I don't want to draw nudes...

[Zirngibism]

I have several reasons for not wanting to draw nudes.

For one, my mom thinks nude drawing is pornography behind the mask of art. (I guess I would partially agree to that.) I'm pretty sure she would be mad at me if she found out I was drawing nudes over at college. Also, I would be rather embarassed to show those drawings to ANYBODY.

Is it a coincidence that the tradition of drawing naked females was started in a time when 99% of artists were male? I asked an older male artist about it, and he said that when he was younger, there was a bit of a sexual aspect.

On asking other artists about why drawing nudes is desirable, they say it's because the subtle curves of the body are difficult to draw. Well, can't we get those subtle curves if women wore flesh-colored bikinis and men wore speedos? I think so. So when I'm in a figure-drawing class, could I just draw those on my models instead of the details on their, uh, parts?

I can't say I'm very religious, but it still feels very wrong to draw parts that aren't allowed to be shown in public by law (at least in my country). I've always been a little shy about such things, always changing in the bathroom stall for gym class, etc...


I guess the bottom line about what I'm asking is that, when in college, could I omit the model's "private parts" without getting my grade docked?

[CaptainInsano]

it's okay to be insecure about your sexuality... as long as your are aware that's the case here.

[Envisor]

The only reason I draw nudes is to better get accuanted with the human figure wether it be the nude male or nude female. If they had any clothes, I feel it would take away from the experience and knowledge you gain from drawing them. Well thats my oppinion, but I respect yours all the same. I guess it depends on the professors you get whether or not theyll take off your grade. Youll just have to talk to them or ask some of the students who go to the university that your wanting to attend. Anyway, good luck with what your doing.

[Elwell]

Get over it.

[Elwell]

Also, you may want to check out BYU. They have a good art department, and no nude life drawing.
But seriously, just get over it.

[Senira]

I had a friend who felt uncomfortable drawing nudes because her religion had so many regulations about dress and propriety that she also couldn't understand why the models didn't just wear skintight clothing.

The problem with that, as she realized within a few model drawing sessions, is that no matter what type of clothing a person is wearing, their shape and the texture and values of what you're trying to draw are altered. Fabric reflects differently than skin does, and the difference would be garish enough to draw attention to it every time.

As for whether or not you'll get points off, I don't know. In my school the majority of teachers would probably do so. A male nude with "box" genitalia or a crotch that sort of fades off into space would detract from an otherwise realistic rendering, at least in my opinion. And I'm not sure what your major is, but in most drawing-related professions nude figures are a portfolio requirement; companies need to know you can actually draw the human body correctly and you aren't just trying to hide mistakes with clothes.

I'd say take at least two classes before you pass judgment on life drawing. You get desensitized to the models being nude very quickly, especially if you think of them as tools to help you get better as opposed to "Oh no! Naked people! I must shield my eyes!" Like I said, my friend got over her fear of the nude figure quickly, and she turned out some pretty good stuff by the end of the class. If the nudity offends you that much then you can take it up with the professor, but definitely try drawing them first before you do.

[Devvv]

Lol..

Listen to Elwell.

It's going to be hard to learn how to draw the human body if they're not nude.

I was like you when I first began art school. I didn't know what a figure drawing class was at the time. The model(I thought was a student at the time) came in and just sat down like everyone else. When the instructor finally came in to start the class, the model walked to the center and dropped her clothes. Everyone was silent and I even saw so jaws dropped. By the next class, we were all over it.

You don't have to show your parents anything. I still haven't. If they asked, I wouldn't be nervous at all showing them my sketchbook. It's for my education.

And about the "their parts". You don't have to draw them in...I usually omit them and leave them smooth like Barbie and Ken.

Have FUN!

[artmessiah]

Learning to draw the human figure, which also includes learning to draw the skeletal aspect of the figure, is important to drawing believable figures utilizing weight and balance in paintings and drawings. Drawing the figure nude trains your eye to understand the way muscles behave and how they interact with each other. How can you successfully draw clothed figures if you don't know how clothes should drape on the figure. I’ve drawn models with one piece bathing suits and swimming trunks and it does take away from the learning experience. A model in artful poses reflects the beauty of the human figure and is not pornography. I think you have to understand there is nothing wrong with studying the human figure in its truest form and to further enhance your knowledge of the figure - drawing from live nude models is essential. I think a level of maturity needs to be in place before you begin to study the figure in its entirety. I agree with Elwel, your sense of moral on the subject is flawed. Take no offense

BTW after re-reading your post I see you just have issues with the genitelia of the models. You can just omit the parts that may be... embarrassing for you to display to your peers or family I think your professor will understand as long as you capture the essense of the models pose. But I still think drawing the figure in all aspects is paramount and like Senira said - you do become desensitised to the model once you start drawing. They there to help you become a better artist not seduce you lol.

[supermark]

Just go into it with a proffesional attitude, and say, "in the end this will help me become a better artist". Look at the models not as playboy centerfolds but as.... models; its not like your at a strip club or something unless you think it will be like that. After you do a couple of sessions you will see the "beauty" of the human body.

Explain to your parents that its not pornography, and it is a requirment to make you better. Just dont be immature about it, and be like " o yea I'd do her"....you get the picture. Drawing nude guys...well there's always ken-doll style.lol. Just put all your concetration and energy into the pad and pencil and you wont even notice.

Or you could tell your instructors that you have a problem, and they should help you out with some advice.

Best of luck and God Bless.

[Nepenthe]

I agree with Senira in that a lot of the time you can go the Barbie and Ken route. In a lot of classes I'm so focused on rendering the rest of the figure that the genitalia seems kind of unimportant (it's such a small part!). Drawing them with clothing on DOES make a difference, no matter how small the amount may be. If the clothing is tight enough to stay on it's going to make bulges and ripples in the skin (around waistbands and things) that wouldn't usually be there. The shadows and reflections will also be entirely different. Honestly, once I walk into the classroom and start drawing the model just kind of breaks down into shapes and colors. You might not end up being as unhappy as you think if you can just detach yourself. And as far as female nude figures starting when 99% of the artists were male, male nude figures were around too. I don't think it's a matter of sexuality so much as practicality, though of course that will vary by the artist. Do try and at least draw the breasts as they're extremely important on the female figure in terms of shape and placement and shadows. If you can't draw them nude it'll be pretty hard to get how the clothing pulls and folds just right. Good luck

[alesoun]

Hmmm.... I can't tell you about the grades; but I draw, and when I was younger, I've been a life model. I found that when I was modelling the students were entirely professional about nudity.

Models are chosen by the art school with an eye on a) their physical fitness (modelling and holding a pose can be tough; try holding a pose for an hour if you don't believe me), and
b) the lines their bodies present.

Your model can be male or female, old or young, fit or obese. What they will NOT be is pornographic or offering something your mom wouldn't like!

My husband is a fair bit older than me, and one of the models who posed for him at Edinburgh Art School was Sean Connery. Please don't tell me your mom thinks he's a porno star! Another (VERY) old model at that time was the original model for William Holman Hunt's "Behold, I stand At The Door And Knock". He was well into his 70s at that time.

Honestly, the reason you might be asked to draw nudes is because that's what we all look like without clothes, and we need to understand the human frame before we can understand how material drapes over it.

The first time you draw a model, you may be embarassed, but you will get over it (and, no, they don't walk around nude all the time!).

[jrr]

actually back in the olden days, men would draw male nudes and females would draw only female. the thing is, yes. if you have never seen a naked person the first time you see one will be sexual (but hardly pornographic). but like anything else, you'll get use to it see it for what it is, just DRAWING. unless you're like some sex pervert or something. it's just a method to get you better at drawing. just chill

:::edit:::: ain't no one tellin me this ain't porno!

[supermark]

This is random but I acquired this year a new respect for models. I remeber a long time ago, I stood up in front of class and was a model. ( Btw I wasn't naked,lol.) But anyways, it is hard to hold a difficult pose for even just 30 mintues.

[lordofthebling]

Originally Posted by Data_Strings

I have several reasons for not wanting to draw nudes.

For one, my mom thinks nude drawing is pornography behind the mask of art. (I guess I would partially agree to that.) I'm pretty sure she would be mad at me if she found out I was drawing nudes over at college. Also, I would be rather embarassed to show those drawings to ANYBODY.

Is it a coincidence that the tradition of drawing naked females was started in a time when 99% of artists were male? I asked an older male artist about it, and he said that when he was younger, there was a bit of a sexual aspect.

On asking other artists about why drawing nudes is desirable, they say it's because the subtle curves of the body are difficult to draw. Well, can't we get those subtle curves if women wore flesh-colored bikinis and men wore speedos? I think so. So when I'm in a figure-drawing class, could I just draw those on my models instead of the details on their, uh, parts?

I can't say I'm very religious, but it still feels very wrong to draw parts that aren't allowed to be shown in public by law (at least in my country). I've always been a little shy about such things, always changing in the bathroom stall for gym class, etc...


I guess the bottom line about what I'm asking is that, when in college, could I omit the model's "private parts" without getting my grade docked?

Absolutely. I never draw the genitals; just a simple curve (interestingly, the only people in my classes who do can't draw their way out of a paper bag). The objective of the class is to render the figure with respect to anatomy, proportion, light and shadow, and composition. The teachers honestly don't care.

Anyway, why is it such a big deal? Yes, there will be the occasional pervert who tries to sexualize the whole thing, but your learning environment has no place for that. You're taking the class to learn figure drawing, not erotica. As long as you acknowledge that, and that the models are just professionals who are there to help you learn, it shouldn't be a problem.

I'll admit that I was a bit shy when I started out, but you'll get used to it right away. Try not to think of it as a naked person at all, and instead focus on the gestures, curves, shapes, etc. It may be difficult to explain this type of thing to your folks, but you have to practice it if you want to get any good.

[alesoun]

*falls over laughing* A strangely disturbing image! Actually, Data, I'll have to get back to you on the Holman Hunt thing. Himself's in bed with "Man flu" right now, and he may have exaggerated on that one! (I just checked the dates!) But he did paint Sean Connery! (I know, 'cos one of his friends did, too, and has just sold them on eBay).

We're all naked under the clothes (even the bank manager), and art is supposedly about honesty. Don't worry about it!

[alesoun]

Himself just got up! Holman Hunt's model was called Mancinni (spelling may be wrong) He was still posing in 1952 (before I was born!)

[Maxine Schacker]

Amen.

[MConnelly]

I've been going to nude figure drawing classes (male and female) since I was a 15-year-old boy, and never have there been any sexual undertones at all. Sure, my mom was wary at first, but she quickly came to understand that learning to draw the human form is natural and essential to a serious artist. I think you need to change your attitude towards nudity, because there is absoultely nothing pornographic about the human body.

As to omitting "private" parts, my instructor strongly discourages it because it's not being true to the subject. And in my opinion, avoiding or omitting "private" parts shows a great deal of immaturity.

[Grief]

nudity does not equal pornography. is the human body reqally offensive? we all have nipples and genitals.

ive had years and years of figure study classes, the artists and the model have alwas had a high level of professionalism. it's not like the model is going to be watching your eyes and make a scene if he/she sees you focus on their genitals. and even if you are doing a genital study, you're there to learn, if the artist can be mature about it, then so will the model.

i talk to a lot of non-art majors and they as all sorts of questions about the models "what happens if you pop a boner in class while looking at the model?" and other male orientated crap like that.

if youre at all serious about art, you should be focusing on the form and you wont have room to deviate into perverted thoughts.

any discomfort and awkwardness you have will be gone after 5 minutes of drawing. you're in class to hone your skills. if youre so wound up on nudity, go watch some pornography and vent out any pent up hormores which may disctract you.

as far as not wanting to focus on the 'naughty-bits' most of the time you have assignments, contour, line weight, plane studies, gesture forms, skeletal studies, muscle overlays, foreshortening, negative shape, blind contour, implied movement, etc. point is 90% of your lifedrawing assignments will be so quick and vague that you wont have time to go into details.

and the instructors always make a point to find an interesting composition, meaning you can get up and move your work area to another location.

[Bubs]

Now just hold on a second: You're majoring in art and you're AGAINST studying human anatomy via nudes?

Stop the world, I want off.

Seriously though, what the crap man? How do you expect to get better at drawing people if you don't study the blueprints? Because your mom doesn't approve?

You're going into college; you make your own judgements. If you can't take on something as basic as drawing nudes without approval, how are you supposed to make it in the business, much less the real world?

I can understand if you don't want to accurately portray a man's gangly bits, but a woman's unmentionables are a huge factor on everything they do, ranging from the outfits they wear to their stature. It's absolutely crucial that you study these, otherwise you're not really going to improve regarding figure drawing. You don't have to show your nude drawings to anyone, just practice them enough so that you won't be guessing at every pose you construct.

This might sound a bit harsh, but i'm just trying to be straight-up honest and not beat around the bush. Yeah, it's that important.

[Costau D]

[Farvus]

This is a bit stupid but on subject.

[BDPatton]

In my case, I found that drawing a nude is really no different than drawing a bowl of fruit. Your intent in both cases is to create the illusion of 3D on a 2D space through positive and negative space. I think you will find 99.9% of the students will be approaching it the same way.

You are new and uncomfortable with it, and that's well and fine but I would suggest just making sure you move to a position in the room where your view of the model obstructs the genitalia as much as possible at first.

Then, if you are really approaching this as seriously as art students do, you will find the atmosphere of the room to be quite academic and no snickering or such will be going on. You will be able to make your own determination about figure studies and its place in art.

BTW, I applaud the rest of the posters in here. A vast majority have been quite understanding and positive in their efforts to understand and help this person.

[Wasp_One]

Originally Posted by Data_Strings

For one, my mom thinks nude drawing is pornography behind the mask of art. (I guess I would partially agree to that.)

@Data_Strings: I am really sorry your mom thinks that way, and that she influenced your own perception of the human nude. Regardless if it's male or female.

And I personally resent the fact that she insinuates that artist(s) and creative or talented persons would use their love and passion for art and their skills to pervert it into a pornographic frenzy. Merely because they've shown an interest in the human form. And therefore an interest in themselves. For they are no more or less then bones, flesh and blood.

I doubt she would state her case face to face with Leonardo Davinci or Michaelangelo. The pope of that time no less, complimented their skills in representating and sculpting because of their accurate reproductions of Gods creations.

She failed as a parent IMO, especially when it comes to your perception of the human form and your own awareness of self and your own body-image.

You might be the next great artist to arise from anonymity, yet your own mom holds you back in your own development as a person as well rounded and educated individual.

Don't blame those who admire the human form, and "dare" to excersize to reproduce it. Study and learn from it. Where would modern medicine be if we didn't study the human body.

Doctores should be even worse then artists wouldn't they be? They get to touch and examin you when you feel sick or unwell! For free, no less! You end up paying them for a diagnosis and a cure!! Hrm, following that 'logic' your mom would be whoring-out YOU! Yay, your mom has promoted her self to pimp!

The reason you feel uncomfortable with other peoples privates, is because you (read: your mom) makes it sexual. Instead of an oppertunity to learn something simply by observing.

What starts as an educational lesson, ends becoming an sex act; because you make it so. Good job mom! You've succesfully achieved what you don't want your child to be subjected to!

Bottom-line: in actuallity it's your moms thaughts that perverts the human body. Like Ewell suggested: grow-up and get over it. Don't depend on mommy's 'wisdom' so much. Make your own desicissions, take the brush, pencil, charcoal or whatever in hand and just start drawing!

[Zirngibism]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone- lots of overlapping here. I guess I'll have to handle teacher preferences on an individual basis. I never said I wanted to omit breasts, but instead omit details on them.

As for my mom, I do know that she grew up as a Jehova's Witness. She is no longer a member of their tight group, but she still carries a lot of their beliefs with her. I don't know where she stands exactly because she does vote even though they are against voting. (Every once and a while she'll say something that surprises me, though.)

I understand that it's essential to study the human body. Even though the TV would get fasted-through if we saw someone in a bikini, it's not like I can't teach myself how to bear it when I'm also teaching myself something a lot harder called "art".

But I have decided I don't want to show my drawings to my family, which will be breaking a tradition of sorts.

[Seedling]

(Sorry if I'm repeating anything; I don't have time to read the entire thread.)

Hey Data, I'm a woman and I've never felt there was anything sexual about drawing nudes. Every life-drawing session I have has been handled in only the most professional manner possible, and models are treated with the utmost respect. Genitals always seem to be a part of the drawings that aren't discussed much, because the point is not to draw the genitals, but to get a good look at how every other part of the anatomy connects together in those areas that are usually covered up. I doubt your teachers will care if you smudge something vague in those specific areas, and instead focus on drawing the overall shape of the body. (In fact, I would recommend this as a drawing tactic to anyone new to drawing from live nudes.)

I haven’t yet read it, but there is a book by Barbara Bradley called “Drawing People; How to Portray the Clothed Figure” that is sitting on a coworker’s desk here – I have flipped through it and I am impressed by what I have seen of it. You should find a copy.

Anyway, if you want to ever draw people for a living, you will need to spend some serious time drawing from life. And after college you will have a lot more control over whether these people are nude or not. But you should take the opportunity to draw nudes in college, at least.

Once you are in college your parents will never see all of your work. There will just be too much. And you will be an adult; it will be up to you what you show them. They don't need to see your every scribble any more.

[Elwell]

Hi Kristen,

The fact that your mother is a former Witness explains a lot. You have to understand that things which are FORBIDDEN often take on far more importance than they really have. An art school life class is probably one of the least sexually charged environments you can be in. Sometimes drawing nipples or genitals is important or necessary for a particular exercise or pose, sometimes it isn't, but if you make an issue out of not drawing certain elements, then that will be all people will look at.

[lordofthebling]

Originally Posted by MConnelly

As to omitting "private" parts, my instructor strongly discourages it because it's not being true to the subject. And in my opinion, avoiding or omitting "private" parts shows a great deal of immaturity.

I disagree. First of all, it shouldn't matter what you decide to include, as long as it still hints at an anatomical structure. And since most figure drawing is just the study of gesture, contour, light/shaow and anatomy, it should be the least of anyone's concerns. Like I said, the only people in my class who do include the naughty bits can barely draw. Aesthetics (or getting an accurate likeness for that matter) are not what's important.

Secondly, how is immature? If you're not comfortable with drawing a certain thing, then don't. Do you honestly think it's better to draw something and resent it, or get better at the things you're actually interested in? And being uncomfortable with it doesn't make someone "immature" or "insecure". As long as they don't flamboyantly show signs of embarassment, and act in a polite, professional manner, there is nothing immature about it.

Just a few weeks ago someone brought in a Tom of Finland book to class. Was I grossed out by it? Yes. Did I make a scene? No. Would I ever draw that sort of thing myself? HELL NO.

[tomwaits4noman]

if you want to draw people you have to know anatomy
If you to art classes or take life drawing classes chances are that the model will be nude, and there will be male and female models of all shapes and sizes. I have yet to get aroused while in life drawing. IF maybe Kiera Knightley was the model then maybe....that is a side note.

Pornography as defined in the dictionary

"The explicit depiction or exhibition
of sexual activity in literature, films
or photography that is intended to
stimulate erotic, rather than aesthetic
or emotional feelings."



You mother sounds ultra reserved... that is her choice you probably wouldn't be able to chance that, but what you need to do is decide whether you want to be able to draw well, now if this means going to the libraby and getting life drawing books and books on classical art (plently of nudity in them) and copying them so be it.

On a side note is this art or pornography cause I've been getting feelings that were not "aesthetic or emotional "

picture credit Ed Benes

[Costau D]