Truth be told, I haven’t always been the most body confident human. Hard to believe right?!? Well even now, I still have those days of feeling less comfortable in my own skin. You are your biggest critic. How you look at yourself is SO different from the image that someone else sees. I have gotten to experience this first hand by modeling for a figure drawing class!!!!
In high school, I took advanced placement art classes where we were always doing figure drawings (fully clothed of course). And guess who would always be the first person to volunteer as a model… if you guessed me… you are clearly right!!! So when Shapot Art (@shapot_art) asked to model for the figure drawing class I was so excited! But, what I wasn’t excited about was getting naked in front of a bunch of strangers.
Walking into the class for the first time had me shaking in my boots. Not because I was nervous but because I didn’t want my body to be negatively commented on as society tends to do. There was 6 artists in the class. Which means only 12 eyes looking at me. I was a little less worried since the class was smaller and more intimate. The artists set their canvases and my pedi stool reside in the middle of the room…. My heart sank. I felt weird about taking my dress off at first. It was like undressing in front of your boyfriend for the first time when you were like 17. But, the garment fell to the floor and all the sudden the fear, worry, and angst I felt dropped with it.
We started with five 1 min poses. As I stood there completely still I could feel the eyes looking at me. But I knew they were for a reason that was very atypical. The people starring at my form were interesting in seeing my shape and body in it’s natural beautiful form. The curves and shading in the rolls and dimples I had were strokes of pure perfection in their artistic eyes. I felt so important and so appreciated in that moment.
As the poses got longer the more comfortable I felt. The results were so a amazing. I finally got to see my body from other people’s eyes. And let me tell you… they think I look much better than I think I do, that’s for sure!!!!
I’m so thankful I got to have this experience and share myself with these talented artists! Who knows, maybe you’ll see these paintings go for sale one day. (Hint Hint… follow up article tba if so…)
I think if anyone has any doubts about their body, go to a figure drawing class. I promise you will feel so satisfied afterwards. Since the first time I’ve been invited back again and it was again such a great experience. For more photos head over to my IG. @candi_m_and_ms
If you would like to join the class they hold it on Tuesday nights at 6:00 in Ocala. You can message @shapot_art for more info.
The Nouveau Plus 