I'm sometimes asked questions by others curious about art modeling so I thought I'd refer those so inclined to a recently written book by a good friend of mine, called, of course, "The Art Model's Handbook". It's packed with great information and as far as I know is the only book of its kind. It would be a great resource for anyone curious about what art modeling is really like and what all it entails.

For more information please see the author's own journal entry about it at [link]

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If you wish, please use my image/stock to create artistic imagery. I very much enjoy being a part of the artistic creative process as a model and am highly motivated to do it with no direct reward other than the opportunity to see the result.

Please do not use my image to create pornographic/erotic/intentionally sexualized imagery. In my view of things, the world already has an overabundance of sexualized figurative imagery, and I have neither the interest nor desire to contribute any more to that. It has long since been more than sufficiently overdone, in my opinion, to the point of seeming to cloud the vision of far too many. A huge part of my motivation for modeling is to try my best, in my own small way, to balance that out a little with figurative imagery that is not intentionally sexualized, and by doing so, hopefully, offer an opportunity for those who will, to see and appreciate the body for what it is, which in my view is so very much more than a sex object.

For respectful and non-sexual drawing reference purposes, permission is granted to do anything you may wish with your resulting drawing, including commercial uses, etc. There is no need to ask me for additional permission, it is granted. All I would ask, and very much appreciate, is the opportunity to see a scan or photo of your work, and by whatever means you prefer and/or find most convenient.

In addition, and though it probably isn't even fair of me even mention this, I'd also prefer to not have my image obviously "emasculated"/"neutered", for lack of a better way to put it. Intending absolutely no offense to patients having had to undergo such an actual procedure, I have to wonder how many artists would render the undraped female figure with the equivalent of an artificial/contrived mastectomy. I am male, I was born with male parts, and though it took me a very long time to reach this realization, I really believe that's okay. In fact, I believe that every single part of all human bodies is inherently wonderful and beautiful and worthy of artistic rendition, including male bodies. And, all we have to do to see that is to open our minds to it. Let's open some minds, if we can!

Ben.

I know I've been kind of quiet here for a bit. It's because my main computer has been giving me fits, and now it seems it has pretty much given up the ghost entirely. So, it may be a while before I can get things rebuilt and be very responsive here (I know, no cheering ). I did/do have backups of just about everything, and the machine is supposedly still under warranty, but getting it all figured out and rebuilt is likely to take some time.

Just thought some might want to know.

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If you wish, please use my image/stock to create artistic imagery. I very much enjoy being a part of the artistic creative process as a model and am highly motivated to do it with no direct reward other than the opportunity to see the result.

Please do not use my image to create pornographic/erotic/intentionally sexualized imagery. In my view of things, the world already has an overabundance of sexualized figurative imagery, and I have neither the interest nor desire to contribute any more to that. It has long since been more than sufficiently overdone, in my opinion, to the point of seeming to cloud the vision of far too many. A huge part of my motivation for modeling is to try my best, in my own small way, to balance that out a little with figurative imagery that is not intentionally sexualized, and by doing so, hopefully, offer an opportunity for those who will, to see and appreciate the body for what it is, which in my view is so very much more than a sex object.

For respectful and non-sexual drawing reference purposes, permission is granted to do anything you may wish with your resulting drawing, including commercial uses, etc. There is no need to ask me for additional permission, it is granted. All I would ask, and very much appreciate, is the opportunity to see a scan or photo of your work, and by whatever means you prefer and/or find most convenient.

In addition, and though it probably isn't even fair of me even mention this, I'd also prefer to not have my image obviously "emasculated"/"neutered", for lack of a better way to put it. Intending absolutely no offense to patients having had to undergo such an actual procedure, I have to wonder how many artists would render the undraped female figure with the equivalent of an artificial/contrived mastectomy. I am male, I was born with male parts, and though it took me a very long time to reach this realization, I really believe that's okay. In fact, I believe that every single part of all human bodies is inherently wonderful and beautiful and worthy of artistic rendition, including male bodies. And, all we have to do to see that is to open our minds to it. Let's open some minds, if we can!

Ben.

~Andrew310 just alerted me to a couple of works I wasn't aware of and I was amazed. The work is by ~ceruleanvii and the pieces in question (of me) are both just in scraps (which amazes me). For specifics, please see: [link] and [link]

My thanks to ~ceruleanvii for the opportunity to be in these works. I am duly impressed.

Ben.

If you wish, please use my image/stock to create artistic imagery. I very much enjoy being a part of the artistic creative process as a model and am highly motivated to do it with no direct reward other than the opportunity to see the result.

Please do not use my image to create pornographic/erotic/intentionally sexualized imagery. In my view of things, the world already has an overabundance of sexualized figurative imagery, and I have neither the interest nor desire to contribute any more to that. It has long since been more than sufficiently overdone, in my opinion, to the point of seeming to cloud the vision of far too many. A huge part of my motivation for modeling is to try my best, in my own small way, to balance that out a little with figurative imagery that is not intentionally sexualized, and by doing so, hopefully, offer an opportunity for those who will, to see and appreciate the body for what it is, which in my view is so very much more than a sex object.

For respectful and non-sexual drawing reference purposes, permission is granted to do anything you may wish with your resulting drawing, including commercial uses, etc. There is no need to ask me for additional permission, it is granted. All I would ask, and very much appreciate, is the opportunity to see a scan or photo of your work, and by whatever means you prefer and/or find most convenient.

In addition, and though it probably isn't even fair of me even mention this, I'd also prefer to not have my image obviously "emasculated"/"neutered", for lack of a better way to put it. Intending absolutely no offense to patients having had to undergo such an actual procedure, I have to wonder how many artists would render the undraped female figure with the equivalent of an artificial/contrived mastectomy. I am male, I was born with male parts, and though it took me a very long time to reach this realization, I really believe that's okay. In fact, I believe that every single part of all human bodies is inherently wonderful and beautiful and worthy of artistic rendition, including male bodies. And, all we have to do to see that is to open our minds to it. Let's open some minds, if we can!

Ben.

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It is with great pleasure that I feature artist Sara Dehman ~SaraD. I think she has an incredible gift when it comes to creating digital paintings. I'm truly amazed by them. They offer such passion, such feeling, such a sense of "wow" when I see them. I can't draw at all myself, but I would have to think creating such a feeling in a digital work would be quite a challenge - a challenge that Sara meets in a truly magnificent way.

As you might suspect, given my feature, she recently completed a digital painting based on a photo reference of mine. I think it's an amazing work. I hope others so inclined will see this and want to check it out, and then check out all of Sara's amazing gallery and works. I think you'll find it worth the time.

This is the specific, recently completed piece based on my reference and this shows the piece at various steps along the way as she completed it . This is the only piece based on my reference that she has added to deviantart, so far. However, there is another piece on her site at: [link] with the various steps of it shown at: [link]

I offer my personal thanks to Sara for offering me the wonderful opportunity to be a tiny part of her magnificant talent. I am deeply honored and grateful.

Ben.

P.S. Updating this journal to include Sara's latest work : - work in progress: . Great stuff, Sara, I love it!!

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member of:



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(Signature piece by =DBZMerciter2005)

If you wish, please use my image/stock to create artistic imagery. I very much enjoy being a part of the artistic creative process as a model and am highly motivated to do it with no direct reward other than the opportunity to see the result.

Please do not use my image to create pornographic/erotic/intentionally sexualized imagery. In my view of things, the world already has an overabundance of sexualized figurative imagery, and I have neither the interest nor desire to contribute any more to that. It has long since been more than sufficiently overdone, in my opinion, to the point of seeming to cloud the vision of far too many. A huge part of my motivation for modeling is to try my best, in my own small way, to balance that out a little with figurative imagery that is not intentionally sexualized, and by doing so, hopefully, offer an opportunity for those who will, to see and appreciate the body for what it is, which in my view is so very much more than a sex object.

For respectful and non-sexual drawing reference purposes, permission is granted to do anything you may wish with your resulting drawing, including commercial uses, etc. There is no need to ask me for additional permission, it is granted. All I would ask, and very much appreciate, is the opportunity to see a scan or photo of your work, and by whatever means you prefer and/or find most convenient.

In addition, and though it probably isn't even fair of me even mention this, I'd also prefer to not have my image obviously "emasculated"/"neutered", for lack of a better way to put it. Intending absolutely no offense to patients having had to undergo such an actual procedure, I have to wonder how many artists would render the undraped female figure with the equivalent of an artificial/contrived mastectomy. I am male, I was born with male parts, and though it took me a very long time to reach this realization, I really believe that's okay. In fact, I believe that every single part of all human bodies is inherently wonderful and beautiful and worthy of artistic rendition, including male bodies. And, all we have to do to see that is to open our minds to it. Let's open some minds, if we can!

Ben.

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This is a feature I probably should have done long ago, but as I just received one of these original works in the mail today, I decided this was finally the time. So, it's my great pleasure to feature artist =IT-Hammar . Given her age, and her obvious raw and incredible natural ability as an artist, it's hard for me to even imagine the future she has ahead of her, but I know it must be incredibly bright.

It is my great honor and privilege to now have in my possession the original of . It is quite a treasure to me, and if my predictions are correct about IT's future, I imagine it could become an even greater treasure to have in the years to come.

In addition to this work ("Awakening of the Muse II"), I have also been privileged to be a part (as a model) of these other works by =IT-Hammar :

For more information about IT, please see an interview with her at: [link]

Way to go, IT, and keep up the great work and I think the world will one day be yours.

Ben.

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member of:



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(Signature piece by *DBZMerciter2005)