Dianne Connolly

E-Mail

I'm for nudes in Art not against. Why? It just adds to the variety and there's so many possiblities of portrayals and poses it hardly ever gets boring.

Randall Arthur

E-Mail

I am for nudes as an exercise in just about every form of art, but, and this is a big but, every angle and every light has been done. What is the point of even considering trying to market them? Maybe I am just cynical or something but, as an artist, working with the subtleties of the light and form is a wonderful exercise but there are only so many angles you can choose and they have all been done before.

As for my opinion about the nude in fine art, well it is a part of our humanity and needs to be expressed but it rarely makes me look twice or closely because I have seen it before.

Look at the artists handling of the light to make your judgements I guess.

Lara Virginia

E-Mail

I think many are fascinated by the human form......I checked out the most favourited work yesterday here on FAA and at least a third were of nudes......sometimes I am curious as to whether is the final image that attracts viewers, or their imaginings of the process.....personally, I like nude studies but would agree with Randall that they serve as an exercise more than anything else.

Diane K Nickerson

E-Mail

Lara/Randall
Why is the human form any different from a landscape, wildlife, or still life? I've seen them all before as well. Does an artist stop painting because every subject matter has already been painted? Does a photographer stop taking pictures because you can Google everything and find hundreds of pictures of the same thing online? It's in the interpretation, the skill, the dedication, etc. to a piece that will make it stand out and determine whether it is good art or not. Sometimes, in really good pieces, the actual subject matter will take a back seat to the 'feel' an artist was able to create.

(That being said, some artists just run on shock value, they don't put much dedication or skill into a piece...and it shows.) ...but then, who am I to judge?

Murray Bloom

E-Mail

One thing I've learned is that nudes attract a disproportionate number of viewers. A case in point is this image, which is not one of my best, but looks like a straight nude in the thumbnail. It's my most heavily viewed image by far, since I haven't put other nudes on FAA.

Murray Bloom

E-Mail

Randall, I think you're wrong about it all having done before. There's an infinite number of poses, points of view, crops, lighting variations and more. To ignore all that implies a lack of imagination. There are always new ways to see common subjects, including the human body; sometimes quite excitingly.

Diane K Nickerson

E-Mail

Nudes will always carry a negative vibe with some of the general public...half the blame goes to the 'shock' artists and the other half to the 'shock' viewer (people just looking for body parts.) When you take them out of the equation, whats left is art.

Diane K Nickerson

E-Mail

...oooo....I've heard about youuuuu...... :)

Lara Virginia

E-Mail

Sorry Diane, I believe I wrote that, personally, I think nude studies serve as an exercise more than anything else........and that is because I am an animal painter, not a figurative artist......so for me, they serve as an exercise. I am not dismissing the nude in art and as I said, I like nude studies. Their place in art is as important as any other subject, but their importance is dependant on the artist and their particular dicipline.......

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

I think Lara is completely correct: it depends on the artist and their discipline: so much of what appears is too shocking for the definition of fine art, but those images attract inordinate attention, and how boring are they!!!!!! I love studying the nude live with charcoal and a clear, clean mind. It's amazing to see, with each model, how glorious the beauty is on the models that pose in every possible position, to the point that one can honestly say, it's not been done before occasionally. It's a traditional way of seeing everything that art stands for: planes of surfaces; softness of form; light and shade, warmth, coolness, beautiful features, amazing textures of hair and skin, and on and on: and this just in charcoal for my taste, and just amazing in paint with the eye of a fine artist. I also appreciate the historical poses that models do: one can hark back to how this was seen before, and/or respond in the knowledge of the history but in a modern way....all aspects of study of the nude are exciting. Vivian Anderson

Diane K Nickerson

E-Mail

Sorry Lara, I do a lot of figuratives and nudes and do sometimes get defensive because it seems people are always wanting to either belittle my art or categorize it as porn, just an auto response from me...my apologies.

Lara Virginia

E-Mail

No apologies needed Diane........we defend our corners, thank goodness.......if wasn't important to us we just wouldn't care..........I figure it's a down side to these discussion boards, our words taken in a context not meant, while all the time we are trying to write in a concise way that won't offend, it can sometimes be seen as being cold and dismissive........or is that just me?! So my apologies also for any post now, past and future that may seem out of line to anyone........:))

Maria Gilbert

E-Mail

The only time they make me cringe is when I sense that the artist had his/her paintbrush in one hand... and his/her dainties in the other. Gag!

Diane K Nickerson

E-Mail

haaaaa!!! lol that's the cutest way I've ever heard it described ...think I'll use that from now on :)

Beth Edwards

E-Mail

Maria! I think you just defined porn! People have been trying to do that here for months and you did it in one sentence :)

Maria Gilbert

E-Mail

Yaaaaay. I'm going back to copyright it...

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

Both hands clapping for you, Maria....and isn't "dainties" just sooooo, telling~~!! Have to admit that causes me to think of her dainties in BJ's Diary: not sooo dainty, but then she didn't pose for nudies. Oh dear, David: if you're new here, this might come as a shock: but it relieves all the stress to talk about dainties among we women, sorry to go off-topic.

Charles Peck

E-Mail

As far as I am concerned the nude and the Artist's interpretation of it is the very top of the Art Mountain.

It is the Pinnacle, the ultimate Art activity since all is about the universe as seen through the human eye/mind.

We judge everything based on human proportions since it is endemic or systemic to our senses and their interpretation by our minds.

The most complete, authoritative and footnoted work on the subject I know of is "The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form" by Kenneth Clark.

It is what I have spent 40 years involved in, both in figure drawing/painting, setting up and running figure groups, teaching figure drawing and painting, as well as collecting books on the subject and reading everything I can find on the subject.

Nothing I have found even comes close to Clark's seminal work.

Podi Lawrence

E-Mail

Charles, you are obviously a truly dedicated artist. I too have taught and run life sessions for years, and sold a lot of drawings and paintings of nudes. When students (of all ages) are first introduced to the nude in a drawing class, they are often embarrassed for the model. Once over this fear they begin to see why this is so important to their own work of other subjects, the joy of searching for ways of interpreting the living subject matter in front of you, expressing colour light and shadow. The benefits you receive from pushing your ability to "see'. Skills which often do not develop otherwise. It is a subject that I believe is essential to all artists and maybe the results are enjoyed by the viewing public as well, a bonus.

Charles Peck

E-Mail

Thank you Podi, your explanation shows the time and understanding you have put into the study as well. It is so easy to spot through the work of an Artist and the written word of an Artist whether or not they have spent any time in this most elucidating of arenas. I used to try and bring along the general population but these days am content to let them wallow in their own mental juices as it just doesn't seem worth the effort. I now see the awareness or lack there of as a "culling" barrier they must matriculate beyond on their own to be worthy.

Patrick Pierson

E-Mail

Charles wrote: "As far as I am concerned the nude and the Artist's interpretation of it is the very top of the Art Mountain."

Finally, a pithy statement that sums up the whole thing.

For the love of Pete, it's about damned time. Thanks you, Charles.

Kendall Kessler

E-Mail

I'm not against the nude in art but I like clothes. I like the different fabrics and colors against skin. Interesting to note that Whistler must have felt the same way.

Zeana Romanovna

E-Mail

I have a very deep love for nude art. Not for the style that Maria stated here "The only time they make me cringe is when I sense that the artist had his/her paintbrush in one hand... and his/her dainties in the other. Gag!"

But nude art that shows the human form with curves, valleys,peaks and planes; beautiful shadows of cool shade, fleshy parts filled with warm tones, and a long filbert to follow the form.

I haven't done any new nudes for a time now - around 2007 - but I'm going to get back to them shortly after I complete two large oils that are currently underway.

Kendall, I do like a piece of drapery added!

Raffi Jacobian

E-Mail

If nudes are tastefully done there can be no objection to them. If on the other hand they are done to shock or sensationalize, I object to them. Certainly, the early Greek sculptors and later the Roman sculptors understood the beauty of the human body and how to portray it in a heroic fashion. Who does not marvel over the statue of David or the remains of Venus De Milo? The nudes of Rubens and Renoir are notable in their more than adequate body types but done to show the naturalness of the human form. All great art, no question. On the other hand, we have all seen examples of erotic art, meant to titilate and stimulate. I'm not judging but merely commenting on your thread.

Kevin Callahan

E-Mail

Good art can be many things to many people, to this I don't disagree. But... I think really good art can (should) also shock, mortify, objectify, and anger the viewer into thinking... something, anything beyond "oh that's pretty, I like it." THAT makes me gag.

How can a true artist, any artist, regardless of religion, morals, background, etc put ONE SINGLE limit on someone else's creation of art?

Charles Peck

E-Mail

Raffi, I agree completely. About the titillation aspect of some imagery I remember as a young pre-puberty boy being overly interested in the Sears catalogue underwear section for females. It no longer holds any such attraction (don't know if there still is a sears catalogue anymore though). The point is the "arousal" is specifically in the mind of the observer and its level of experience or lack thereof. To hobble Art to the least common denominator is destructive to all of society I think, even to its most backward members who think an exposed ankle is erotic (or just kinky).

If one judges an image by its aesthetics then much of this secondary imagery is cast aside. There is artful erotic Art...but the eros part is in the brain of the audience.

Just recently we had a hubbalue about a painting of female genitalia by a female that I have a very hard time imagining anyone found sexual, titillating or in anyway erotic. It was an intentional statement on society's abuse of womanhood or the odd manner in which women are treated along the lines of the play "The Vaginal Monologues" and this was part of its description in fact.

The audience's perception is as much a part of this controversy as any particular lines, shapes, colors, textures or anything else to do with a particular image I feel.

Kevin Callahan

E-Mail

By God Charles, you have a good handle on this stuff. Bravo.

Snake Dog

E-Mail

In art showings nudes are always of interest. Nothing much to think or philosophize about but to enjoy I think. It's a matter of taste. "Figurenude"
is a genre within genres in art. Michelangelo, DaVince and later Bernhard were some of the masters in it.


Personally I think there are so many factors which can make a work of art interesting. I think of a nude as in a realm of human interest over and above other forms of subjectivity often expressed. We express ourselves in body language and mood. Anatomy may be expressed in abstract form
as well as naturalistic manner to get the idea across.

Since we people are at least as concerned with our kind as dogs and monkey's are theirs then there is a never ending preoccupation with our own kind. Maybe it is the instinctive desire for self knowledge. As pack and troop animals people must have a need to check other's out without clothes
getting in the way of a more free perception.

Charles Peck

E-Mail

well Vincent there is no way your opinion can not be correct as far as it represents your take on it...and our ideas are not that far off in that you are cruising around the edges of what I was speaking about or intended to mean.

But to my way of seeing it you have missed the center or meat of the issue I was trying to get at when I said " As far as I am concerned the nude and the Artist's interpretation of it is the very top of the Art Mountain. It is the Pinnacle, the ultimate Art activity since all is about the universe as seen through the human eye/mind. We judge everything based on human proportions since it is endemic or systemic to our senses and their interpretation by our minds. "

Oh sure, there will be residual "crotchness" or a real sensuousness that exists because sensuousness is part of human perception and hopefully always will be...but it is not what it is about. At least not in its entirety or even mostly. A self awareness that it caused by looking at the manner in which another human is drawn or painted and knowing one is the third spoke in wheel of awareness...the model first and foremost, the Artist secondly and their perceptions/skills - finally the "You" or audience and what thought/empathy skills are brought to bear in the perception of this gestalt of interplay between the evidence of 3 psyches.

Michelle Knapp

E-Mail

Personally, I think the human form is a work of art in and of itself. I've had training in both the medical and photographic fields. This has made me truly appreciate the complexity and beauty of the human body, from it's physiological functions to it's aesthetics. In a word, it's gorgeous!

As for art shows, Tampa held one just over a week ago showcasing the nude figure in art. www.nudenitetampa.com

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

For some reason, closed mind I suppose, I never much got past the academic view of a nude artwork, and have only now learned to think in terms of all the spokes you mention, Charles...this has opened a whole new way for me to respond more fully to the visual. I've always been caught up in the academic making of the piece, and now I will try to see into the intent of the artist, and moreso appreciate the model, too, thanks to Charles' good counsel and patience with my blindness, and as to that hullabullooo, I just know the artist wrote me off, quite rightly, as a hothead...not any more!
I must say that all this relates to the work of others and my lack of empathy for the artist, but that when I'm doing the artwork, it's not lost on me about the spokes and I can respond in my personal way....just haven't tried to respond as one should to another's Nudes. Never too late!!!

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

Hello again, David: has any of this been useful, of interest? You see, you are among like-minded (mostly) friends here, all with their own views on this ... hope it's of use to you....lovely to have this thread on which to post freely about what seems to be the most controversial, but loved, artform. Vivian

Alfred Ng

E-Mail

I think this must be the same show traveling all over Canada. I remember one of the reviews I read: in certain period in Quebec there were few nude in painting produced due to the Catholic religious has such a strong hold in French Canadian society. A good example was like the one you have here, mainly from the back and female. There are very few or none nude paintings from the front and even fewer male nudes.
I remember when I was in Art College. One night at my life painting class there were quite a few older females joined us That night we had a male model and all the order women keep asking the poor guy to change his poses as no one wanted to paint him in full frontal

Snake Dog

E-Mail

Real thoughtful, insightful and contemplative statements about the nude in art Charles. Yea I guess I reacted in response to your earlier statement and it inspired me to say what I did. Thanks.

At the Kansas City Art Institute some night life drawing sessions had a couple of models and I took the opportunity to do my own work using
Conte' red clay sticks on manilla paper. She was a pro and changed every fifteen minutes. Anyway in these sessions there were a dozen professional artists some of whom worked at Hallmark Cards, the ultimate art career job in the area. My drawing were as usual for me done as true to nature as possible. None of the other artists drew natural lines but abstract expressions. Cubism and other modern styles were the rule with them. None had anything to say about my work except the beautiful models who told me they loved them. This was a great compliment with which I will always remember with pleasure. One of the ladies was so well impressed my my work that I gave her a drawing.

There are some models offering services in the area and I may have one work for me in the studio. Nothing beats live life drawing for tuning up
your observation skills and drawing ability!

Snake Dog

E-Mail

Let's see some nude work! Talk is cheap.

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

I can do that , as follows: more to come.

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

There are more, of course, but must leave room for others' amazing works: Charles, yours next please, Mary of the controversy is beautiful, for instance.

Viktor Savchenko

E-Mail

All my artworks are sexual,or nude,or arousal. I simply fail often to show erotic part of it.

Podi Lawrence

E-Mail

Soo, How do you do that? That is paste a picture on this blog?

Snake Dog

E-Mail

Sanguine is a red clay chalk with a darker hue. Looks like what Charles used. All is interesting work!

Natalie Holland

E-Mail

Hi David, The human body is beautiful, and it is very challenging to paint it. I am for nudes....below is one of mine.

Diane Daigle

E-Mail

As I see it,,,, without the nude,,, where would you hang the clothes?

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

On a hook/hanger maybe? Just being silly. You're right of course....you mean the clothes they take off for us of course?

Diane Daigle

E-Mail

What I truly mean is how can an artist portray the human form if they have no idea what may or may not be going on under the 'covers' ,,, so to speak. I don't just want to take a look at someone's drapes,,,,,, throw open the curtains and throw up the sash,,, let me take in the human vista!!
(Now,,,, that is not to say I want vulgarity,,,, and yes, I will recognize that and know it when I 'feel' it in my gut,,,, it just means there is so much more to the human form than a mere nasty 'workings' shot like the one I experienced here the other day...... (tsk, tsk,,,, what a waste)!

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

OMG Diane: that's a no no subject now: I've humbled myself before the fairer among us, did you know! Agree with all else though: friend still?xVivian

Diane Daigle

E-Mail

Oops Viv,,,, what did I do? Apologies are in order,, I just need to know where to direct them.... haha or should I say,,,,,I hope I'VE not offended anyone. :>)

Diane Daigle

E-Mail

Of course Viv,,,, buds till the end! ;>)

P.S..... LOVE your nude self portrait,,, beautiful, curvy and soft, perfect.

Fatima Azimova

E-Mail

quote from my bio: '' I use female’s figure as a symbol of beauty and a perfect balance where the body is regarded as a temple of the soul."
I'm definitely for it!

Michelle Knapp

E-Mail

Diane - Defintely! It's the same in both the medical and artistic fields. If your not familiar with the structure and it's function, how can you understand how it all comes together.

Fatima Love your quote!

Noredin Morgan

E-Mail

ART is reflection of our time, nude is the basis of all visual arts in it's natural freedom.
When art historian Jean Leymarie was preparing a talk for a symposium on art and sexuality, he asked his friend Picasso where he drew the line between these two concepts. The great painter replied: " They are the same thing,becuse art can only be erotic."

VIVIAN ANDERSON

E-Mail

Thanks Diane, she's quite a girl, my self portrait!!!! What I was referring to as a no,no was a quibble about the validity of that picture as to whether it is art or not, and I got it made very clear to me to look again, think it through, find the artists' intent instead of judging the subject matter, and that was a revelation. Try it. Say no more, nudge nudge, wink wink, or I'll be in the sh.t again, yikes. This is a gorgeous thread, is it not!! Very inspiring.

Podi Lawrence

E-Mail

My first experience with drawing the nude figure was at college at the age of 16. At first all giggles and embarrassment. But I had an excellent teacher, and revelled in it. If you are inspired to paint people, even portraits, the study of the structure of the body is essential - even if the person is clothed. Not only knowing the underlying construction but the way every individual "performs" when walking, talking, running, or just sitting. etc...I love to sit and sketch people. But without that ground base knowledge it would be I wouldn't know what to look for. Long Live the Life Class!"

Beth Edwards

E-Mail

Lovely nudes and all tasteful and VERY artistic :)

Podi Lawrence

E-Mail

I should have added that this is the very first Blog I have taken part in and its the subject matter that matters.

Also, I have been painting now for more than 50 years - still can't wait for the next Life Study session.


tle='Photography Prints' style='border: none;'>
Thank you everyone for your advice on this.

Tom Hefko

E-Mail

In this continuing group of paintings i'm using figures that somewhat resemble nude humans to represent principles of the human spirit. If there is a sexual or sensual response, that's OK, because the spiritual and sexual realms of our existence are entwined and inseparable. See more of this series here: Naissance

Mushtaq Bhat

E-Mail

IMO. Potentially there can exist as many perspectives as there are artists. Do not think that this area is completely traversed _ not even within the boundaries of the traditional media let alone in still unknown new mediums that will be available to the artists in future.

As a proof; there have been definitely some very original, expressive views and visual renderings of the nude displayed here. Most of them even without any recourse to any non-traditional media.

I can well imagine, that in future artists will be still rendering the human body in entirely new media and with yet unexplored potentialities. Three dimensional, colossal Hi-tech, mini-Nano-technological, as strange holograms or through laser or other spectral rays rendered fascinating formations in space or on earth, and many of them will still have the human figure as their almost eternal motive….

In fact all of the humanism takes it for granted that the human body somehow does represent some platonic ideas of mass, proportion and symmetry. That way Charles is right in raising it to the top of the pedestal. Da Vinci and Dürer would vehemently agree! And Michelle, Noredin and Podi are all almost seconding it too by the way!

Snake Dog

E-Mail

Keep 'em coming!

Jean Billsdon

E-Mail

oopps !

Charles Peck

E-Mail

Here's another



I really like loose, gestural sketching the most.......

Noredin Morgan

E-Mail

After Picasso's journey to Gosol,1906 ,he removed him from reality to depict man,woman,children a like. he simplify women's faces to attain their essence and paradox. The original nude painting combined his influence of Monet,Ingeres,Gauguin,and cezanne.