Hi everyone!
Even though it's been just shy of two weeks since my last post, I feel like it's been forever. The reason for that is because I have been busy the last few weeks. I know I say that a lot, but believe me, it's true. Between modeling and working as a substitute teacher, I've only had a few days that were completely free. Since both of my jobs make me tired easily, I find that I tend to spend my off days locked away in my apartment, either baking or watching YouTube videos (not that I mind!). But I'm feeling more energized today than I've felt in a while, so I figured it was time for an update.
I realized today that I haven't really explained why I decided to become an art model. I know I've touched on it a bit in other posts, saying that I like the physicality of it, how it allows me to be creative, meeting the instructors and the students, etc. Today, though, I wanted to get introspective and give you all a more fleshed out answer as to why I chose this job.
A lot of you know that when I'm not art modeling or teaching, I work as an actress. A lot of you also know that becoming an actress, primarily in the theatrical world, is my main career goal. Pursuing acting is the primary reason I decided to move to New York City. I wanted to to be closer to audition opportunities and be a part of a larger, theatrical scene. For the most part, I've done that. I've gone on a lot of auditions in the past year, and I'm now a part of a play that'll be performed at the end of the month. But I realized pretty early on that if I wanted to stay in the city for as long as possible, I'd need to find a job, and fast.
This is where substitute teaching came into play. I had worked as a substitute teacher for a few years in my hometown before coming the city. It only seemed natural that I would continue doing it once I got settled in. I found out about a subbing service through an online search, interviewed with the company, and the rest was history. Substitute teaching was a great way to earn money when I was in between acting jobs and auditions, and I loved having a flexible work schedule. But that was the caveat about being a substitute; I wasn't always called in to work. Sometimes, weeks would go by, and I wasn't offered any subbing opportunities. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast when you have a job with no set work hours. After considering my options, I knew I had to get a second job.
I've always believed that no matter what your job is, even if it's just a temporary position, you should be doing something you love. A lot of people suggested I become a waitress or a nanny. Either of those jobs would have been fine, but I knew they weren't things I necessarily wanted to do. I also knew I'd run into scheduling problems when it came to things like auditions, callbacks, and rehearsals. So, I needed to find a job that fit the following criteria:
1. It had to have flexible work hours
2. It had to be something I could potentially do every day
3. It had to be something I really loved doing
I did a few Google searches for part time jobs options, but nothing caught my interest. But then, something happened. For whatever reason, I started thinking about art modeling. I typed in the words "how to become an art model" into my search bar, and soon I was reading articles about modeling stories, posing tips, and most importantly, how to find work in this field. The biggest piece of advice I read was to contact art schools and inquire about being a model. It sounded simple enough. I found a list of art schools in New York that hired live models, and about a dozen emails later, I had gotten a few responses.
I think most of you know how the story goes at this point. I interviewed with a few schools and was hired shortly afterwards. That's no secret, and one that I certainly don't want to rehash. But I do want to mention that I did have some reservations before my actual work as a model began.
The biggest one was, of course, the fact that I would be posing nude more often than not. I wouldn't say the thought of this terrified me, but I was a little intimidated. The closest I had ever been to being disrobed for an audience was wearing a leotard and a pair of booty shorts for my dance recitals in high school. I wondered if I would be able to handle posing with no clothes on in front of an entire class of art students. But in order to ease my nerves, I kept reminding myself of three things.
The first was that I wasn't displaying my body for any sexual purposes. I would be posing in order for the students to study things like shapes, lights, and contours on the human body. The second was that the schools I'd be modeling for were professional art institutions. I wouldn't be the first or last model they worked with, so I had faith that the instructors and students would be nothing less than professional. The third and final thing is admittedly kind of silly, but it helped me nonetheless. Since my dad's side of the family is Greek, I was no stranger to art that featured partially or completely nude subjects. I remember telling myself "You're Greek! Your ancestors have been doing this kind of thing for centuries, so you can too!" What can I say? Sometimes, you have to think outside the box!
Posing nude turned into less of a concern as I continued to book jobs. However, a new concern began to surface after my first few sessions. I knew that my body would feel stiff after posing, but I don't think I was prepared for how stiff I would actually get. During one of my first sessions, I remember sitting on a stool for twenty minutes. I noticed that my left hip was getting tight, but I did my best to ignore it and not fidget. As soon as I got off the stool, however, my left leg buckled (not noticeably, thank goodness) and the left side of my lower back was in pain for about a week afterwards. I didn't have any major incidents after this, but I do remember having some sessions where my shoulders and back felt like they were screaming at me.
I wish I could say I that I've figured out a fool proof solution to this predicament, but I haven't. Like drawing a picture, it's a process. But I've said it before and I'll say it again; self care is vital in this line of work. I've tried to be stricter about working out, because the stronger my muscles are, the easier posing gets. Massages, hot baths, and stretching also help. Like any job, though, experience helps the most. I've learned to become more aware of my body, paying special attention to when a pose feels good, and to make any adjustments I need when it doesn't. It isn't always easy, but I do the best I can.
This leads to one question, the subject of this post: "If your job is tough and taxing on your body, why do you continue to model?" I can tell you, with no doubt in my mind, that my answer is this:
Because I absolutely LOVE being an art model.
I remember being told during my first audition/interview for one of the schools that I now work for that "you'll discover quickly whether or not you like art modeling, and if this is something you think you can do." This has proved to be true more than once since I started modeling in January. Each time I finish a session, I think about how lucky I am to be doing what I'm doing. My job I rewarding in so many ways. It's helped me to become more confident in myself, and to accept that my body, while far from perfect, can be beautiful in many different ways. Granted, it does get hard to remember this, especially when I'm having a bad day. But when I get to see all the different paintings and drawings of me once a session is over, I'm floored by the fact I've helped create so many artistic depictions, with the proof literally surrounding me.
I also love that my job allows me to meet so many interesting people. I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but it's true. I have such a high respect for all the students and instructors I've met and worked with, because I sure as hell couldn't do what they do. They truly are some of the most knowledgable and focused people I've encountered, and I love getting to work with them. I've learned more about art from hearing their discussions in class than I ever thought possible. It's such a rewarding feeling.
Lastly, it's a great feeling to have a "side job" that's in a creative field. I love getting to use my imagination to create poses, and discovering more about what my body is capable of. It's also wonderful to get inspired in my daily life. There will be times I'm doing yoga, taking a dance class, or even standing on the subway and I'll think to myself "Oh, this could be a good modeling pose!" Having a job that not only helps pay my rent but constantly inspires me feels amazing. There's just no other way to put it.
Whew! What a long winded response that was. If you've made it this far, thank you! Also, I hope this post helped you understand more about what I do and why I love it. With that, I think it's time for a hot shower and sleep. Have to loosen up those muscles, after all!
See you soon!
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