a heavy Gold Green, this is offset by the Potter’s Pink on the buttocks which, in tandem, give a good approximation of skin colour in shadow. Mixed together, they make a nice chromatic brown as can be seen on the right hip.

The week after this drawing I sat next to the young woman, now an artist again, and asked her what had possessed her. “I just thought that if I was going to draw nudes, I should see what it felt like to pose”. Pragmatic and delightful, but you won’t catch me doing it — I enjoy the drawing too much!

5 A Star is Born

A Star is Born © Simon Goss ARCA 2024

Sometimes, you just know. So it was, when I first saw the marvelous Colombian life model, Sofia, pose for an online group. It was only back in January this year, but already I have forgotten the circumstances! I draw so often and join so many groups that it is hard to tell them apart sometimes. Not the case with the models however, and Sofia stood out from the start. She has a wonderfully curvy figure, is limber and lithe, and has the most elegant hand gestures, as you can see in this, the first drawing I made of her. I confess I have struggled since to capture her as well — she has a mass of auburn curls and wide, almond shaped eyes which, in combination, rather confound me. I could not be much happier with this five-minute prep sketch though, and will be surprised, and very happy, if I draw anything better this year. The pose is wonderful — coquettish and poised, her expressions are often amusing, and those hands! My line is both loose and accurate, something I really struggle to achieve, and I have held back on the shading, probably due to time constraint. But it works, and I shall seek out Sofia again as soon as I can.

If you enjoyed this you can read about More First Timers here:

[embed]5 Nudes: More First Timers Five more life drawings of debutantesmedium.com

You can read about more models here — https://medium.com/@draftsmann/list/nudes-d91f516b26e3

Most of the drawings featured are for sale — please contact me for prices.

I am open to commissions for nude and conventional portraits, you can see more examples of my work and my (very reasonable!) fees here — www.portraitpainter.me.uk

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