Does taking life drawing classes make you uncomfortable?

[keac]

I found out that life drawing helps us in anatomy. When I was searching my future school course, it includes life drawing in the specialized subjects. I learned that it involves drawing naked people. If you're taking those classes, does it make you uncomfortable in any way or are you used to it?

[joannekwan]

It was awkward at first but I got used to it.

[sistalsartworkshop]

Like Joannekwan said, at first it is awkward, yet you get use to it.
I know that many people think that it can be sexual, (got some remark at first about it) when actually there is none, most of the subject altough are ok with showing there body, they don't wonder naked all the time, some don't mind staying naked all the session, some will cover up every moment they can. As for the art part, I know for me it was a huge help, having someone as a model is really great.

[shazzbaa]

If you're taking those classes, does it make you uncomfortable in any way or are you used to it?

I was really super nervous about doing this when I found out it was a thing.
But the first time we did life drawing in college, I actually didn't feel any of that shy awkwardness that I expected. Like, it's obviously a lil weird because someone walking in and taking off their robe doesn't usually happen, but I was focusing on drawing the figure, and that's what it felt like -- a figure. For me, there's kinda a big difference in feel between a person who is naked in normal life, versus a person who is posing nude.

[keac]

I wonder if some artists blush while drawing a hot person posing, though.

[joannekwan]

I wouldn't know, most of our models were middle-aged or older or not my type. XD

[UrMom]

Lol, no. We're all naked under our clothes, and it's unnatural or not like the model will have anything we haven't seen before. (assuming you've seen yourself, and other genders naked before) It's not like nudity is inherently sexual, artists are just there to learn.
The life drawing sessions I've taken were pretty fun, everyone was really chill, and they had a diverse lineup of models. I guess I can understand someone being uncomfortable? But if you go into it wanting to be uncomfortable, you're going to be... in my opinion.

[Kayke]

It's really not as awkward as you think. It's a school setting so everyone is very professional for the most part. Even when we had young models close to our age it wasn't a big deal because the model is there to pose and the students are there to draw so it's not like... if you walked in on your roommate nude or something.

Also, depending on the class the models might not always be nude, we did plenty of clothed figure drawing too.

[indagold]

I've been surrounded by nudity since I was a baby... my mom is a fine artist so nude paintings and going to the museum full of nudes were just the way of life. Though I remember drawing nudes when I was younger and some people crying and crawling into a ball on the floor screaming seeing the nudes for the first time.

[Shanny8]

I felt weird at first, but then I told myself it was to get a better handle on drawing a live body in motion.

[UzukiCheverie]

I took life drawing classes in college. It was a small school so we only had a handful of models that came in once a week for our classes (we had one life drawing class per week). At first it was a little awkward, but by the end of the year I had drawn our main male model's penis so many times it was just obsolete by that point But yeah, when you get past the initial awkwardness of it, life drawing classes are great, especially if you get really awesome models (ours were pretty cool, very social, always enjoyed having a conversation, and a couple of them were in our age range, between 19 - 25, so there was always lots to chat about). Not all models are like this though, you really gotta judge it based on first impressions (some models don't speak a word and that's just something you gotta respect). It's nice though if you get the same model on repeat occasions - you get to see your skills progress with comparisons of before and after drawings for the same person, and you get the added benefit of getting to meet some pretty cool people

[Ringarune]

I thought it would be uncomfortable, but when I got there and started to focus on drawing it was totally fine. Probably the most awkward is when you first get there and they take off their robe, but really was less uncomfortable than I expected

[Down_the_Rabbithole]

You get desensitized real quick.

I thought I'd be uncomfortable since the model we had was an older man, but he was a really great model. He could hold some difficult poses for a long, long time!

[agentfink]

I took a life drawing course when I was 12, it was a little awkward at first, but you focus more on form by the end of your first class. When I got older, (early 20's) same deal. There's actually youtube channels where you can get introduced to the idea of a live model/drawing session.

AND -- I hope your future school course doesn't belong to a for-profit college. Just saying.

[blinkingkills]

i started life drawing when i was 14 and never thought it was weird mainly because i was trying to draw gay porn since i was 12 years old. drawing from life just seemed really tame. Its not like they are posing in a particularly sexy manner. they are just naked.
as for attractive models, the fact that there are like 15 other people in the room will usually make any awkwardness evaporate and you just get on with your lives and draw.

[AnnaLandin]

No, not really.

I mean, it's a bit awkward for the first 10 minutes or so, because hey, there is a naked person in the room, that's unusual - but once you actually start drawing, that awkwardness goes away.

You stop looking at them as a naked person, and start looking at them as a collection of shapes and lines and angles. You won't be sitting there going "Uwaaaah genitals!!!!" - you'll be going "right the angle of the shoulders goes this way, and the angle of the hips that way, elbow goes there, oooh look at that radial bone", etc.

At least, that's how I've experienced it all the times I've done it. After the first 10 minutes of getting used to the idea of drawing a naked person, it's no more or less awkward than, say, drawing a house.

I wonder if some artists blush while drawing a hot person posing, though.

Based on the classes I've been in, no, not really? I've had a wide variety of models of all ages and genders, but even when we had quote-unquote 'hot people' modelling for us, there wasn't any blushing going on in the rest of the class.

And even if there was, it wasn't really a big deal?

[mariusthered]

to be honest i kept getting in trouble because i would let my imagination escape and would start drawing wings and tails and horns on figures. on the whole i use to enjoy life classes and studying muscle structure , sadly i fell out of the practice in time and lost most of the skill and that's my advice peeps never stop practice it's amazing how quick things can get lost.

[PandaFlute]

I took a figure drawing class a couple semesters ago and it was extremely helpful. Once u get past the nudity and get into the drawing you really forget you're drawing a naked person at all. I'm not afraid of boobs anymore after that class lmao

[punkarsenic]

my art teacher never forgave me for skipping life drawing...

ive heard some really awkward stories from it, sure, but mostly people say you totally forget the persons naked, youre just drawing.

there are clothed life drawing classes out there, though, i think.

[AlkseeyaKC]

When I took the class, there was a nice looking dude the first day, I was like, "This wont be so bad! > w >; "
He only show up a few times after that. Mostly had Skip. Skip was an old man, but a really good at doing his job. There are some crazy stories I don't know if I should talk about here. XD

But over all. It's just like drawing still life drawings. you have something you have to draw in-front of you to draw so you do it. It never really bothered me.
I've considered taking more classes at the local art place here. If only I had more time and money.