Comments on: It’s a Man’s World http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/ Artist Writer Curious Dreamer Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:41:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jean Burman http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6529 Jean Burman Wed, 13 May 2009 21:57:09 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6529 Sometimes I think it might even be more useful (and challenging) to sketch people fully clothed. Why no-one offers "clothed" sessions I don't know. Maybe it's too hard. LOL Sometimes I think it might even be more useful (and challenging) to sketch people fully clothed. Why no-one offers “clothed” sessions I don’t know. Maybe it’s too hard. LOL

]]> By: Jean Burman http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6528 Jean Burman Wed, 13 May 2009 21:51:31 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6528 QUOTE ... but the fact that she had to sketch adult men was a full on problem for her and she really struggles with it... UNQUOTE Yes I guess it's something that requires quite a bit maturity and an ability to look beyond the detail to the big picture. That's what life drawing teaches... especially in the timed sketches. There's only time to grab the essence of the subject... which I guess is what we're after anyway. Figuring that out requires a mental shift in understanding the process. Sometimes (if I don't like a particular pose for instance) I will choose to focus in on a face or upper torso or an arm or some line or shape that I think is particularly beautiful. It's all about filtering for the artist's requirements and needs. Knowing how to filter takes time. Some models don't help in this either. I don't like the flambouyant show-offs (whose sole purpose is to shock and draw attention to themselves) preferring instead those who take a professional approach giving us "usable" gestural poses within the normal range of human movement... not contorted into some weird dynamic that could never be used again in a subsequent work. And the odd sarong never goes astray either... to cover up between poses. A bit of consideration keeps everyone comfortable. QUOTE … but the fact that she had to sketch adult men was a full on problem for her and she really struggles with it… UNQUOTE

Yes I guess it’s something that requires quite a bit maturity and an ability to look beyond the detail to the big picture. That’s what life drawing teaches… especially in the timed sketches. There’s only time to grab the essence of the subject… which I guess is what we’re after anyway. Figuring that out requires a mental shift in understanding the process. Sometimes (if I don’t like a particular pose for instance) I will choose to focus in on a face or upper torso or an arm or some line or shape that I think is particularly beautiful. It’s all about filtering for the artist’s requirements and needs. Knowing how to filter takes time.

Some models don’t help in this either. I don’t like the flambouyant show-offs (whose sole purpose is to shock and draw attention to themselves) preferring instead those who take a professional approach giving us “usable” gestural poses within the normal range of human movement… not contorted into some weird dynamic that could never be used again in a subsequent work. And the odd sarong never goes astray either… to cover up between poses. A bit of consideration keeps everyone comfortable.

]]> By: Garden Jools http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6526 Garden Jools Wed, 13 May 2009 20:39:33 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6526 Hi Jean, your sketch is great..very nice lines! As you know, my eldest is doing a Fine Arts course and her ongoing 'major work' assignment is to sketch 16 different nudes throughout the year long course. This troubled my girl immensely as she is only 17, but the fact that she had to sketch adult men was a full on problem for her and she really struggles with it. I reassured her by introducing the thought that she was there to discover the human form as a whole...not just gender identifying 'bits!'. I know she has taken it in her stride, but she is still not happy about it! I did some modelling for an art class years ago (when I was about 16) but did not bare all, I wore a black leotard. The hardest thing was to not move around and hold my pose. It was an interesting experience seeing at least a dozen different perspectives of me. Some were fabulous and made me feel quite good about myself, the others made me wonder if there had been another model in the room! It was fun though. I grew up with a brother and a sister, so had equal amounts of male/female dynamics, but I always preferred being with my brother (playing cricket, touch football and catching frogs and yabbies!) my sister had the unwanted responsibility of 'looking after me' (which we both resented!) while my mother was at work (my siblings were 7 and 8 years older than me) so her role of '2nd mother' did not go too well for either of us - the last thing a teenager wants to do is look after an 8 yr old! I worked solidly within the 'world of men' for nigh on 20 yrs, shearing sheds, packing sheds, orchards and paddocks. It was when I was a rouse-about (throwing shorn fleeces and sweeping the floors, penning up more sheep) working with 8 shearers, one other rousie, 2 wool classers and one wool presser (all men!) that I was truely tested. The first week was hell and they pushed me to my limits with the onslaught of dirty jokes and sexist puns (as well as playing the task masters!), but I came back with jokes that made them laugh and I more than carried my weight when it came to the workload. By the end of the season, I was their precious girl that they all looked after and protected...I also made it very clear that I had a serious boyfriend!!! It was good and I treasure those memories. Hi Jean, your sketch is great..very nice lines!
As you know, my eldest is doing a Fine Arts course and her ongoing ‘major work’ assignment is to sketch 16 different nudes throughout the year long course. This troubled my girl immensely as she is only 17, but the fact that she had to sketch adult men was a full on problem for her and she really struggles with it. I reassured her by introducing the thought that she was there to discover the human form as a whole…not just gender identifying ‘bits!’. I know she has taken it in her stride, but she is still not happy about it! I did some modelling for an art class years ago (when I was about 16) but did not bare all, I wore a black leotard. The hardest thing was to not move around and hold my pose. It was an interesting experience seeing at least a dozen different perspectives of me. Some were fabulous and made me feel quite good about myself, the others made me wonder if there had been another model in the room! It was fun though.
I grew up with a brother and a sister, so had equal amounts of male/female dynamics, but I always preferred being with my brother (playing cricket, touch football and catching frogs and yabbies!) my sister had the unwanted responsibility of ‘looking after me’ (which we both resented!) while my mother was at work (my siblings were 7 and 8 years older than me) so her role of ’2nd mother’ did not go too well for either of us – the last thing a teenager wants to do is look after an 8 yr old!
I worked solidly within the ‘world of men’ for nigh on 20 yrs, shearing sheds, packing sheds, orchards and paddocks. It was when I was a rouse-about (throwing shorn fleeces and sweeping the floors, penning up more sheep) working with 8 shearers, one other rousie, 2 wool classers and one wool presser (all men!) that I was truely tested. The first week was hell and they pushed me to my limits with the onslaught of dirty jokes and sexist puns (as well as playing the task masters!), but I came back with jokes that made them laugh and I more than carried my weight when it came to the workload. By the end of the season, I was their precious girl that they all looked after and protected…I also made it very clear that I had a serious boyfriend!!! It was good and I treasure those memories.

]]> By: Jean Burman http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6511 Jean Burman Tue, 12 May 2009 20:52:43 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6511 Hi Roger! Yes... that's usually the case here too... a mix of men and women... and to tell you the truth until last week I hadn't ever given it a thought. Life drawing becomes such a natural part of an artist's process that the gender of the sitter or the participants is rarely considered. It's all about the art... the line shape light contrast... the marks made on flat paper that bring the subject to life. I know you'd agree. Can't wait to see your sketches from the south of France! :-) Hi Roger!

Yes… that’s usually the case here too… a mix of men and women… and to tell you the truth until last week I hadn’t ever given it a thought. Life drawing becomes such a natural part of an artist’s process that the gender of the sitter or the participants is rarely considered. It’s all about the art… the line shape light contrast… the marks made on flat paper that bring the subject to life. I know you’d agree.

Can’t wait to see your sketches from the south of France! :-)

]]> By: roger http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6503 roger Tue, 12 May 2009 08:45:50 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6503 Great sketch Jean! All the life drawing sessions in this area have both men and women in them as both artists and models. Counting down for the trip to France. roger Great sketch Jean! All the life drawing sessions in this area have both men and women in them as both artists and models. Counting down for the trip to France. roger

]]> By: Jean Burman http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6500 Jean Burman Tue, 12 May 2009 02:51:04 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6500 Wow... that's profound John. I guess most of us can only ever hope for a love like that. Your mom sounds like a warm and courageous person... you must miss her. Wow… that’s profound John. I guess most of us can only ever hope for a love like that. Your mom sounds like a warm and courageous person… you must miss her.

]]> By: John Crowther http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6499 John Crowther Tue, 12 May 2009 02:07:07 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6499 Exactly, Jean. I'll never forget something that happened a couple of days after my dad died. I was staying at their house, having flown in from Los Angeles, and in the morning found my mom standing in the kitchen crying softly. It was very unusual to see her cry, ever, even though she was a warm and sensitive person. I asked if she was alright, and she said to me, "now that he's gone, I'm nobody." Exactly, Jean. I’ll never forget something that happened a couple of days after my dad died. I was staying at their house, having flown in from Los Angeles, and in the morning found my mom standing in the kitchen crying softly. It was very unusual to see her cry, ever, even though she was a warm and sensitive person. I asked if she was alright, and she said to me, “now that he’s gone, I’m nobody.”

]]> By: Jean Burman http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6497 Jean Burman Tue, 12 May 2009 00:54:18 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6497 Thanks John :-) What a great verse! Your mom sounds like the power behind the throne... mine was too. Dad was the boss and he had my mother's permission to say so. LOL Thanks John :-)

What a great verse! Your mom sounds like the power behind the throne… mine was too. Dad was the boss and he had my mother’s permission to say so. LOL

]]> By: John Crowther http://jeanburman.com/2009/05/11/its-a-mans-world/comment-page-1/#comment-6490 John Crowther Mon, 11 May 2009 15:38:32 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=742#comment-6490 As a veteran of life-drawing classes, I think your sketch is excellent, Jean. Now that lacrosse season is over I can pick it up again. I go Saturday mornings, but there's always a healthy male-female balance. My mom was the only female in an all-male household of me, my dad, and two brothers. Her favorite all-time birthday gift was a baseball glove. She was a lefty, and so couldn't use any of ours. She more than held her own in the household. Before my younger brother was born my father penned this bit of doggerel: Bos wanted to go to the zoo, Johnny wanted to go there too, Daddy said 'twas the thing to do, But mommy said no. That is how the voting went In our domestic parliament, Three were for and one against, So we didn't go. As a veteran of life-drawing classes, I think your sketch is excellent, Jean. Now that lacrosse season is over I can pick it up again. I go Saturday mornings, but there’s always a healthy male-female balance.

My mom was the only female in an all-male household of me, my dad, and two brothers. Her favorite all-time birthday gift was a baseball glove. She was a lefty, and so couldn’t use any of ours. She more than held her own in the household. Before my younger brother was born my father penned this bit of doggerel:

Bos wanted to go to the zoo,
Johnny wanted to go there too,
Daddy said ’twas the thing to do,
But mommy said no.
That is how the voting went
In our domestic parliament,
Three were for and one against,
So we didn’t go.

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