Beautiful people

[G. Murdoch]

Greetings all,

There is a woman (married, 3 kids) who goes to the same gym as I. She has the most beautifully formed legs I have ever seen in my life. There is a man who also goes there, perhaps 70 yrs old, African ancestry, who's bearing, posture, and carriage I can hardly tear my eyes from. At the coffee shop I frequent, a young mom often brings her son, 10 months old, the most perfectly shaped head, etc...

There are people out there who inspire aesthetic obsession in me. Men, women, children, the elderly. What I find fascinating is, as a heterosexual male, with a full quotient of testosterone, when I observe this woman with the legs, there is an absence of erotic intent. I find my gaze is purely artistic / aesthetic. I am fascinated by the weave of tendons through the knee. Does anyone else experience this?

Graham

[ironman]

Hey Graham, Didn't you ever take life drawing? There are usually female models!
I have taken many life drawing classes, workshops, etc. and while I at first do notice the female anatomy as a "MAN", my prurient side gets buried and body parts become just shapes and my interest is in drawing those shapes and that body that is posing in front of me.
I find that artists in general, are very observant people, and I too notice stuff like you described and without the eroticism.
Have a nice day,
Jeff

[Landseer]

.
I am fascinated by the weave of tendons through the knee. Does anyone else experience this?

Graham
Yes, sort of, but I don't see it with other people as the human form is of no interest to me, erotic, artistic or otherwise, I do see/feel it with animal forms, especially horses, dogs, and deer.

I guess Rod could sculpt the nude lady with detachment much like a physician or OBGYN does with patients, but once work was over with emotion took over.

[sculptor]

Graham:

I suspect that almost every figurative artist feels the same way
I also stare at people when out in public, and occasionally apologize for making them self-concious. When i see a muscle/tendon connection on a well shaped body I follow it's every move as long as it is visable.

Long ago, I was cleaning up after a sculpting session, and was watching the model getting dressed when the arousal thing happened-------so I told Lynn (http://home.mindspring.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.mindspring.com/~mandali/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/lynn.torso.figurative.sculptor.rod.patterson.jpg&target=tlx_new&title=figure%20sculpture%20LYNN%20torso%20in%20the %20clay) that I must be going crazy--that I could look at her nude for three hours while working the clay and not get an erection, but got on as I was cleaning up and she was getting dressed-------she said that it just showed the professional attitude I had with the work---when I was thinking of sharing her beauty in the sculpture it was a different sort of all consuming act of creation.

rod
sculptor (http://home.mindspring.com/~mandali/)

[Merlion]

I do look at people and human bodies differently after taking up figurative sculpture. I have to thank the ancient Greeks for first showing us the fantastic beauty of the human body.

As I am from a tropical country, thus to look at people and their beautiful bodies, I can just sit down at any crowded place, without the need to go to the gym.

Of course like many of us, through life drawing sessions I can make detailed observations and 2D records of all part of the bodies, male and female.

One minor problem with this is when I have to sculpt models of babies. My life drawing experience won't benefit me.

But somehow people, especially females, enjoy seeing sculptures of babies, even people who do not normally appreciate figurative sculptures. "So cute" is a common remark when they see them. And this enjoyment extends also to animal cubs.

[JamesW]

Graham
Sounds healthy & extremely honest & well adjusted to me. As a red blooded homosexual man I can & do see beauty in women & if I see beauty in a man it certainly isn't always in an erotic sense. I think you are able to do this through your well developed visual acuity and sense of line & artistry. I think we can also see this in people who aren't classicaly or sterotypically beautiful. Sometimes the tilt of a head, an outstretched hand, a bent back etc what ever the age or gender (or species) of the critter can excite/interest us visually.
Good on you for raising a topic that is sometimes difficult to approach.
James

[Landseer]

But somehow people, especially females, enjoy seeing sculptures of babies, even people who do not normally appreciate figurative sculptures. "So cute" is a common remark when they see them. And this enjoyment extends also to animal cubs. That is pretty well shown to be the case here too, puppy or juvenile animal
related items sell- the "cute" factor, though more often than not made in a very corney, fairy tale appearance specifically to invoke that "cute" response.

if I see beauty in a man it certainly isn't always in an erotic sense. I think

Sometimes the tilt of a head, an outstretched hand, a bent back etc what ever the age or gender (or species) of the critter can excite/interest us visually.
I can relate to that visual and erotic interest, but translating knee, ankle and feet in human terms into animal terms- the curvacious turn of stifle, the hocks, and paws. Images of the back legs of a deer or course show they are built for extreme speed, and while similar to the muscular heavy legs of a horse or Rottweiler dog, the horse or dog's back legs and hocks are built for power. I can look an either and be attracted to and visually interested in the feminity of the more refined female animal, as well as the heavy, raw rugged power/masculinity of the male animal.

The mare in the photo has great lines, pose and form, muscling in the front leg/shoulder shows strength, yet overall still feminine in appearance.

I don't see nor experience either visual or erotic interest with the human form at all, but it "translates" for me on the animal form.

[RCFA-Raven]

I’ve been working with live models–male and female–for about 5 years now and can relate with what you are saying, very well. One of my models was a one-legged man. I found his partially cut off leg to be beautiful, along with the most piercing blue eyes I had ever seen. The painting I did of him on the spot was the best painting I've ever done. One of my more regular models is a lady of around 47 with the beautiful breasts and an almost perfect tiny girlish-like body. I have no physical attraction to either of these models but can easily appreciate their beauty.

[oddist]

I don't believe "visual attraction" and "physical attraction" are absolute bed-fellows.

I'm surprised an artist, of whatever persuasion, would have a question about this!

A bowl of fruit is a bowl of fruit whether it has breasts, all its limbs, a tail, or whatever...

[Landseer]

A bowl of fruit is a bowl of fruit whether it has breasts, all its limbs, a tail, or whatever...Now THAT is something I want to see- a bowl of fruit with a tail and limbs!

[Arnis]

Murdoch .You broght a fresh breeze in this soceaty. I agree with Ironman.You have to make a lfve drawing.Use your inspiration it wont be last forevar.Let me tell you a story.When I was young I and frend of mine use to learn through lfve drawing.He was so good at humane body such a emotion in drawings .Though he was tenager .All profesors admited that he is great.Many years after that he become very religios ,He married, two kids.He started to draw monks.I send to you few of me recent drawings.Arnis

[Landseer]

The muscular gentleman drawing looks very good, of the five I like that one the most and it looks the most real to me.

Curiously reminds me of Michaelangelo in style- he doesn't look "posed" or in an artificial pose.
This could be a brick layer, logger or contruction worker working in the hot sun with his shirt off, it could be a body builder working out in the gym- he has a natural realism in his pose that the others lack for me.

[Merlion]

It is interesting that we enjoy looking at bulky muscular men. But for women, it is the tall slim figures that we enjoy. I wonder why? I think they go beyond the ancient Greek ideals of perfect male and female figures.

[Arnis]

Landseer a good shot.The bulky muscular gentleman and the lady with the ripe ass are real life drawings.For the rest I used photo pictures.But you know it isn't easy to catch the motion.Merlio I am not agree that all Greek classic is with lean muscles figures.For example I like the "Belvedere torso" that is much muscular that the my drawing.I did one drawing recently that I consider is with lean muscles.Arnis

[Merlion]

I think the fashion industry has influenced people's idea of female beauty. I am old enough to remember Mary Quant who started the rave on mini skirts and the skinny model Twicky in the 60s. After this girls would starve themselves to look skinny, and lose their self esteem if they look fat.

But isn't there a period in European art when painters like to paint plump women with rounded bodies ?

[Landseer]

Landseer a good shot.The bulky muscular gentleman and the lady with the ripe ass are real life drawings.For the rest I used photo pictures.But you know it isn't easy to catch the motion.Merlio I am not agree that all Greek classic is with lean muscles figures.For example I like the "Belvedere torso" that is much muscular that the my drawing.I did one drawing recently that I consider is with lean muscles.ArnisArnis, that's another excellent drawing there, I mean it! I also like to examine these to see how a few pencil strokes and shading done right can create the illusion of 3D and lifelike forms on a flat surface.
All of them are technically excellent and it IS difficult to catch movement, in fact all art done of running horses till about the 1860's was WRONG for the leg placement, you examine the old portraits and you see the "rocking horse" stance. It wasn't till the camera came along to stop the fast action that artist saw how the movement WAS in real life. It was Edweard Muybridge who did a whole series of images of running people and animals.
I personally don't care for the other drawings- the lady who looks bondaged etc but this is just my personal tastes- the drawings themselves are excellent.

[Merlion]

Since we are talking about life drawing, I'll add something. I have been attending such sessions and found it very beneficial to add to my figure sculpting skill. Over here, it is easier to get female models, but recently we are fortunate to have a muscular male, a Caucasian to boot.

Here is my latest drawing. I draw him as he is, which means no extra bulging muscules.

[JAZ]

Nice drawing, Merlion. There is a good sense of volume.
JAZ

[Arnis]

Hi lendseer.The matter about the horses is tough.I was in one stable last year to make life drawings.It was hard because they moved too much.So I took a photo camera. I send some pictures.This thing for the right leg placement is very complicated.You put the picture of the "Horse Statue of Comandore" I think it is very correct leg placement - an excellence piece of art. I think that convincing is more important that true reallism. Do you know that the horse motion was changed too. Men started to teach them how to run faster and the horses changed the leg placement. Merion, an excellent man drawing. I like the charcoal too.Arnis

[Landseer]

Hi lendseer.The matter about the horses is tough.I was in one stable last year to make life drawings.It was hard because they moved too much.So I took a photo camera. I send some pictures.This thing for the right leg placement is very complicated.You put the picture of the "Horse Statue of Comandore" I think it is very correct leg placement - an excellence piece of art. I think that convincing is more important that true reallism. Do you know that the horse motion was changed too. Men started to teach them how to run faster and the horses changed the leg placement. Merion, an excellent man drawing. I like the charcoal too.ArnisFirst- Merlion- excellent drawing, I had no idea you did drawings as WELL AS sculpture.


Arnis- oh boy, these are splendid drawings! I especially like the left horse, the colored bull and the lioness- nice work!
I agree , the horse moving around is difficult to draw, the camera helps.
The photo I posted, that is of the bronze monument of conquistadore Bartolomeo Colleoni- an absolutely excellent work. Another view of a smaller one from the back;