Back in 2014 I did a post about a free resource for nude models on YouTube. Since there are always new visitors to MC and blogger doesn’t make searching the archives particularly easy, I thought it would be helpful to remind everyone of these invaluable videos.
If you don’t have access to live models or figure drawing classes (or the funds to hire or attend either) the Croquis Cafe: The Artist Model Resource is a lifesaver. At this point there are several hundred videos with new additions posted fairly regularly. Poses are held from 1 to 5 minutes, you can freeze frames for as long as you might need, and the various videos feature men and women of all ethnicities and body types.
These videos are not the least bit salacious—but obviously are “not safe for work” or intended for the easily offended or for kids. Or for immature mooks looking for a cheap thrill. Using models (nude and clothed), of course, is an important part of being an artist; anatomy is a life-long study and if the artist doesn’t know what the body does—in action or repose—they can’t understand why clothes hang or fly or drape the way they do. If the artist understands the body—knows their anatomy as best they can—they can convincingly make their characters do anything.
Awesome, thanks for the resource!
Nice! I'll show my students for sure…aaaaaand maybe also I could use it. ahem.
Thanks for sharing. For me, I prefer using a photo reference I have as well as a wooden artists mannequin when trying to get the basics of a pose. While photos and models are handy, don't be overly reliant on them. Copying a model exactly can make the work look stiff and unnatural. You'll have to use your imagination to make it your best.