Sam: How long have you been running live modeling sessions?
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> Sue: My passion for life drawing lead me to join a local art group in Richmond Hill and (I) started to assist Life drawing sessions in 2009.
here is my profile page on group site http://www.rhga.ca/sue-foerster-guerrero/
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> I have been running Life Drawing sessions from September 2010 to (the) present day, and managing-updating a blog since with regular class schedule updates
(http://openlifedrawing.blogspot.ca).
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> From September 2010 to March 2014, I held the position of Life Drawing Coordinator at The Richmond Hill Group of Artists, located at the Mill Pond Gallery. Then made the decision to go indie and open(ed) my own OpenStudio Life Drawing sessions at my home (in) April 2014.
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> OpenStudio website includes studies of various models:
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http://pencilgallery.wix.com/openstudio
> > http://pencilgallery.wix.com/foerster-drawings (personal portfolio website by Sue Foerster. Includes: figurative drawings, paintings, portraits and sculpture)
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> Sam:
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> What's your favourite thing about live drawing sessions?
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> Sue:
> There is no better feeling for me than drawing from life, and capturing the human form, with pencil, charcoal and paint. (B)y nature, I love connecting with people, especially artists and models.
As a group, we all inspire and encourage each other to move forward and take risks. Especially with my classes, I (give) the participants free reign on what they'd like to do, no instruction (unless requested), and a stress free environment with good music. We generally like to begin our classes with 2 minute gesture poses.
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> This allows each participant to break down the barriers of self doubt, and empowers a freedom of losing control, (a)llowing the process to naturally take over.
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> As the model transitions so quickly between the poses, you are compelled to decide on what you yourself would like to focus on from vignette or full body.
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> Living in the moment is liberating.
> More drawing with less critical thinking, to capture the movement in the amount of time you have. Each line of action and expression in proportion to your perspective to the models pose, without the use of an eraser.
This is what I love most about Life Drawing.
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> Sam:
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> How would you describe the relationship between artist and model?
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> Sue:
> This interpersonal relationship has evolved globally to internet sources such as on-line drawing courses (and) youtube demos. Some beginner artists feel better starting here, and are intimidated joining a group, even when all levels apply. It seems they want to avoid public humiliation in a social environment where they feel inferior and less competitive. I compete only with myself to get better, and even with practice, and putting in the time, there is always room for improvement.
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> There is an interrelationship going on between the artist and the model, physical and mental. In a sense it is like the model is holding a mirror into ourselves, which is hard to ignore. How we see and feel relies solely on our experiences and beliefs. From our stories we create our own reality, while observing others and non verbal body language within our surroundings. Interpreting the life we see and feel, using our senses and making it more real. From my own experience and talking with other artists, when the model feels pain or happiness, so does the artist. Posture and minute changes in facial expression(s) are undeniably noticeable.There seems to be an unspoken body language with the model and the artist.This I find affects the palette of the 20 min or 30 minute long pose.
> Sam:
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> Do you see this relationship as being different now than in the past?
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> In my opinion, in the past women were: painted predominantly by men, hired by wealthy patrons and the Church, shown as objects of affection, forbidden fruit, bashful, taught to be embarrassed of their nudity and vulnerability. It appears that nudity portrayed in the past versus now as an expression of muse, sexual, shock value, thought provoking, to get a reaction, good or bad, or to sell something like an advertisement. A walking billboard!
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> The female body has become public property regarding cultural beliefs, that now she/he no longer feels the ownership. The general public thinks with their eyes and easily passes judgement on how someone looks as to how they are dressed or undressed
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> > Women must for humanity's sake own their bod(ies)!
> > Nursing babies in public is fundamental,biological.....normal.
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Sam: Agreed. How do you feel the female figure has been policed throughout western art history?
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> Sue: The female has been portrayed fashionably as a beautiful often desirable object, by male artists, in accordance with that particular time, depending on their religion and cultural beliefs and sign of the times, ethical and moral. Today women are made to look what the media claims to be close to perfection.
> > This is an illusion. A fantasy woman. An Avatar. Photoshop has replaced the airbrush to such an extent, that the proportions are more like a Barbie Doll.
Real women want to see real women.
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> > All women have body issues, especially models.
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> > All women of all sizes are beautiful.
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> Sam:
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> What's the best part of living in Toronto as an artist?
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> Sue:
> There is a huge advantage living in Toronto. We are leaders of multi-cultural events, with a huge diversity of small pocket communities living within our population, providing Music, Dance and Art and food for entire families to enjoy while embracing their culture. Toronto has wealth, lots of shops, jobs, a large art budget, and huge array of educational opportunities for young and old. Easy access with TTC.
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> Sam:
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> What's the worst part?
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> Sue:
> Downtown Toronto is too: populated, busy, stressful, far away, expensive to live, and has too many unfortunate people, affluence, materialism. Modern consumers maximize their freedom, with too many choices, dealing with higher expectations. The modern consumer is left feeling decreased satisfaction accumulating more and more stuff, paralyzed by decision making, and depressed. Consumers can search out original items, such as all kinds of art to suit your taste, furniture, electronics and computers, musical instruments, hobbyist supplies and more.
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> Sam:
> How do you feel the rest of Canada is affected by the concentration of so much cultural activity in the GTA?
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> Sue:
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> Toronto is like the pulse of Canada with many cultural flavours, role model and leader, (it's) organic, embraces diversity, educates. Toronto has wealthy art budget enabling opportunity for art, music and film.
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> Sam:
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> What are the enduring influences upon your work? Other artists, the natural world, the human form?
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> Sue:
> Observing the natural world and the human form are by far the the most influential. The answers are there, we only need to look at nature and all living things and appreciate it's wonder and beauty. I admire Pinot, considered to be the modern master and Amico modern expressionist. Masters of the past I admire are Klimt, Van Gogh, Leonardo DaVinci, Salvador Dali,
> > As for drawing I admire Van Gogh, Leonardo, Escher, Aubrey Beardsley, William Morris and Nicolaides (whose book The Natural Way To Draw, inspires me).
> > Finding your own voice, originality, authenticity and style matters more to me, than perfection..
> >
> Sam.How do you see the opportunities for art to affect and alter the way people see themselves and their world nowadays?
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> Sue:
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> It is our duty to inspire children. The Next generation is to carry the torch of creativity, and humanity and most of all empathy.
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> > To nurture them with an Introspective approach and emotionally with encouragement. Perfection is only a direction.
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> > Art gives us hopefulness to a future with less focus on materialism, and more on recycling.
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> > Visual stimulation inspiring boundless freedom to express with technology, for worthwhile causes to make our planet sustainable.
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> > Art is humanity. Art is human evolution. Art is consciousness. Art equals happiness.
> The body thrives when the heart has a mission. quote from unknown artist
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> > Vulnerability comes from a place of strength....quote by me
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> > There is nothing in all the world more beautiful or significant of the laws of the Universe than the nude Human body......quote by Robert Henri
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