Nekkid and Nude

Ira once told me that he could never have a long term relationship with any woman who pronounced naked as “nekkid.”  It was best, at that point, not to reveal that this is the way we all pronounced it when I was growing up.  Nay-kid was, well, not something we said.  So forgive me if I avoid any mention of that word and say that I am taking a figure drawing class, attended my first session yesterday, and…it was good.

Most students arrived early, padding around until they found a space they liked and then claiming and straddling their see-saw-like drawing benches. Those of us who were wait-listed were last in line, so we were parked at easels in the back…my choice anyway. Money was collected, heat was turned up, and our model Maureen appeared--wearing a muted green sarong.   From the moment the fabric dropped silently to the floor,  Maureen held all the cards.  Much of her power had to do with the stopwatch she was using:  in this three-hour class Maureen timed every pose like a drill-sergeant, beginning with three one-minute poses (quick, let me change my paper!), two four minute poses (can I even sharpen my pencil?),  and a break.   No time to think about what’s happening here,  just get the lines down on paper.

After a little intermission (on with the sarong),  Maureen moved into two 10-minute poses; we were still sketching at breakneck speed.  I found myself remembering how to look at angles and forms, spaces and solids, how to loosen up, choose the lines I wanted to keep and let the others fade away.  By the time we got to the last hour of class and two 20-minute poses I was in the zone, appreciating Maureen for her grace (she’s quite beautiful in a 40ish way) and marveling at her flexibility and her ability to strike a compelling pose.  Well before beginning the last group of studies I was lost in the process, feeling like I’d miraculously learned something about drawing by being away from it so long.

Maureen's 20 minute pose   1/8/13

During the next break the teacher reminded everyone about the “No Cellphone!” (i.e. camera) rule. Can't imagine a reason for that one.  I slipped out for coffee and wondered, “Does Maureen put ‘nude model’ on her income tax return?  When did she “come out” to her children?  If she saw me at the Safeway, would she smile and speak?”  I’d say this would be no big deal to Maureen of the sarong and stopwatch.  She is elegant, professional,…and, in this case,  just nude.  

Near the end of the class several seats were vacated and I moved to one of the drawing benches, sandwiching  myself between a group of  men and women (mostly retirees) who had been working as diligently as I.  It wasn’t surprising that--from my new vantage point-- I could see as many different sketching styles as there were people, like students speaking varied artistic languages, some more proficiently than others,  but all equally dedicated to the process.

I took a sidelong glance at the person beside me, a man who was seated with a full frontal view of the model. Then I discreetly checked out the work on his drawing board.  What I saw were lots of stick figures with Afro-like hair.  I didn’t "let on"-- one of Mother’s favorite expressions--but in retrospect I think those particular drawings might have been, well….nekkid.