There’s more to life modelling than posing without clothes

30 January 2013 - by BY JOANNE FLEMING

CLARE Broome exudes a calm, matter-of-fact approach to her job.Posing naked, in the same position for hours in end, for people you have never met are surely just some of the career pitfalls.

But what would be a nightmare scenario for most is a serious job for this Seaforde woman, whose love of what she does and dedication to the artists she serves leaves her in demand across the country.

The only professional freelance life model working in Northern Ireland, recapturing the muse is her aim, as part of an ongoing mission to elevate life modelling’s position in the worlds of art, modelling and education.

As well as working with individual artists such as Rosaleen Sanderson, Harriet Ennis, Alison Hawthorne and Katherine Nixon, Clare regularly works with schools, further education colleges, universities and community groups. One of her upcoming visits is to Down Arts Centre on February 9 with artist Sharon Kelly, where they will be helping artists from beginners to advanced tackle the hardest of all subjects — the human body.

So what led this former Down High School pupil, who originally wanted to be a teacher, on such an unusual career path?

“I wanted to go and teach in Spain and live there,” she said. “When I got part way through my degree, however, I had my son and was in Northern Ireland for the majority of the time.

“I had done some modelling for fashion shows and hair modelling, so when a friend (who was going on to work in broadcast news) asked me if I wanted her clients I said ‘yes’, of course.”

There were little sign of nerves, however, on her first assignment.

“Where I had to stand and model was on a table, on top of a chair,” she said. “I felt more worried about falling off than anything else.”

In fact Clare says rather than thinking about her own nerves when modelling, she often thinks about reassuring the artists.

“A good model puts them at their ease,” she said. “Any of the classes I have been to they are just so concentrated on what they are drawing they actually forget the person is naked.

“I have found that the more I do, then they can concentrate on their work without having to think about instructing the model.

“Personally one of the reasons I started to run this is as a business was because it was as if modelling people did not consider it to be a profession. I wanted to change that.

“You are meant to be an inspiration to the artist. Certainly anyone who has ever come to a session has commented on the difference it makes to have a professional model.”

One of the most difficult parts of the job is sitting so still for sessions that are typically three hours long, but not even cramp has persuaded Clare to flinch. Indeed she would be “mortified” if she did so.

“It makes me a little sad when people who are modelling are not standing still,” she said. “It is one of the basic things working with an artist. I have little mantras I run through which give me a sense of what time it is.”

But surely it must get very cold? “I am very used to the cold, especially as I have been outside for work in private gardens,” she explained.

Clare has had only one experience where she felt uncomfortable when life modelling but hadn’t experienced anything to put her off the job. “If I am going to work with artists I haven’t worked with before I would ask for references,” she said. “You do need to think about safety.”

Having first modelled professionally 14 years ago with the Crescent Arts Centre and the Ulster Society of Artists, Clare decided three years ago that the time was right to concentrate on life modelling full time.

Classically beautiful, and six feet tall, Clare’s graceful neck and Rubenesque curves are her assets, with a long back that has made her a favourite of Ingres aficionados.

“I have an extensive range of classical poses that I developed from studying the masters, working with local artists and from developing my very own unique style,” she said.

“I did not take art at A-level, or even at GCSE, however I studied Surrealism at university and my subsequent research into life modelling’s history and practice has given me an in-depth knowledge of the genre.”

So what is it that inspires artists to try to capture the human body?

“It can be used to teach techniques such as negative space, shortening perspective,” Claire explained.

“It is often said to be the hardest to capture the human form because it is so obvious if it is wrong.

“I think it is also just so instinctive to human nature to portray the human body.”

For more information in taking part in the Draw on Life session featuring Clare Broom and Sharon Kelly on February 9 in Down Arts Centre, contact the centre on 4461 0747. Running between 11am and 4pm, the cost is £35 /£30 concession, with lunch included.

For more information on Clare’s work visit www.clarebroome.co.uk and www.facebook.com/Clare.LifeModel.

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