New Modeling Book Reviewed

Book Review: The Art Model’s Handbook, the Naked Truth About Posing for Art Classes and Fine Artists, by Andrew Cahner

Andrew Cahner spent years as an artist’s model before penning The Art Model’s Handbook, and it shows. This is an excellent book for the curious or inexperienced, through the accomplished model, artist, instructor, and those trying to work with models.

Cahner explains what nude models must bring to the job, both mentally, physically, and in terms of supplies and back up. He then details what a gesture pose is, what it takes to hold longer poses, and how a figure class works. Advice about how to find work is excellent, as is the section about security and proper behavior for all parties.

He interviews models, photographers, artists, school booking personnel, and interjects his own experience and wisdom, for a 140-page “not too heavy and not too light” eye opener. Andrew is asking those who hire models to understand what they are offering, how they prepare, and how they wish to be treated. He is also suggesting to models how they might all improve their reputations, with helpful advice even non-nude models should know.

The book is available for $16.95 on Amazon.com, and more information can be found at www.artmodelbook.com.

Networking and Banking

As the Academic Dean at the Washington School of Photography, I am always interested in how students heard about the school, especially those who register for our year-long program. Recently, a young lady beamed when she saw who was teaching her Intro course. "This guy got me started here, it's all because of him" she told me. How?

She had been a bank teller for years, and this fellow would come in every now and then with a check to deposit. She saw who it was from (the school) and asked what it was. He gave her his business card and the website for the school. She quit her bank job in July, and will start classes in September. He sparked in her a curiosity, then in his work she found inspiration, and in our school, her new career path. Amazing!

To artists, I always say that you should be mindful of opportunities for marketing. Going into the bank, being friendly, talking to people, all sounds like "normal stuff", not marketing. But what if our instructor had used n ATM every time, was unfriendly, or didn't have his business cards on hand? We'd probably have one less registration, and maybe this lovely young lady would not have been inspired to seek her new career. So thanks, John, for marketing, even when you didn't know you were! And to artists - start going in the bank!