042 · Artistic Nude Model

When we say “nude”, it doesn’t have to be fully nude, and contrary to what some may think, it is in fact a very serious activity. Whatever your age, gender, or morphology, you should know that artists and art schools are ready to pay you to pose for them. So, what exactly is it, how does it work, and how much can it pay? Let’s take a look.

• Here's the program
• What is an artistic nude model?
• Who can become a live model?
• Who to contact?
• How much can you earn?
• Conclusion
• EcoTips

What is an artistic nude model?

It is generally to pose nude in front of apprentice painters, drawers, or sculptors and sometimes even for confirmed artists. Indeed, if it is easy for them to find references to draw objects or landscapes, it is more difficult to learn to draw the human body in all its realism, with its nuances, its curves, etc., without a model! And I might as well say it right away: There is obviously nothing sexual in this approach; it is only at the service of the artistic field, with artists who look at the model with a professional eye.

Moreover, you will not be systematically asked to pose naked as a worm. Apprentice artists will often focus on a specific part of your anatomy (head, hands, etc.), so you can keep your intimacy hidden. Besides, absolutely nothing forces you to pose completely naked if you don’t want to. You just have to make things clear with the artist(s) beforehand.

For “cultural” reasons, posing nude for artists is not possible in many countries, and it is even punishable by jail in some of them. This may seem absurd since this is only art after all, but let’s not get into that debate. Just be careful.

Who can become a live model?

Well, basically anyone. Far from stereotypes, the artists are not looking for specific body types, or rather they are looking for bodies of all sizes, shapes, and ethnicities. However, it is best to be endowed with flexibility and stamina to endure the conditions as the workshops usually last 2-3 hours (with breaks), and you will be asked to do different gestures and hold several poses lasting 5, 10 or 20 minutes. Now, of course, you have to be totally comfortable with your body and not be too shy!

As for children and teenagers, you’ll have to check with the legislation in your country, but when this activity is authorized for them, the poses are never done (well, to my knowledge) in full nude. I could be wrong, but I must admit that I haven’t found any information on this subject on the Web. But in any case, always accompany your children during each session.

Who to contact?

If you want to start this activity, the best thing to do is to ask the art departments of universities, schools or art galleries because teachers are often looking for models. Also, don’t hesitate to visit the websites of the local “Beaux-Arts”; sometimes offers are posted online. Workshops and courses in drawing/sculpting/painting may also need them.

There are also sites, such as Indeed, Jooble or AirTasker, that list such offers, but the best is to launch a Google search with keywords such as “job art model” + the name of the city or town where you live.

Also, beware of scams! We suspect that even though being an artistic nude model is totally sexless, there will always be some twisted people who will try something unhealthy. Always ask around before you book an appointment through one of these websites.

So, when you find a serious proposal, you can bring a resume (even if you are a beginner) and ask for the following information: the duration of the job (the number of poses and breaks), the pay, the number of people present, what you will need to bring (usually a robe that you can put on during the breaks, shoes that are easy to take off, a towel to sit on, water), and any other information that you think is relevant to make you feel most comfortable.

You don’t have to pose nude. It’s up to you.

How much can you earn?

On average, the remuneration is between $10 and $20 USD per hour—and it can go up to $30/$35 for very requested models or having a very sought-after profile. If it happens that some people do that as a main job, please note that it is almost impossible to earn a living out of it; it is mostly an extra income.

But as usual, this amount can vary greatly depending on the country where you live, and the best thing to do is to contact an art school near you, to be fixed.

Online model?

Before concluding this article, I just wanted to share an idea that just crossed my mind: Why not offer to model online, via a webcam? The quality of screens and webcams is nowadays optimal, and the applications allowing to set up this easily exist (Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.). I don’t think the concept exists, and I haven’t found anything similar during my research. But I think some models did this during the COVID19 pendemic lockdown in 2020. You can tell me in the comments what you think.

Conclusion

You may have smiled when you read the title of this post because you think that you certainly don’t fit the profile. And as we have seen, it is not necessary to be an Apollo or a Venus to become a model. It will be more complicated if you are a very shy person and even the fact that you are in a bathing suit on the beach makes you uncomfortable.

This activity is ideal if you need to earn a complementary income (if you are a student for example), but it is also possible, even if more difficult, to make it your main profession. However, you will need to have a lot of patience and endurance, because it is a job where you spend most of the time standing still like a wax statue. You will have to do a lot of poses for hours, and even with the breaks, it can be physically exhausting (cramps, discomfort…).

I leave you here with this very interesting article from the Guardian “My evening as a nude life model”.