Comments on: Opening the Closed Pose http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/ by Fred Hatt Thu, 17 May 2012 21:54:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: fred http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/comment-page-1/#comment-1201 fred Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:34:11 +0000 http://fredhatt.com/blog/?p=792#comment-1201 Kelly, I've found artists object to poses for a variety of reasons. Many of the regulars at open life drawing sessions have settled into a comfortable rut and long ago gave up challenging themselves. Some come to the figure drawing sessions but are really only interested in doing portraits. Many like only one type of pose, or one type of lighting, or one type of model. They always want to claim the same spot in the studio and are upset if someone else got there first. They always draw at the same scale, in the same style, with the same media they've been using for years. I'm sure they get enjoyment and meditative benefit out of the activity of drawing, but they've stopped growing in their work and are determined not to be challenged. But those people are very habitual, and their regularity helps keep the models paid and the studio open so those who are truly engaged on the artist's path can practice. Kelly, I’ve found artists object to poses for a variety of reasons. Many of the regulars at open life drawing sessions have settled into a comfortable rut and long ago gave up challenging themselves. Some come to the figure drawing sessions but are really only interested in doing portraits. Many like only one type of pose, or one type of lighting, or one type of model. They always want to claim the same spot in the studio and are upset if someone else got there first. They always draw at the same scale, in the same style, with the same media they’ve been using for years. I’m sure they get enjoyment and meditative benefit out of the activity of drawing, but they’ve stopped growing in their work and are determined not to be challenged. But those people are very habitual, and their regularity helps keep the models paid and the studio open so those who are truly engaged on the artist’s path can practice.

]]> By: Kelly Borsheim http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/comment-page-1/#comment-1200 Kelly Borsheim Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:58:26 +0000 http://fredhatt.com/blog/?p=792#comment-1200 Dear Fred, Thank you for writing this post and thanks to Andrew Cahner for posting the link on Twitter (or was it Facebook?). As an artist who has been drawing from the live model since 1993, I can attest my frustration when artists object to energetic poses that models suggest. I think that many artists are trying to be considerate and want the models to be "comfortable" on a long pose. However, I am a firm believer that each of us knows our own body and abilities best. My preference is to allow the model to bring his own expressiveness to a drawing/session. Why would I reject his or her good idea when I really have no idea what is possible? I would rather have the model try to push him/herself to a beautifully creative end, even if aborted before the time is up, than to only have access to "safe" poses. Anyway, energetic works you have here and thank you for what you have written. Ciao, ciao, Kelly http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com http://borsheimarts.com Dear Fred,
Thank you for writing this post and thanks to Andrew Cahner for posting the link on Twitter (or was it Facebook?). As an artist who has been drawing from the live model since 1993, I can attest my frustration when artists object to energetic poses that models suggest. I think that many artists are trying to be considerate and want the models to be “comfortable” on a long pose. However, I am a firm believer that each of us knows our own body and abilities best. My preference is to allow the model to bring his own expressiveness to a drawing/session. Why would I reject his or her good idea when I really have no idea what is possible? I would rather have the model try to push him/herself to a beautifully creative end, even if aborted before the time is up, than to only have access to “safe” poses.

Anyway, energetic works you have here and thank you for what you have written.
Ciao, ciao,
Kelly

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com
http://borsheimarts.com

]]> By: fred http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/comment-page-1/#comment-1199 fred Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:29:49 +0000 http://fredhatt.com/blog/?p=792#comment-1199 Andrew, the work on <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~artmodelandrew/" rel="nofollow">your site</a> is very well chosen, showing an excellent variety of poses and of artists' styles. I love seeing the range of work that one fine model can inspire! Andrew, the work on your site is very well chosen, showing an excellent variety of poses and of artists’ styles. I love seeing the range of work that one fine model can inspire!

]]> By: Andrew http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/comment-page-1/#comment-1198 Andrew Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:55:33 +0000 http://fredhatt.com/blog/?p=792#comment-1198 Very interesting post! The artwork you included proves your point. (I love your loose style, by the way) Claudia raises a great point about life drawing vs portrait drawing. One doesn't need to show the face for a pose to be expressive or emotive. Body language tells a story too. It's challenging not to look like a zombie while sitting for a portrait painting class. I find figure sessions much more expressive - and more fun. On my web link above there are paintings and drawings of me by a variety of artists. I think talented artists such as Joseph Larkin and Antoine de Villiers provide additional evidence that closed poses can be very expressive. I don't think there's anything wrong with open poses, but figurative art is about the human condition/ experience, so a wide range of poses is a good thing. Very interesting post! The artwork you included proves your point. (I love your loose style, by the way)

Claudia raises a great point about life drawing vs portrait drawing. One doesn’t need to show the face for a pose to be expressive or emotive. Body language tells a story too. It’s challenging not to look like a zombie while sitting for a portrait painting class. I find figure sessions much more expressive – and more fun.

On my web link above there are paintings and drawings of me by a variety of artists. I think talented artists such as Joseph Larkin and Antoine de Villiers provide additional evidence that closed poses can be very expressive.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with open poses, but figurative art is about the human condition/ experience, so a wide range of poses is a good thing.

]]> By: fred http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/10/30/opening-the-closed-pose/comment-page-1/#comment-1193 fred Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:38:00 +0000 http://fredhatt.com/blog/?p=792#comment-1193 Claudia, I've often run into the resistance you speak of in my capacity as monitor of the Monday morning long pose session at Spring Studio. They also resist reclining poses or symmetrical poses or basically anything outside a very narrow range. There's an exhibit of drawings currently on display at Spring Studio, the work of one artist who goes to the long pose sessions. They're quite good drawings, but seeing them all together it's striking that they're ALL frontal seated or standing poses, all drawn to the same scale and from the same angle. I want to say to the artist, you've got this angle down, now challenge yourself! I have always loved closed poses and have included them before in this blog. One of your closed poses heads up the post on <a href="http://fredhatt.com/blog/2009/05/02/negative-space/" rel="nofollow">negative spaces</a>. Claudia, I’ve often run into the resistance you speak of in my capacity as monitor of the Monday morning long pose session at Spring Studio. They also resist reclining poses or symmetrical poses or basically anything outside a very narrow range. There’s an exhibit of drawings currently on display at Spring Studio, the work of one artist who goes to the long pose sessions. They’re quite good drawings, but seeing them all together it’s striking that they’re ALL frontal seated or standing poses, all drawn to the same scale and from the same angle. I want to say to the artist, you’ve got this angle down, now challenge yourself!

I have always loved closed poses and have included them before in this blog. One of your closed poses heads up the post on negative spaces.

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