I participated in my first ever live model session. I'll be going again for sure!
The title image is my favorite.
We had several 1 minute poses, two 5 minute poses, two 10 minute poses, one 20 minute pose, and one 40 minute pose.
The title image is how I painted the 40 minute pose with a monochrome mask.
Here is the full color version which I don't like as much.
The next is the rest of the sessions left to right. For the last image the model was laying down on a large pillow where I could only see the top of her head, an elbow, a breast, and a knee. I painted the most interesting of those choices. But for the final pose people moved to her a better view. Wish I would have thought of that, next time.
I'm going to look for tutorials for painting live models and quickly. I plan to go back in two weeks (this will be one pose for two hours and the subject will likely be in a costume). If you have suggestions or links that helped you I'd love it if you share!
I went on nervous as hell and that people would figure out I don't belong. I know, at my age as a grandfather it's silly but still. When I did the first 10 minute pose I started to feel comfortable and just focus on the art. By the end I felt great and couldn't wait to go back.
Lastly my favorite is the second to last sketch or the last 10 minute speed painting. I thought I really captured her elbow quite well and really like the colors and shading.
I'd offer this. If you're given ten minutes, don't work towards having a finished piece in ten minutes. You'll mistime it, and focus on one detail, and end up with something only half done.
Instead, have something finished in one minute. Even if it's just a rough pencil layout of the shape of the body: if the clock stops after one minute, you have something finished. Then if you have another minute, refine what you've drawn: correct the angle of an arm, make that straight line into a curve. And then you're finished again. And then refine further, add some shading, and regime further, get those muscles better defined, and so on. And at all points, you could stop working and end up with something you're happy with.
At least that's how I do it!
That's great advice! Thank you. Next next session is one pose for 2 hours but the session after that is like this and I'll use your advice there for sure!