Being seen, looked at, visually studied. This is what gave this man satisfaction – me, as an artist, seeing him and loving his body forms.
A handsome man wrote once to me saying that he always wanted to try posing nude for an artist - a photographer or a painter. He never did this before because in his mind he was... not athletic enough. A very common way of thinking when it comes to being nude in front of another human being.
However, one day he came. He undressed. He sat down. Vulnerable. Bare. A shy hero to himself and an absolute beauty to my eye.
There was a moment during our session when he told me, almost whispering "Thank you for looking at me." Yes, I was looking because I was working, paying attention to each part of his body, loving each shape and putting his forms on paper. It's like his body was touched by my gaze, transformed into lines and reappeared on my easel.
We all need to be seen, loved and appreciated.
Apparently, my handsome model was lacking the attention (I would've never believed it – with his amazing looks!). I didn't know his life story but I assumed that he was not talking about the lack of physical contact with people, but rather about being really seen, looked at, visually studied. This is what gives him satisfaction – me, as an artist, seeing him and loving his body forms.
He enjoyed posing for me very much. (I could see him readjusting himself from time to time). I also enjoyed watching him do this. As an unprofessional model he did very good! And I do hope that this drawing can tell the story of the emotional and physical vulnerability of a man who is not afraid to experiment and discover new sensations.
Sitting Male Figure Drawing, Original Art of Man Body in Graphite on Paper