Life-sized artists' mannequins
 

I am looking for a life-size wooden artist's mannequin. I've had no luck searching the web, using the phrase "artist's mannequins" and variants. Neither Google nor Yahoo nor Jeeves turned up much more than the little 14" toy mannequins. Ditto for ebay. Thanks in advance for your help!

What would be the difference between an "artist mannequin" and a regular mannequin that any department store might have laying around?

Catherine,

I don't know if this is what you're seeking, but go to Michael Del Priore's site at http://www.delprioreportraits.com and click on Studio, then click on Take the Tour. Scroll to the right and you'll see a flexible wooden mannequin holding a violin (probably not the right word for what that is). You can also click on on him for a slighly larger view and text where he says he uses that for clothing and posing.

Is that what you're wanting?

Yes! that's it!
 

That is precisely what I had in mind. In fact, I first set eyes on such a picture when Michael Del Priore showed slides of his studio at a NYSOPA event last winter. Do you know where these mannequins can be obtained? Or does anyone want to get rid of a used one? Thank you!

Take a look here: http://www.traveltrunk.com/mannequinsmanikins.htm

Not cheap!

Hi Catherine, cheaper yet! http://www.jerryscatalog.com/lifman.html

Mannequin Smanikin
 

Mike,

I too thought I wanted a throw-away department store mannequin. However, after seeing the artist models, I now see that in order to pose and drape clothing, I'm going to want the one like Cynthia's post details. But a range of $700.00 to $390.00 is still too steep. I'll have to plug along without for now.

If anyone has a cheaper-yet source please post.

There are actually many different types of fashion mannequins. Some have very limited movement, others a lot. I had a job when in college doing store window displays and the bigger department stores had many different types of mannequins. Some were very detailed. So if you could get one of the better fashion mannequins they can be posed in many different ways.

The standing mannequins that are used for a lot or dresses when the arms show don't work since you can not pose them sitting or bend their arms or legs. The hands are always solid so you can not pose the fingers but believe it or not there are different hands that you can switch around for open or bent hands or hands that can hold objects. But to cover every situation you would need a storeroom full of mannequins heads and hands and wigs -- kind of like Macy's basement. :)

But in looking at this artist mannequin, although it has movable fingers and toes I do not think I could use it as a guide in painting hands. It is my opinion that a person's hands are every bit as expressive and individual as their face. And there is no life or veins in these wooden hands. I try to capture the individuality of a sitter's hands even in a loose painting.

Also, I would think you would need more than one size mannequin to have it work even as a clothing model. You would need at least one male and one female, never mind children. I question just how useful this would be vs. just getting a look-alike to pose in the same clothing as your subject, especially for what these cost.

I have had stand-ins sit in place of clients that could only pose once and I always looked for someone of similar build and stature. I suppose if most of your clients are adult males then this could work out well but I would have to get a lot of use out if it to justify the cost. I am interested as to how this works out for you if you do buy one. Please post an update after you have had it awhile.

ReNae, I found this site Mannequin Madness at http://www.mannequinmadness.com/photos.html.

They are located in San Fransisco and have adults as well as children. There prices are lower especially if the mannequins are somewhat damaged.

I don't know if they ship but maybe they can recommend someone in your area.