Thursday, February 21, 2019

Interview with an Art Model #1 - Andy Chmelko

Hi everyone!

I want to start off by saying that I’m sorry for the lack of posts.  Sometimes, life happens and you can’t stick to your blogging schedule, and boy did life happen over the past few weeks.  I won't get too much into that, but for those of you that know me, I think you have an idea of how crazy my life has recently been.  That's being said, I want to take a bit of a detour today from my regular blogging schedule.  Why, you may ask?  Because as you can see from the title of this post, I have something very exciting to share with you all.

I’m happy to announce that my very first interview with another art model is here!  Not only that, but this interview was done with someone very special to me; my boyfriend and fellow art model, Andy Chmelko.  A few weeks ago, we sat down in Rockefeller Center to take about Andy’s experiences on the job, as well as his own insights into this field of work.  I had such a great time doing this interview, and I hope you enjoy reading it.  So, without further adieu, here it is:

Megan: What got you interested in art modeling, and how'd you book your first modeling job?
Andy: I booked my first art modeling job about twenty-two years ago when I was in college.  Typical college student, I needed to make money.  It was always one of those things that I wanted to try, just to see if I could do it.  I worked a lot in our theatre building and the art studio was upstairs.  I kind of popped in there one day and asked if they needed models.  Of course, they always needed models, so I had my first job.  It was a drawing class in the round, and I was surprised by how easy it was.  Once I dropped the robe and had that initial moment of "Oh my god, this is happening!" it actually became pretty easy.  I modeled throughout my sophomore year, but I didn't do it again until 2013 and I needed some money.  I thought "What about art modeling?," and I've been doing it for five years.

Megan: That's a really good answer!  So, you kind of already answered my second question, but here it is just to ask again.  How'd you feel during your first session?  Were you excited, nervous, or a little of each?
Andy: Definitely all over the road.  Obviously, excited to be naked in a room full of strangers, and thinking "Oh my god, this is happening, this is real, and it's okay.  No one's going to come and arrest me for this!"  But what was fascinating was getting to look around the room and see how intensely everyone was focusing on their work.  When they would look up at you, they were so professional and desensitized to the nudity.  You really have to think to yourself that you're probably not the first naked person they've seen that day, much less ever.  The nervousness goes away quickly as you settle into your groove.  Then it becomes about "how do I make this interesting?" and "what's my next pose going to be?"

Megan: Yeah, that's what I usually tell people when they ask me if I get nervous posing naked.  It's true when we say that we're there to a job, and being naked is just a part of it.
Andy: Right.

Megan: So again, you kind of answered my next question! (Side note: I think Andy may have untapped ESP.)  But the question was do you pose nude, clothed, or both, and which do you prefer?
Andy: I pose nude and clothed.  I definitely prefer nude, because I'm not really a costume person and it's just easier for me that way.  Also, it's just a different feeling when you pose nude than when you pose clothed.  When I pose clothed, especially in what I wore that day, I feel more like I'm hanging out.  Whereas when I pose nude, I feel like I'm doing a job.  It automatically becomes more of a challenge and more artistic to me.  It taps into something I wouldn't have if I'm jus sitting up there in my work shirt and slacks.  Obviously I'll do clothed, but sometimes I do get a little disappointed when I'm told that I can keep my clothes on!

Megan: (Laughs) I know what you mean.  I definitely think it's different posing clothed versus nude.  I think posing nude frees up your body more, but clothed can be nice if you done a series of nude sessions.  So, what do you think is something people don't realize about being an art model?
Andy: I think the biggest thing that people don’t realize is the toll modeling takes on your body.  I feel like there’s this idea that as a model, you’re getting paid to sit still.  But if you sit in a chair, not doing anything wild with your body, after twenty minutes it's going to hurt.  After three hours, things are going to start going numb.  It's really not a question of whether you strike a really intense pose or you're just sitting there.  It's going to start hurting no matter what.  As models, we figure out how to deal with it, whether it's finding ways within ourselves to cope with the pain or making sure that we switch up our poses.  It's very hard but rewarding work.

Megan: For sure.  I think a lot of people don't realize that there's a lot of mental activity with modeling too.  You try to sit still or do anything for twenty minutes, and it's hard to focus on your pose, especially if you're doing something more intense.
Andy: And to add to that, when you've been modeling for a long time, you tend settle into certain poses that kind of become "your things" that you do.  So there tends to be this responsibility that you feel to switch it up and make things interesting.  You always want to stay sharp and stay on your toes, and it can be very taxing, especially if you have to do a lot of poses in one day.

Megan: Absolutely.  Segueing into that, what are some of your favorite poses to do?
Andy: I think some of my favorite poses are those that I tend to come up with in the twenty one minute periods.  One of my absolute favorites is when I go on my back and lift both my legs in the air.  I bend one of them so I make sort of a "4" shape.  That one tends to gasps, and I always love hearing that.  I also briefly studied martial arts and when I'm stuck for a pose, I can draw on that.  I like do things where I'll stand in sort of a warrior pose and hold my arm out in sort of a blocking motion or above my head.  Those are fun action poses to do.

Megan: I definitely agree with that.  I once heard someone say that dancers and athletes make the best art models.  I think that's true to an extent.  Not only do you get strong from that physical activity, but you get a real sense of how to position yourself and what looks interesting.  Do you think that what you do you in your daily life helps inform any of your poses?
Andy: Yeah.  My brief flirtation with martial arts and my background as an actor definitely helps with my poses.  I took a lot of classes and found myself in a position with a lot of shows and improv comedy where you're always having to think on your feet, and I draw upon that when I have to be creative with my body.

Megan: I also think that with being an actor, you get used to being in front of people.  That's half the battle right there.  So, would you rather do a class with short poses throughout, or one long pose the entire time?
Andy: Hmm... It depends.  Sometimes if I'm mentally exhausted from a long day, I'll just want to sit down and let that be it.  But at the same time, I feel that when I am a little drained doing short poses can break me out of that.  I think I prefer the short pose classes just because there's so many things you get to do that you can't do in twenty minutes.  You can be on one foot or one hand, or you can bend over backwards.  You can do so many wonderful, creative things with short poses.  Even if you want to sit still, sometimes it's good to shake yourself out of that and say to yourself "Nope!  We're moving tonight!"

Megan: Do you have any funny or interesting stories from your modeling sessions?  I bet you do!
Andy: Oh boy!  I was doing a sculpture class about five years ago, and at the time I was doing it, there was a party upstairs in the art gallery of the building that I work in.  For some reason, they hd to move the party out of the gallery, and they moved it in to our sculpture studio.  So there's this whole party going on.  There was food, there was wine, there was even a cellist playing.  But then the instructor of the class came up to me and said "Excuse me, Andy.  Some of the students have come to me and said that they would like to keep working.  Do you mind?"  I said "Absolutely not!"  So I dropped my clothes and started posing again right in the middle of a big party.  At one point, I did hear a couple of party goers walk by me and say "Oh, there's a naked guy up there."  I thought "It's an art studio, honey!  What did you expect?"

Megan: (Laughs) That sounds like a scene right out of "Mame!"  But that also sounds incredible. So, what do you think is the hardest or worst part about art modeling?
Andy: I sort of answered this earlier (Side Note: Andy definitely has untapped ESP powers) but I think it would have to be the physical toll it takes, especially when you're first starting out and being comfortable with what your body is and isn't able to do.  My worst horror story was when I chose the absolute wrong pose for a five week class every Sunday for three and a half hours.  It was a Narcissist  pose where I was on my hands and knees, peering down like I'm looking at my reflection in the water.  My wrists started screaming at me for about six minutes.  I would have said something now, but back then, I was little more eager to please.  So I held it and I managed to pull it off.  But the tradeoff was I couldn't fully feel my hands until about two days later every week.  Getting an understanding of what you can and can't do and knowing when to speak up about making modifications is tricky.

Megan: Pro tip to anyone out there interested in art modeling.  Sometimes the simplest poses not only are the best for your body, but can be just as interesting as doing something totally crazy.
Andy: Agreed!  I've never been an artist myself, so I have to keep that mind when I do a pose that I think may be a little too simple, I have to remind myself that the people looking at me are looking at this from a completely different perspective and are seeing things in this I can't even comprehend.  It's certainly not a contest to see how crazy you can get with your body.

Megan: Definitely.  What do you think is the best and most rewarding part about being an art model?
Andy: First of all, it's such an interesting way to make a living.  It provides you with a lot of great stories and surprised looks on friends and family members faces.  I was talking to someone who actually was a student at one of the schools I model at.  Her reaction was "Are you a nude model?!?" and I said "Yes I am!"  Her mind was blown.  I like that I have a very unique job that I thrive in, and that's a great feeling.  It's also an excellent outlet for creativity and your emotions.  I remember one day when I was particularly upset by the news, and I reflected that in my poses.  I did a lot of sorrowful poses where I was covering my eyes and heart.  It can definitely help with that.

Megan: Very true.  My final question is this.  Do you have any advice to aspiring art models or models who are just starting out?
Andy: I would say that if you're really curious about it, go for it!  There's so many schools in the city that are always looking for models.  Go for it and have a blast.  If you're just starting out and it's tough right now, definitely stick it out.  Remember that there's so many different classes with different kinds of people working in different styles.  It's such a wonderful experience and it becomes so much more enriching the longer you stay with it.  I actually met a woman in a session who used to be an actress and ended up getting me an interview with an agent.  What was really funny was when she gave me this agent's information, she said "And don't worry, dear.  I won't tell them how we met."  (Side Note: at this point we both took a break to laugh at that comment.)  Even if it's a little overwhelming right now, stick it out because it's such a great job to have.  And enjoy it!

There you have it folks!  I promise I'll get back to my Saturday posts soon enough.  But until then, stay awesome and thanks for stopping by!

See you soon!