Art Model

[wyatt1111]

Hi everyone,

I have a question. I am a married artist and am wondering what your thoughts are on a christian modeling in the nude for a figure drawing class? Is this completely unacceptable? Would this be forbidden in a marriage even though it is not sexual? I am just curious to see how it would be perceived within a CHristian Community.

Look forward to some insight as I have been asked to do this but not sure as a Christian if this is "sin" if there are no alterior motives other than helping artists improve their drawing skills.

 

[Galatea]

I think you should number one, ask your wife her opinion. She may not want you modeling in the nude.

This is going to sound like a double standard, but since you are a man, there is little chance that women will be looking at you with lust. We're not made to lust after a man simply by seeing his nude body (most of us, anyway). We're not as visually stimulated. If you were a woman, it would be a different thing altogether.

I personally think when you are married, your bodies belong to each other and no one else. I would not want my husband modeling nude- even for an academic art class.

The MOST important person to ask is if course, your wife.

 

[wyatt1111]

Thank you for the response. She is an artist as well and is ok with it. I was just mainly curious as to whether or not it would be deemed as sinful. Or if it is ok for me to do? Just wondering if I am over thinking this or not because I don't really see it as a big deal...

I think you should number one, ask your wife her opinion. She may not want you modeling in the nude.

This is going to sound like a double standard, but since you are a man, there is little chance that women will be looking at you with lust. We're not made to lust after a man simply by seeing his nude body (most of us, anyway). We're not as visually stimulated. If you were a woman, it would be a different thing altogether.

I personally think when you are married, your bodies belong to each other and no one else. I would not want my husband modeling nude- even for an academic art class.

The MOST important person to ask is if course, your wife.

I think you should number one, ask your wife her opinion. She may not want you modeling in the nude.

This is going to sound like a double standard, but since you are a man, there is little chance that women will be looking at you with lust. We're not made to lust after a man simply by seeing his nude body (most of us, anyway). We're not as visually stimulated. If you were a woman, it would be a different thing altogether.

I personally think when you are married, your bodies belong to each other and no one else. I would not want my husband modeling nude- even for an academic art class.

The MOST important person to ask is if course, your wife.

 

[RaymondG]

I think it is up to you. What do you feel about it? What a man thinketh, so is he. If you feel it is wrong and a sin, to you it is wrong and a sin.

I personally, dont believe God bothers herself with trivial matters such as these. He lets us choose what is right or wrong for ourselves. Of course there are the religious who makes rules and try to get others to believe them and it eventually does become sins to all those who believe. But each man has to decide for himself.

So lets forget about religion or spirituality, because this doesn't relate.....unless you want to make it.

If I was a hunk , which I Am, and someone wanted to put my hunkness on a canvas....I would oblige....if I were single. An insecure person would not...and would probably give other reasons other than their our insecurity.

If married....i dont think i would....and i wouldnt want a wife or daughter doing it either....for ingrained cultural reasons (how i was brought up)

 

[Your Brother In Christ]

I know that the bible speaks a lot about sexually immoral things, but that would not apply to this situation. The Bible referrers to your body as a temple, but we do take pictures of churches.

You would have to ask the following questions:
Could what I am doing, cause others to stumble in to sin?
Could what I am doing, be used in any sexual immorality?
Could this cause problems between me and my wife?
Would I have a problem with my wife doing the same?
Would my grandmother have a problem with it, if she was there?
Would I have a problem with nude pictures of me on the internet?

I am not saying one way or the other, I know many of the greatest art works that mankind has made was of the raw human form and that makes perfect biblical sense. We were made in the image of God in all His perfection, even if we are poor reflections of Him, we are still a reflection and God saw that it was good.

 

[wyatt1111]

Could willfullly modeling naked for a group of art students be in the same category as having an affair? Even if it is completely educational I guess is your body only meant to be viewed naked by your spouse?

 

[AvgJoe]

Hi everyone,

I have a question. I am a married artist and am wondering what your thoughts are on a christian modeling in the nude for a figure drawing class? Is this completely unacceptable? Would this be forbidden in a marriage even though it is not sexual? I am just curious to see how it would be perceived within a CHristian Community.

Look forward to some insight as I have been asked to do this but not sure as a Christian if this is "sin" if there are no alterior motives other than helping artists improve their drawing skills.

Here's some food for thought~~~> What should be the Christian perspective on nudity in art? & Can a Christian be a nudist? What does the Bible say about nudity?

 

[seeking.IAM]

I wonder how you might feel if you walked into a gallery one day and saw your nude self nicely framed on the wall? I had this happen to an acquaintance of mine. She was okay with modeling until she walked into a gallery and saw herself displayed for the world to see. Then she wasn't okay with it anymore and had regrets. Admittedly, there were deeper issues for her pertaining to sexual objectification which she had experienced during her lifetime.

Personally, I think nakedness does not automatically equate to lust or sin. But, I have always thought a person should be able to look themselves in the mirror in the morning, and live their life with no regrets. Only you can answer that.

 

[wyatt1111]

Just to clarify, it would be pencil sketches. So not recognizable.

I wonder how you might feel if you walked into a gallery one day and saw your nude self nicely framed on the wall? I had this happen to an acquaintance of mine. She was okay with modeling until she walked into a gallery and saw herself displayed for the world to see. Then she wasn't okay with it anymore and had regrets. Admittedly, there were deeper issues for her pertaining to sexual objectification which she had experienced during her lifetime.

Personally, I think nakedness does not automatically equate to lust or sin. But, I have always thought a person should be able to look themselves in the mirror in the morning, and live their life with no regrets. Only you can answer that.

 

[Your Brother In Christ]

Could willfullly modeling naked for a group of art students be in the same category as having an affair? Even if it is completely educational I guess is your body only meant to be viewed naked by your spouse?

Affair is a sexual act with someone other then your spouse. If your wife knows about this and is OK with this then no, I would not say it is. Do remember that when you and your wife got married, you gave your body to your wife and your wife did the same. In other words the body you would be modeling belongs to your wife, and she needs to sign off on it.

P.S. If I had a wife and she wanted to do this I would say no, but @Galatea is right, most women are not as highly stimulated by vision, but men are.

 

[wyatt1111]

I just see this as educational but also freeing and liberating. And maybe even healthy. Just not sure what could be wrong about it?

 

[Your Brother In Christ]

I just see this as educational but also freeing and liberating. And maybe even healthy. Just not sure what could be wrong about it?

I would have to ask what is your wife's opinion?
Keep in mind the list of questions I posted.

 

[wyatt1111]

Seems like the feedback is more or less it is ok if 1)my wife is ok with it and 2) I am ok with it. So because the answer to both of the questions is yes I will move forward with modeling.

THank you everyone.

 

[wyatt1111]

how would nude pictures of me get on the internet if it is a life drawing class in a professional setting?

QUOTE="Your Brother In Christ, post: 70932619, member: 394914"]I know that the bible speaks a lot about sexually immoral things, but that would not apply to this situation. The Bible referrers to your body as a temple, but we do take pictures of churches.

You would have to ask the following questions:
Could what I am doing, cause others to stumble in to sin?
Could what I am doing, be used in any sexual immorality?
Could this cause problems between me and my wife?
Would I have a problem with my wife doing the same?
Would my grandmother have a problem with it, if she was there?
Would I have a problem with nude pictures of me on the internet?

I am not saying one way or the other, I know many of the greatest art works that mankind has made was of the raw human form and that makes perfect biblical sense. We were made in the image of God in all His perfection, even if we are poor reflections of Him, we are still a reflection and God saw that it was good.[/QUOTE]

 

[Your Brother In Christ]

how would nude pictures of me get on the internet if it is a life drawing class in a professional setting?

QUOTE="Your Brother In Christ, post: 70932619, member: 394914"]I know that the bible speaks a lot about sexually immoral things, but that would not apply to this situation. The Bible referrers to your body as a temple, but we do take pictures of churches.

You would have to ask the following questions:
Could what I am doing, cause others to stumble in to sin?
Could what I am doing, be used in any sexual immorality?
Could this cause problems between me and my wife?
Would I have a problem with my wife doing the same?
Would my grandmother have a problem with it, if she was there?
Would I have a problem with nude pictures of me on the internet?

I am not saying one way or the other, I know many of the greatest art works that mankind has made was of the raw human form and that makes perfect biblical sense. We were made in the image of God in all His perfection, even if we are poor reflections of Him, we are still a reflection and God saw that it was good.

[/QUOTE]

Once they have the drawings you will have little to no control over what happens to them. What if one of the student desires to show their friends their art work, for example like on Facebook. They could scan in the picture and upload it without you knowing, and you may never know. But do remember that there is a chance that it could be out there.

 

[Galatea]

Affair is a sexual act with someone other then your spouse. If your wife knows about this and is OK with this then no, I would not say it is. Do remember that when you and your wife got married, you gave your body to your wife and your wife did the same. In other words the body you would be modeling belongs to your wife, and she needs to sign off on it.

P.S. If I had a wife and she wanted to do this I would say no, but @Galatea is right, most women are not as highly stimulated by vision, but men are.

To clarify my position, I am not married, but if I were, I would not want my husband modeling nude. And, frankly, I would be insulted if he had no problem with me doing such a thing, like he didn't love me enough to keep me secret from other eyes.

I realize artists are in an academic situation, almost like a doctor- just another form to them. These are my personal thoughts.

 

[wyatt1111]

To clarify my position, I am not married, but if I were, I would not want my husband modeling nude. And, frankly, I would be insulted if he had no problem with me doing such a thing, like he didn't love me enough to keep me secret from other eyes.

I realize artists are in an academic situation, almost like a doctor- just another form to them. These are my personal thoughts.

 

[wyatt1111]

To clarify my position, I am not married, but if I were, I would not want my husband modeling nude. And, frankly, I would be insulted if he had no problem with me doing such a thing, like he didn't love me enough to keep me secret from other eyes.

I realize artists are in an academic situation, almost like a doctor- just another form to them. These are my personal thoughts.

I guess I am just a little confused. So do you think it is sinful or not christian like to do this in an academic/doctor like proffesional setting?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Up here a court 'legalized' topless sunbathing. While I don't think this is a good idea, it maybe puts into context any attempts that might be made to give artists, etc. - along the lines described - a hard time. (This is at least marginally relevant in the context of up here.)

 

[Galatea]

I guess I am just a little confused. So do you think it is sinful or not christian like to do this in an academic/doctor like proffesional setting?

My personal opinion is that with Christians, your body no longer belongs to you- but to your wife, and vice versa. If I were married, I would not like my husband posing nude. I would also be insulted if he was alright with me doing the same.

I am not sure if it is sinful for a man, since your nude body is not likely to stimulate the ladies drawing you (no offense, women just imbibe pornography through the framework of a story and not so much as just seeing a naked man).

I think it would be sinful for a Christian woman to pose nude- even in an academic setting, because it could stimulate the men drawing her.

You asked for our personal opinions, I thought. So I am writing my personal opinions as well as my opinions about Christian behavior.