Posing Naked for an Artist
The one and only time I did artistic life-modelling
Written by Kate.
I was young. I needed the money. That’s what the stars say when old pictures surface many years later.
He said he was an artist. They should say that as well.
It was true in my case. Almost true.
I already had the money. Glamour modelling pays quite well, if you have the necessities. But something tempted me to answer an ad for life models.
I knew what life modelling was. Some lecherous old artist with shaky hands gets you to adopt suggestive poses. This guy seemed different.
I was young. I needed the money. That’s what the stars say when old pictures surface many years later.
He said he was an artist. They should say that as well.
It was true in my case. Almost true.
I already had the money. Glamour modelling pays quite well, if you have the necessities. But something tempted me to answer an ad for life models.
I knew what life modelling was. Some lecherous old artist with shaky hands gets you to adopt suggestive poses. This guy seemed different.
“Life model wanted to be my muse”
That was the advert. So I rang him. He was a bit awkward. Said he wasn’t much of an artist but wanted to try his hand. “Not in that way” he said, sounding embarrassed about the whole affair.
“Forget it” he said, but I was intrigued.
I was new to life modelling and it sounded as though he was too. Two young amateurs feeling their way. It might be fun.
That was the advert. So I rang him. He was a bit awkward. Said he wasn’t much of an artist but wanted to try his hand. “Not in that way” he said, sounding embarrassed about the whole affair.
“Forget it” he said, but I was intrigued.
I was new to life modelling and it sounded as though he was too. Two young amateurs feeling their way. It might be fun.
His flat was dirty, dingy and in need of a good clean and tidy. Just like I imagined an artist’s garret to be, but with more socks.
I asked where I could undress. He seemed surprised. Did he think I was going to keep my clothes on? I found the bathroom while he was still apologising for the trouble.
When I reappeared he looked shocked. And when I let the bathrobe slip to my feet I thought he was going to collapse. I asked where he wanted me and he waved at the chair.
“It’s a Christine Keeler one” he said, “Borrowed it from a mate”.
No idea what he was talking about. He showed me a picture of a sixties model and said he wanted to try drawing me like that. It looked artistic.
He gave me a cushion to sit on, it’s not as uncomfortable as it looks. Said he’d turned the heating up as well. Thoughtful, although still quite cold.
I copied the pose, and he started drawing. And breathing. There was a lot of breathing.
I asked where I could undress. He seemed surprised. Did he think I was going to keep my clothes on? I found the bathroom while he was still apologising for the trouble.
When I reappeared he looked shocked. And when I let the bathrobe slip to my feet I thought he was going to collapse. I asked where he wanted me and he waved at the chair.
“It’s a Christine Keeler one” he said, “Borrowed it from a mate”.
No idea what he was talking about. He showed me a picture of a sixties model and said he wanted to try drawing me like that. It looked artistic.
He gave me a cushion to sit on, it’s not as uncomfortable as it looks. Said he’d turned the heating up as well. Thoughtful, although still quite cold.
I copied the pose, and he started drawing. And breathing. There was a lot of breathing.
He was paying fifty pounds an hour for this. Easy work for me but seemed quite stressful for him. He scribbled away like a man possessed.
Half-way through, he asked if I wanted a jacket potato.
Warmed up he said, not a fresh one. Got one spare, he said. I declined.
“Have one yourself” I said, thinking he might need a break. “I had one earlier” he replied. It wasn’t a riveting conversation.
He did fetch me a glass of water. I steadied his shaking hand before he spilled it. “Easy fella” I said, trying to put him at ease. I felt a spark of something as we touched but it was probably static from the nylon carpet.
He went back to his drawing. I adopted my pose again.
I wasn’t sure if I should be chatty or keep my mouth shut so he could capture the perfection. I stayed still.
Half-way through, he asked if I wanted a jacket potato.
Warmed up he said, not a fresh one. Got one spare, he said. I declined.
“Have one yourself” I said, thinking he might need a break. “I had one earlier” he replied. It wasn’t a riveting conversation.
He did fetch me a glass of water. I steadied his shaking hand before he spilled it. “Easy fella” I said, trying to put him at ease. I felt a spark of something as we touched but it was probably static from the nylon carpet.
He went back to his drawing. I adopted my pose again.
I wasn’t sure if I should be chatty or keep my mouth shut so he could capture the perfection. I stayed still.
When he finished he quickly turned the picture over so I couldn’t see. “It’s not very good” he said. I insisted he showed me. I was quite pleased. It was tastefully done. He said it wouldn’t be for sale.
He’d keep it to remember me by.
What a sweetie.
I got dressed and it was then that the long-anticipated lunge came. He made an attempt to hug me and immediately apologised. “Don’t know what came over me” he said and apologised again. Poor boy. It had all been a bit much for him.
As I left I told him to keep the fifty pounds. “You look like you need it more than me” I said.
So he gave me the drawing instead.
That was the first time I met Mark.
It wasn’t the last.
Love, Kate, xxx
He’d keep it to remember me by.
What a sweetie.
I got dressed and it was then that the long-anticipated lunge came. He made an attempt to hug me and immediately apologised. “Don’t know what came over me” he said and apologised again. Poor boy. It had all been a bit much for him.
As I left I told him to keep the fifty pounds. “You look like you need it more than me” I said.
So he gave me the drawing instead.
That was the first time I met Mark.
It wasn’t the last.
Love, Kate, xxx