Response to Hollander

'Subject Matter: Models for Different Media'

Elizabeth Hollander

In this reading Hollander discusses the relationship between the artist and the model, and the impact this has on the work that is created. She discusses the model's perspective on making pictures. It's a very interesting reading. It gives insight into what the model thinks of their job. Modelling for drawers, painters, sculptors and photographers all brings different challenges. 

From a drawing perspective, we try to capture the model's gesture and movement. Generally we work faster than painters or sculptors and try to reflect some movement and personality into the work. Hollander almost echoes these same thoughts. She agrees that she can see more of herself in the drawings. As she looked around the class, she could remember the poses she took and saw the learning that went into each drawing. The distribution of weight, the lighting, the proportion. By studying a live model, students are more able to convey what they see in the moment. When models work for painters, the work becomes less about the model and more about the artist's vision. 

Hollander also raises the issue of collaboration. Model and artist work together to create the final product. But the model's name is never on the finished product. They are normally seen as an object within the piece. In drawing the model generally has a repertoire of poses they cycle through and the artist draws their poses. In other art mediums, the model usually portrays a certain vision that the artist has. Personally, I like drawing the poses the model chooses. The poses come somewhat naturally to them and I am able to express some of their personality through the pose. 

'When classroom exercises call for certain kinds of pose, the model is clearly a responsible collaborator in the process of instruction. But a clever model will always pay attention to what issues or problems concern the draftsman most, and adjust her poses accordingly to lead the way.'

This reading brings up a lot of interesting questions. The relationship between the artist and the model and their collaboration in the process of creating art is very interesting. It's not something I had thought about before doing life drawing and this drawing course. I don't have the answers to the questions of collaboration. But these questions are now in my mind as I go forward and create more works.