Happy New Year

New year and a new semester. Last semester was great. I saw a serious growth in my career with being added to the SVA Modeling family. I am looking forward to strengthen my career relationships in New York as well as Philadelphia.

I am also excited about continuing to develop this blog. I have asked a few of my Facebook connection to contribute questions to my 5 W's on Me. I like supporting people who are doing something. So with each question I will have a link leading to their site.

I have worked out my interview schedule. I plan to have an interview with an artist that I have not worked with once a month. I will showcase artist I have worked with as these events happen.

I am also going to share my learning process of becoming a 'recognized' Freelancer. Meaning sharing the different preparation I need to make to function as a business. From the legal to the financial experience.

Also, I am moving this year. I am still going to work in Philly, so I am looking for something of a mid-point kinda between New York City and Philadelphia. Now that does not mean New Jersey is a shoe in, because I am open to living in New York City should the right opportunity present itself.

I have only lived in Philly and live my new career, I want to try my life in a new city.

So here is to more work, new residence and a continued love of Life.

I just had a thought,

Can you love Life and not yourself?

Namaste 

November 27, 2013 with Artist Nina in Professor Nancy Chunn Evening Class at SVA

  

The preceding are a set of painting for a collage worked by Artist Nina aka GreekChristiana. I was primarily there to model just for her. I hope to see how I fit into the finished project soon.

Andrew Castrucci of SVA-NYC Class October 17th Painting Class

 

Artist Anna

 

Artist Alisha

 

Artist Atif

  

Artist Atif

  

Artist Sebastian

Artist Aisha

  

Artist Sophia

Artist Sophia

Steve Gaffney of SVA-NYC

Sketch by Professor Steve Gaffney

This was one of the biggest compliments I have received thus far from a Professor. During an Animation Class, Professor Steve Gaffney felt inspired enough to draw me while I was posing.

There are many that think a muse like myself would not be used for an Animation Class, because you can not readily see what my muscles are doing. But it is the challenge to identify where and what my muscles are doing and testing the students knowledge of the human body.

Artist Austin

These are Artist Austin contribution to the Plethora of Pretty Portraits for Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class Fall 2012.

 

Artist Mr. Maxx

Maxx has been a student in the classes that I model for at Tyler since I started. I love his style. He has a great deal of fun while he is creating, not to be taken as he is not also very serious about his work. I wish I could show you all of the different works he has done.

Artist Maxx has three different portraits, well two portraits actually. The second portrait, I was able to get before and after photos. The before an after photos were done, because the final day of my pose there was a light change which change a number of the paintings for the Plethora of Pretty Portraits for Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class Fall 2012.

Maxx was the first not to be afraid to add my keloid in his creations. It is funny that I still have to explain my keloid is not an earring. I always let the students know I am not sensitive about it.

 

Artist Eunbi

Artist Eunbi

The next feature from the 'Plethora of Pretty Portraits for Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class Fall 2012' Show is Eunbi.

I am showing two stages of Eunbi's portrait of me, the drawing and the painting. Yes, there is a difference. Artist Eunbi related the pain I was in during this pose. Even if I did not know I had been in pain, the painting related that.

I dislike breaking poses. Sometimes, when I chose a pose with the aim of being inspiring to the students there maybe a bit of pain involved. The students produced the stages of the paintings over six three hour classes.

I love both versions. The second painting there was also a major light increase. I will be showcasing her again for a different class, so keep an eye out.

 

I pose on purpose

When I chose a pose or poses, it is always with what the professor is telling the students they want to see.

For example, today in class, the point Professor Dona Nelson from Tyler School of Art wanted the students to focus on was relationships. She was not looking for a finished artwork as much as she was looking to see that the students were using relationships to make proper measurements.

I could have chose an easy square pose, because I get paid the same whether I do an easy pose or a difficult pose, but I never like choosing easy poses. Easy poses are as boring for me as they are the artist. There have been times I have taking poses that are down right painful, because of what I wanted to project. Not that any professor would ever have a problem with me changing, it is a personal choice. When I commit to a pose, it has to be very very very painful for me to break it. When I first started, I had a couple that I broke for that reason. It challenged me to get my stamina and strength up.

Back to the pose for the class, I chose my version of a parallelogram. It made my pose interesting and still gave the students makers to relate certain parts of my body to the other. For example, on my right side, I purposely rested my arm midway between my knee and hip but also placing it vertical to my heel.

I take my place in the class very seriously, because education is serious to me. It is important that I am aiding in inspiring the students to take what they are learning seriously in partnership with their professors.

Van Goghist Touch by Artist Blake

Blake is a student of Tyler School of Art and in Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class that created the show

Plethora of Pretty Portraits for Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class Fall 2012

I love when students are not afraid to take liberties. A portrait does not have to be like a photograph, in fact it is not. Blake's portrait inspired a special eye painting demo by Professor Susan Moore for the class. Blake's take on the portrait works and I love it. Blake put effort in trying to capture me from his view. He said I had a great expression, very nature, he just wanted to do it justice. I say he did. Once again, I love it.

Plethora of Pretty Portraits for Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class Fall 2012

Plethora of Pretty Portraits for Professor Susan Moore's Painting Class Fall 2012

Artist Blake's
inspiration by my pose
was Van Goghish in style
and I love it.

Austin

Ken

Chi

Austin

Maxx

Eunbi

Chi

Maxx

Ashley

Eunbi

Maxx

Austin

Chi

'Extraordinarily Unusual Figure'

Namaste

Today was my first time getting a chance to model for Pratt Institute. This was a complement, for those that are unsure. These were words use to discuss the work student were doing of me.

June 2011 photo shoot in Philadelphia, PA
 for Kim Mintzer Images 

It was a 3 hour class with a number of different types of poses. (I was very grateful, I was not in one pose today. I would have fallen asleep. I was out way to long the night before.) As the professor went on instructing the students how to approach drawing me, she said 'This is an extraordinarily unusual figure you have before you.'

Now I know show of you, because of where you are in your journey, would see that as a diss. It is not. Number One, most art models are not my size. Generally they are athlete and dancer types. So my presence is unusual to a class. Extraordinary, because it is out of the normal that they have to draw and it forces some of them to approach drawing or painting me using the skills that are not normally challenged by smaller models.

I am proud to be an 'Extraordinarily Unusual Figure'. You should be too.