Dear Prospective Model:
If you’ve modelled before, you don’t need me to tell you it’s hard work. If you haven’t, take my word for it, please: it’s plain old-fashioned hard work. If I could afford to pay models more than $12.50 per hour, I’d gladly do so.
Here’s what I’m looking for: intelligence, grace, the ability to flow in motion, poise, self-assurance, and a sense of gesture. I’m not particular about hair or eye color, although I find bangs somewhat difficult to work with, since they usually hide the upper quarter or third of a woman’s face. Your height and weight aren’t important as long as you’re not obese or skeletal. Tattoos can be a problem, especially if they’re large or prominently located, as can piercing jewellery that can’t be removed, horrendous scars, strong tan lines, and unusually heavy body hair. Modelling experience, dance, athletic, or yoga background are helpful, but by no means required. I’ve worked with models as young as 18 and as old as 45, and don’t have any preferences regarding age, race, creed, color, affectional preference, shoe size, favorite brand of shampoo, or number of dust bunnies under your refrigerator. I always ask models to wear as little makeup as possible, although it’s a good idea to bring along lipstick and whatever makeup you prefer. If your hair is long enough to pin or twist up, please bring along clips or binders or barrettes or whatever you use.
I’m far more interested in grace and poise and natural elegance than beauty or shape. Most of the models I’ve worked with aren’t “beautiful” in the fashion magazine sense—and so much the better. I’m much more interested in the beauty hidden inside the ordinary than supermodel-type beauty, which usually looks artificial to my eye.
Do you like your face? Is it an expressive face? Can you memorize a look or gesture and return to it five minutes later? Are you flexible? Can you shape imaginary objects with your hands? Can you hold a pose? Are you imaginative? Do you have a sense of drama?
My painting method begins with photography. I shoot dozens upon dozens of photographs, and scan the most promising shots so I can work with them on my computer. I’ve recently bought a professional digital camera, and am rapidly moving away from traditional film. I’m always willing to share photographs with models, and glad to shoot particular poses. Although I’m not personally interested in fashion or glamour work, one woman asked me to take some fashion shots, and used them to introduce herself to department store modelling assignments. If you’ve got a special dress or hair style or pose you’re interested in, I’ll do my best to shoot it, although honesty compels me to mention I’m not a remarkably accomplished photographer.
I usually give each model a finished painting, as well as high quality prints of any additional studies you’d like, but must caution you: I usually work slowly. It can take me six months to finish a good painting.
I work in and around my house in Colorado Springs rather than a traditional studio. I move front room furniture out of the way, pin up assorted cloth backdrops, and lug around chairs and tables and props. It’s a jury-rigged approach, but the method works well most of the time.
You’re entirely welcome to bring along a friend for safety’s and/or comfort’s sake. If you’d like, I’ll meet you for coffee at your convenience so you can browse through my portfolio and look me over. If we decide to work together, I recommend that you give a friend my address and telephone number in advance of a modelling session, and let him or her know when you expect to return. Sessions usually last between three and five hours.
You absolutely must be 21 years of age or older and able to prove it with current photographic identification such as a driver’s license. There are no exceptions. Both federal and state law prohibit using minors as photographic or artistic models without written parental permission. The work I’m doing is obviously not pornographic, and in fact, the model release specifically precludes the use of my photographs and/or paintings for any pornographic purpose. I added that exclusion at the suggestion of a model’s mother in 1997. I have no objection if other people produce pornography, but I don’t. I’ll be glad to E-mail you the text of the model release if you’d like to look it over. If you have specific concerns, I’ll address them in a reasonable, respectful manner.
If modelling sounds as though it might be of interest to you, please send me an E-mail message. Ask me any and all questions you can think of, and I’ll be glad to give you straight answers.
With thanks for your interest,
