My freshman year of college, I was unable to take any studio art classes and missed creating art. My friend Lylee was a sophomore, intending to transfer to another school and needed to build her portfolio. Our friend Zach just liked art. Thus, we created our own Art Night. We had the delightful saying, Get Naked or Leave. One of us would model in our underwear while the others would draw. These are some of the best memories of my first year of college (although, granted, I do have many wonderful memories of college). Zach was one of those sweet sort of guys who blushed easily—so, of course, Miss Lylee and I loved say moderately inappropriate things while we posed, because, well, we thought it was funny.

College was wonderful for me because despite my height and insecurities, I finally started to come into own and feel comfortable and confident being absurdly tall or “beautifully tall” as I was called for the first time.

My second year of school, I decided I would take up part time work as a life drawing model. Because $14 an hour, was pretty good. Of course the concept of being naked in front of my peers was a little daunting. However, after the first class I was sold. It was so comfortable; luckily I had several friends in the class that made jokes and were relaxed. I realized that it was simply a beautiful artistic situation. Life modeling has no sexual connotation. Modeling for life drawing was being a form for fellow students to study.

I found that nude modeling also built my confidence tremendously. Unlike the generally unattainable perfect of high fashion or glamour models, life modeling is about the appreciation of the human body in essentially any form. I felt content with my height, my easily bruised legs, my small breasts and narrow hips. I continued to model for another three semesters, until I left to study abroad. Upon my return, I had to take life drawing classes (so obviously I couldn’t model at the same time).

I had always found the female form gorgeous. The male from has its beauty as well, but I personally am more drawn to the aesthetic of the female body.

Art and nudity is a strange thing. It is impossible to define a concrete distinction between art and pornography. Therefore, I am not going to attempt creating such a definition, even on my own terms. Nor will I waste my time trying to argue my view to someone as conservative as to believe that all nudity is pornography. In the same way that I know I will not change their mind, they will not change mine. However, I do find it disheartening to live in a society that creates such a negative stigma on nudity. The nude human form has been depicted since the discovery of artistic forms. I simply don’t understand a need to conceal or scandalize it. If a particular form of art is not pleasing to you (or if you don’t consider it art) than don’t waste your energy with it. Simple.

The nude form is everywhere. Should the Louvre institute an 18 or older section dedicated to all images with nudity—since such images and sculpture is obviously inappropriate for those aged 17 and younger? What about architecture and public sculpture? Should we remove the genitals of all nude sculpture within public view (you know, like Ken dolls)? And breasts---well, that is another tangent completely.

I guess the moral of my story is that I love the human form, in its ideal and flawed forms. I think the body is beautiful in its perfections and imperfections—it is incredible how one basic form can be mechanical, sensual, strong, awkward, idyllic or fragile.

Ultimately, there is a choice—get naked or leave.

I chose to get naked.

PLEASE NOTE:
I am the model, therefore--I do NOT hold the copyright to the images appearing in my gallery. While I do have the consent of the photographers to post their images, I am not able to give consent to others for the use of work seen in my gallery. (The images in my gallery cannot be used, manipulated or reproduced without permission from the individual photographer--however, I do always list the photographer (and generally some link to their work), should you choose to contact him/her directly.

Thus, the works seen here are not stock. Please be respectful of that fact--sorry for any inconvenience.

My model site links:
model mayhem: [link]


My art can be found here:
deviantART: [link]