mary-masked

Modeling at Society of Illustrators

Published: January 13th 2020, 4:56:00 pm

I don't art model that much anymore. Mostly because I don't think the pay rate is high enough for the amount of physical work it is, and because the pay rate (in general) hasn't changed since my mom was art modeling in the 70's, and because there's generally not a system to get paid more if you're actually good at it.

I'm a pretty damn good art model. I have a wide range of good costumes and props. I have the acting skills to make my poses expressive and dynamic. I know enough about drawing to know what kind of poses are interesting to draw. And I know enough about art history and literature that if you say "We're going for X style" or "We're portraying X story" I'll know how to convey that in my props, costumes, and poses. But all models make the same flat rate unless you're negotiating with a specific artist. It's not fair. It annoys me. So it's not work that I pursue.

But I *do* really like The Society of Illustrators. Also it's january, so I need money. And I have a hard time saying no to Lefty Lucy. And it was Gatsby themed so I really went for it.

I posed with drinks, pearls, a small dog. You know, Gatsby stuff. Society of Illustrators has a great mix of students and full on professional illustrators, so I made all my poses moments that one would illustrate from the books: being awkward at a tea party, crashing a car, catching a man's shirt.
I don't know if everyone (or anyone!) caught my references, but a LOT of people complimented my work and my expressiveness.
And the art that I saw was fantastic!

Clifford Faust is usually there when I model and I always LOVE the drawings he does.


The other great thing about the Society of Illustrators is that it's FULL of inspiration. They change the exhibits regularly and the work they have up is always gorgeous. Since I'm trying to get more into illustration, I took this as a chance to widen my knowledge a bit, and look for more illustrators in a vein similar to mine.

In any art form it's good to know whose work is/was similar to yours. It's a great way to give people an idea of what your work is like, it's also a good way to see who might want to hire you. And I like that it gives you a better idea of where you fit in art history, sort of an artistic family tree of influences that you can trace back.
Anyway, here are some new to me people that I found.
Alvin Pimsler

Barbara Pearlman

Henry Patrick Raleigh

Tobie Giddio

Does this stuff about influences interest you? I hadn't really thought about writing about it before, but god knows I can talk forever about things I like.

I've started a pinterest board of illustrators whose style I think has an influence on mine or is similar to mine in some way. It's a great source of inspiration and I'm hoping it'll help me get better at talking about my art. "It's X meets Y' is always a good start to an elevator pitch" and I am TERRIBLE at elevator pitches. 

Is this something you keep track of in your own work? Or do you try not to think about outside influences when you're making something?