Marilyn Lerner's Class at SVA on January 14, 2014

This was my first time modeling for Ms. Lerner. My first time modeling for a professor is always exciting. I never know what to expect. Then I have to be sure I am paying attention to make sure I am giving them what they need for the class. I truly enjoyed modeling for Marilyn and was floored when she shared she was happy with me.

Unfortunately, I did not have time to get pictures of everyone's work. I tried to at least get the ones that I noticed that had made the most progress over the class period.

Artist Mara

Artist Zavier

Artist Gabriela

Artist Patricio

My muscles still do the same thing...

I was telling a friend I was posing for an Anatomy class today. She ask but how can the see what your muscles are doing? I replied no matter my size, my bones, muscles, etc does the same thing as someone smaller.

When I pose for such classes, it challenges the knowledge of the students knowing how the body moves. No they can not 'see' my muscles. They have to use there knowledge of the human body to understand the pose I have chosen.

I blogged earlier, I pose on purpose. I chose poses that are going to test the knowledge, because they can not 'see' with their eyes. I never stand straight up and down, I am always twisted and leaning.

I love what I do and I am good at it.

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.