Information for Models

Fun, occasional work!

Take your clothes off for art! Earn money by doing nothing! Model for me or my artist groups. It's fun. The pay is good and you could be famous! Both male and female models are needed. Please read on and send me an email with some information about yourself:

It is an interesting and rewarding experience. You get to see drawings of yourself and you find your self-esteem enhanced. More than that I really need you! If you are local to Cambridge you could model for me individually or for my artist groups. There is lots of information here and I keep adding to it - so print it out and keep checking back!

How much is the pay?
The pay is £12.00 per hour but you sometimes get more with tips.

When do you need people?
It is occasional work - and the hours are arranged to suit you. It is sometimes difficult for me to get models for Monday mornings so it is a helpful if you are sometimes available then.

How long / often are the drawing sessions?
A typical drawing class is between two and three hours. The longest pose is about one hour during which time you have two breaks. The shortest pose can be thirty seconds. I help you find poses which are interesting for us to draw and comfortable for you to hold. How often you get work depends on your availability. If you are available during both the day and evening I might be able to offer you between two and four hours modelling each week during term time.

Do you use male models too?
Yes. Men are much in demand and are harder to recruit. You do not need to have the body of a weight-lifter. Just be reasonably active and enjoy showing yourself off.

I'm too big / small / skinny / ugly / blue / green ...
We need all body types and you certainly should not worry about fitting into any media stereotype. Thin or fat, muscled or skinny, we want to draw a variety of shapes.

What sort of people model for you?
All kinds, young and old, students and town people.

Students: You've done the bungee jump, walked across the hot coals and eaten some weird things. What's left? Well, take your clothes off in public of course! All in the cause of art you understand. Some students like to model as a one-off challenge just for the experience. Others model throughout their course as a way of reducing their student debt. You need to be reasonably confident, sufficiently hard up or just up for a personal challenge! If you have ever thought of acting on stage then you can probably model. I emphasise again you do not need to be particularly fit - though modelling may give you an extra incentive to visit the gym!

Town People: By getting in touch with all the different tutors, it is almost possible to make a career out of life modelling in Cambridge . But if you can combine modelling with another part-time job then so much the better. There is often only a little work in July and almost nothing in August, so you need to be able to plan for these hard times.

Can I meet you first?

Yes, excellent idea. Arrange a time to visit me Wednesday - Friday at my CATS College studio in the Cambridge Union, by the Round Church. Or come to my Open Studio in July.

How much work will I get?
This is very variable depending on your availability. I aim to offer you a flow of work shared between male and female models.

I am too nervous!

It is natural to be nervous, especially at first. But everyone is very supportive. We value your work very highly. Sometimes people are worried about being recognised! For students one bonus about the class is that we are almost in a different world from the University! So it is something of a relaxing break for you with real people. Whatever your background we really respect you modelling for us and give you every support and encouragement. There are sometimes personal worries particular to men and women. (Men can be worried about getting erections and women can worry abut their periods.) It can be helpful to visit a class, then to model for an individual artist or to model first for a portrait. Many issues are discussed in the Figure Drawing Group (click on and enter as a guest). There are discussions on just about every conceivable topic connected with modelling. Peter's Nudist Site also has an excellent page on the first experience as a model.

I am too embarrassed!
It is natural to be nude and you need not be embarrassed about anything your body does while modelling. Your well being takes priority. So if you need to stop and take a break, that is fine. In Britain we can be very uptight about nudity. Fortunately things are changing. With overseas travel and nudist beaches we can all experiment with not wearing clothes and enjoy the fun of being naked in front of other people! Sometimes we associate nudity with sex. Men are not so used to taking their clothes off in public as women; although in this area too attitudes are changing as we get used to seeing naked male bodies in the media. Even the stereotype of the muscular man has been challenged with some very skinny guys appearing on tv and in magazines without their clothes. Men can also worry about getting erections! If you visit the Figure Drawing Group you will find over 300 messages about that! But it doesn't happen and even if it did, so what? It's natural.

What makes a good model?

	local to Cambridge City (within 5 miles of the city centre)
	able to hold a pose
	all shapes and sizes
	easy going, relaxed and good humoured
	reliable and on time: keep a diary
	physically fit and active
	willing to try different poses
	clean and well groomed
	And, if you can do it:
	exercise and keep fit to give tone to your muscles
	stand for a longer pose
	use your imagination to interpret ideas through body positions: e.g. tortured, collapsing, stretching
	change your hair style occasionally, wear different clothes, offer to bring in sports or musical instruments.

Getting started
There is always a private area where you undress. Wear a gown or long T shirt to walk from your changing area to the set; although some models are happy to be nude all the time - whatever you are comfortable with. The class are grouped in a circle around the set where you model. There are drapes, comfortable seating and heaters..

Short poses
The class will be ready to start as soon as you come onto the set. I will give you full guidance. The first poses are usually one or two minutes long. I’ll ask you to take up positions which you can only hold for a short time, trying to ensure varied views from all positions in the room.

Break
There is a break of fifteen to twenty minutes when you get refreshments. Put some clothes on if you wish, although you are welcome to stay nude. As artists we are drawing in our heads all the time and some of the best poses are unposed.

Longer Pose
This needs to be interesting for students to draw but reasonably comfortable for you. Students very much appreciate stillness and difficult poses, and they will ask me to book you again! You have a short rest every twenty minutes although you can always stretch any part of you which is uncomfortable or is going to sleep.

Booking and Cancelling
I try to use just a few models at any time so I might not be able to offer you work right away. You are welcome to telephone or email me at intervals to find out what the current position is. Remember also to tell me about changes of contact details.

Where possible I book models a week in advance, and you accept or decline depending on your availability. Let me know straight away by phone if you need to cancel for any reason. If you are unwell then definitely cancel. It is important that you do not model when you are sick. I can often find someone else even at short notice and will always offer you another slot.

Is it worth it?
If you model solely for the money then the answer is probably no! But if you enjoy being nude and showing yourself off then it is most liberating. Be valued for your work. Find your self-esteem enhanced. Have an additional incentive to look after your body and get fit. Bring a digital camera and take photos of the results. Ask me to take of photo of you while modelling to show your girl/boy friend. Have time for quiet thought and meditation. Meet creative people.

What do I need to bring?
Many models like to wear something between the changing area and the set, such as a towel, sarong, boxer shorts or gown. I encourage you to be nude as much as you are confident with. Also useful are slip on shoes (the floor can be dirty) and a bottle of drinking water.

Two Models
With my popular Monday classes I book two models for each session. This means there will be a naked person of the opposite sex modelling with you. You are in the same room but you each have your own space and are not asked to be touching each other. (And before you ask, male models do not generally get erections. Even if you did, we won't be embarrassed so you need not be either!)

Where else can I get modelling work?
Many people write to me wanting information, contacts and suggestions for finding modelling work in their area. Unless you are in Cambridge or very close by I cannot offer any specific guidance.  I do not have contacts in London or elsewhere. However anyone advertising Life Drawing classes will be pleased to hear from you. Go to your local library and ask about life drawing classes in schools and local colleges.

Check out art shops. Groups are often advertised there and the shop staff may know of contacts. Alternatively ask if you could put up your own advertisement.

Colleges and schools often need models: ring them up and leave your telephone number. Additionally get the name of a contact and write in with your details. I find it very helpful to have details of height, weight, hair style and colour, age, activities you do and where you are based.   This is because I like to employ a variety of people. Some tutors and artists only use female models.

You could also try contacting artists direct. For Cambridge check my Other Classes page and also look in the Cambridge OPEN studios booklet. In the States models are also apparently used for medical demonstrations - look at the Figure Drawing Group mentioned below.

Do you publish models' contact details?
I do not give out models' contact details. If you are looking for a model either privately or for a group I will consider passing on your information to my models. Send me full details including pay and times required.

Where else can I get information on the web?
Within this website you can see photos of the classes, students and real models in action.

The Figure Drawing Group Excellent discussions on all modelling topics. Click on the link, then enter as a guest. If you want to post messages you will have to register but this is easy and does not expose you or your email address. Well recommended!
Peter's Nudist Site Excellent exposition of nudism, naturism and modelling.

What kind of poses shall I do?
In the quick sketches it is good to have frozen action - dynamic positions you can hold for just a minute or two. For the longer drawing (one hour) you need something more comfortable, although with breaks most poses are possible.   Anything goes, and the more energy you put into your work the more you will be appreciated.   We are not necessarily seeking 'natural' positions - sports photography shows the figure in all kinds of contortions and your actions can add to the expressiveness of our art.

Poses are set in various ways:
Sometimes a student will suggest an idea - perhaps they are working on a picture and need specific figure reference. Or we might copy a position from a painting or sculpture. Or you might be able to interpret themes like 'Spring' and 'Autumn'.
Often for the quick sketches I ask you to begin curled up and then, with each successive drawing, to gradually stand up and open out.  You need have no worries about lacking ideas for poses! I will give you full guidance and ensure that you are able to give your best. Your well being takes priority.

What do I do next?

Send me an email with some information about yourself. Try accessing my Application for Models. Fill this out and send it to me as an attachment. (If that is too tricky then just send me an email with same information.)

Then we can arrange to meet up: A good place to meet is at Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS) in Round Church Street where I work part time. Or come to my Open Studio in July.

I do get quite a few enquiries about modelling especially if I have just advertised. It is very helpful to have a description of yourself. Details of your location, height, weight, age, hair style, and availability - all help to give emphasis to your enquiry.

Unfortunately I cannot use models who are more than five miles outside of Cambridge centre. I do not usually reimburse travelling expenses and both car and rail links present substantial obstacles for reliability. However I am always interested to hear from you regardless of distance if you attach a photo (jpg format only please).

More computer-wise models could set up a simple web page with their details and a photo. This could be a great way of getting more work! It is easy provided you are not daunted by one or two difficulties!

Hope to hear from you! My email address can be seen below.