ladykatza

Joc’s Request: I’d like to know your thoughts on the impact of the model on the final piece and the return gaze of the object of art.

Oh, now this is a good one. It was brought up because I have several artist friends that I have modeled/been used as a model for. The Artist Pain is probably the one that most who read this are familiar with. With him, I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, as he is a horror and fetish artist.

He was really responsible for making me look at myself in a picture and not think “oh god, that’s horrible!”. The idea that I could come out with photos that look good even though I am not “typical model” type did wonders for my self esteem. Since then, I have done several favors for other friends and was even approached by some art students at the college I went back to for a semester (before back surgery). It was… surreal.

I think how being a model and how the finish product effects you has a lot to do with who you chose to work with and what kind of work you are doing. There’s no way in hell I would ever be a fashion model, that industry is brutal. Thousands of pictures are taken, maybe five are chosen, and even then they go through and doctor them up because you just aren’t perfect enough. The pressure to be thin and perfect can kill you, literally.

However, working with artists, especially artists that are looking for that edge of something different and outside of our current beauty standard is wonderful. How you feel about the person behind the camera also helps the finished product (or how comfortable this person makes you feel).