Life drawing classes have increased in popularity recently for numerous reasons. The drawing scene with Kate Winslett in the movie “The Titanic� certainly helped increase its exposure. The fact that most animation studios give preference to artists who have experience in life drawing is another reason for the big boost in interest. The result of this increased interest in Life Drawing means that there are that many more opportunities to be a life drawing model.

So do you have what it takes to be a life drawing model? It is not about being good looking or having a “model� figure.. Artists study the figure - all kinds of figures and in all age groups. It is about be able to hold a still, to hold a pose.
It is about being creative with your choice of poses. Models generally create their own poses but sometimes are given suggestions by the artists. It is about being comfortable with your self and your body.

It is important that the model can hold a pose for a significant period of time. For painting and drawing that may be as long as 60 minutes. If you want to be a model, then practice staying still.

Once you get past the idea of being nude in a room full of clothed people, coming up with poses is perhaps the most daunting part of being a life drawing model. It can also be the most enjoyable part though.

It is most important to have fun doing this. It does not pay really well but it can be very exciting to be part of the creation of a work of art. And some of the pictures can be very faltering and then perhaps some not so flattering. There are also many artists who will not show you their drawings which is simply part of the deal. On the other hand sometimes an artist will give you one of the drawings for you to keep but this is quite rare.

Modeling sessions usually last for about 3 hours including breaks. For some sessions, you will do the same pose for the entire session with breaks. During your pose, try to pick a point on a wall across the room to look at. This will help you hold your position and it will help you get back into position after a break. With the longer poses, the artist may approach you with your permission and "mark you", which means marking your position, usually with masking tape, on the modeling pedestal or floor. This helps the model get back into the pose after the break. Artists will also let you know if the position needs adjusting.

There are two common types of drawing classes; with and without an instructor. If there is an instructor then the instructor typically decides on the length and type of poses. If there is no instructor then it is up to the model to determine the type and length of poses. In this later case, sometimes the organizer of the workshop or classes sets a guideline, in other cases you need to get a consensus from the class. The participants in the class will work this out quickly if it comes to this.

A typical drawing session usually starts out with about 10 one-minute poses. One-minute poses are considered warm-ups or short poses - often referred to as "gestures". This is your chance to do the more difficult and interesting poses. Other pose lengths are 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and longer poses - up to 60 minutes. A good model spends time coming up with interesting and dynamic poses and takes pride in being creative in this area. A simple timer can be used for longer poses, but the model usually counts in her or his head for the gestures and moves into the next pose automatically as the artists keep sketching and changing paper as needed. It is a good idea to practice some of the poses before hand. You want to be certain that you can hold the pose for the required time. A simple egg timer for timing can be purchased at most hardware stores or even Wal-Mart.

You are able to take regular breaks, the artists will usually want a break as well. During the breaks, the model usually puts on at least a bath robe and may often walk around the room to look at the work being created. However, it is usually best to ask permission before looking at someone's work in-progress. Even very accomplished artists can be very adverse to having someone view their work. Most of the models use this time to stretch out muscles and get fresh air or use the bathroom.

Class sizes vary widely. Workshops organized by art galleries can be attended by as few a 3 people while classes at a college can be as large as 30. The average size is probably around 20.

Models are usually paid in cash (or cheque) at the end of the session on an hourly basis. Colleges and Universities however tend to put you on the payroll.

The easiest way to get work as a life drawing model is to contact your local arts organizations and art schools including colleges. They host life-drawing sessions for teaching or working purposes. Do a search on the internet looking for Life Drawing or Life sculpting classes. Contact the host organization and address your indication that you wish to model to the model co-ordinator. Your name will be added to the list of models and you should get hired soon.

If you are unsure of what is involved, attend one of these workshops and do some drawing. No one needs to see your work, that is not unusual. Many artists are very shy about their work Most of these workshops cost very little to attend. Art galleries and art supply places such as Curries Art Supplies are the best sources for Life Drawing workshops that can be informally attended.

It is fairly rare to get work directly from any of the artists in attendance. Most are in need of models to finish some drawing or painting but they never seem to have time or money. However, from time to time, you will get work directly from an artist.

Most of the drawing classes and workshops are held during the months of September through May. The schools obviously take the summer months off but it seems so do most of the galleries hosting the workshops.

Posing nude is not for everyone. Some methods for dealing with posing nude for the first time include:
1. Once you get to the session, go to the restroom to change into something easy to get in and out of, usually a robe or loose pants. You cannot be struggling to get undressed in front of the class. This is embarrassing to everyone involved and very unprofessional.
2. Pretend that you are someone else - an actor whose role happens to be in the nude. Sean Connery apparently got started being a Life Drawing Model.
3. Realize that artists are going to draw what they “see� and this may not match what you see when you look in the mirror. They are not there to judge your figure or lack there of, there are looking for a subject to draw or sculpt.
Context is everything. Most artists understand that the model is sharing something personal with the artist(s). It is very rare that guests are allowed to wander through the room and take a look during a modeling session. It distracting for everyone, and it is generally considered abusive to the model. A professional model will hold still for the duration of the pose. She or he is "captive". She chose to be nude for working artists, but not for just anyone. Even a performing artist who gets nude during the act does so only for the crowd that has come to see the performance. That is different from simply getting nude in the streets. That is also partly why artists close doors and put shades in front of the windows while a session is going on. And why the model puts something on during the breaks. While a person may feel totally comfortable removing her or his clothes for a doctor's physical exam or even a massage, she/he does not usually sit nude in the waiting room! Like all professional relationships, all parties should be treated with respect and courtesy.