Bear with me on this one, folks. I’m really trying to keep telling myself that when in Rome, ya gotta do as the Romans do.
During the student government election party (which by the way is so intense compared to Ole Miss’s—believe that or not— 50 people are campaigning to win one of 6 spots on the board. You should Google: “Leeds The Leadership Race” or something along those lines and check it out. IN-TENSE. Anyway….) encouraged by Beca, my Wale-ish friend, to join a “society.” Societies are equivalent to clubs or organizations, it just sounds way more cult-like, which I’m okay with. Sooo, I did some research yesterday, and found a list of all the societies in alphabetical order. First of which caught my eye was “Art.”
If you didn’t know, I’m telling you now, I sorta like art. I like it a lot, but I go through big time phases with it. Normally if I’m really bored or really stressed I go to it, but I normally don’t reach either of those extremes. I typically paint, because it’s not overwhelming and when I mess up (which is often since I don’t practice it much), I can just paint over it and start all over.
Well, on the Art page was some info about a “life drawing” session being held last night—3 pounds and all supplies included. So I went. Me and the Becster. Showed up to a room full of super British-artsy-looking peeps (most of whom I was actually quite jealous of their effortless-looking-but-still-cool style) with chairs and tables lined up around the perimeter of the room. Took a seat in the corner with my pencil and paper.
Then in walks this chick in a robe. Do you see where this is going? No? I’ll just tell you, then. She whipped off the robe, wasting no time, and struck a pose in the center of the room. Naked. Nude. Whatever. Just like that. I can’t sit here and say I wasn’t DYING on the inside—laughing, cringing, dying. But everyone was so normal and cool that I put on my most fakely- mature face and didn’t stare. Except, I did. You would’ve stared, too, if you had to draw the naked person.
**WARNING**WARNING**WARNING**WARNING**
Keep scrolling and you will see drawings of a naked girl. It’s art, okay? Not sexts. I had to tell myself that 100 times and contemplated this blahg post for several hours, even asking opinions and it was unanimously decided that it’s appropriate. Not for young eyes. Or giggly, squirmish eyes, like my own.
I haven’t drawn anything with just a pencil in probably 10 years and never have I drawn a person without clothes, so I was kinda oo’ing (thanks honey boo boo) myself thinking about how I was going to butcher this poor girl’s body and just praying there wouldn’t be a show and tell afterward. I mean, if you were a naked model, wouldn’t you want to see everyone’s drawings of your naked body once it’s all said and done? Shoot. I would. “Excuse me, I don’t look like that!” or “So, thanks for making my stomach look so flat.” or “Could you seriously not have left my cellulite out?” etc.
Back to the nude model standing 6 feet from me. I started drawing. Lit’rally had no idea what I was doing. Then, 2 minutes later, just as I was getting her figure down, some girl said, “New pose, please.” Are you kidding me? Are we going to go back to that pose, orrrr….?
So I was like, alright, that was just a warm-up. This must be the real pose. Game time, y’all. But not. 3 minutes later, she was striking a new one. Stressed me the heck out. How are you supposed to draw a naked human body in 2 minutes? 3 minutes? No.
I was kinda starting to get the hang of it by this point. Now, I had 5 minutes to whip something out, and bam. Here’s what I ended up with:
I’m glad this one was quick. I had a front-row view. And we kept making eye-contact. Awk.
And she’s welcome for me accidently making her butt look better than it really looked.
So, this is how I spent my 2 hours after dinner (“tea”) last night. Candy and bon bons were also passed around and soft music played in the background, and to be honest, I can’t say I didn’t really enjoy it. It was quite relaxing. Eventually, I started seeing the naked girl not really as a naked girl, but just as a thing (not meaning to de-humanize her or anything) I was drawing. Like a vase, or clouds, or the ocean. Oh, boobs, yeah, sure, I’ll draw those. Butt crack? No big deal. A little shading here and there and voila!
Point being: Why was I afraid of naked people? This is stinkin’ cool and beautiful. And I’m getting cultured. So boom. I don’t ever plan on being the model, but more power to those who do. I’ll keep drawin’ ya. So, yes– I’m joining the Art society and will be doing more life drawings next week. I might even wear my beret to match my mature, non-giggly face.
~ Gabrielle Campo