Several years ago I was reading through the little newspaper that our city puts out to advertise community events. I noticed that our local art center offered a “non-instructed life drawing class” in which artists could show up with their preferred sketching media, pay a fee, and be provided with a nude model for three hours. I wondered what it would be like to be that model, so I rode my bicycle down there to apply. They hired me on the spot and asked me to cover the class for the following Saturday.
It is typical of me to leap before I look, and so on the way home I began to realize that I had no idea what an art model does, since I had never been to such a class. I’m not exactly a graceful girl. I never took ballet or gymnastics in school. I ride horses and go camping and backpacking. So when I got home I made some phone calls and located a college art instructor who gave me some tips over the phone. That Saturday I showed up to find about 15 adults milling about drinking Starbucks. After the initial introductions, I stepped up on the little stage and disrobed to began my first ever poses. The funny thing is that I was extremely nervous all morning until I took my clothes off. Once naked, I felt relaxed and comfortable and could feel myself taking charge of things. It was wonderful!
A few days later the college art instructor called me back to see how things had gone. I told her I had loved it and that several of the artists had commented that I was the “best” model they had ever seen. She said, “Great! So come work for me. I’ll see you next Wednesday.” After that my phone was practically ringing off the hook from other instructors with job offers. I wound up modeling all around town for a little over two years until I “retired” from it to devout my time to a new horse with discipline problems that demanded a great deal of attention.
All-in-all it was a great time in my life that left me with many fun stories to tell when I am a little old lady at the retirement home.