Thank you

[Janel Maples]

I like it too.

[Mike McCarty]

I hope the password is something simple.

[Janel Maples]

Cynthia and Kimberly,

I hope you both know I was playing around when I made the remark about calling this Kimberly's section. I can imagine it would be a daunting task to try and post all figuratives from the entire site. I wouldn't expect you to. It just made me chuckle when I looked at the ones posted and most were Kimberly's.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

[Kimberly Dow]

It suprised me as well - no offense taken at all. Sorry it took me so long to say so. My computer will not let me get on this forum for some reason. I'm snuck up to my daughters room to use hers and see whats happening here.

[Marvin Mattelson]

I too would applaud a section devoted to nude figure painting. It is such a huge part of our artistic tradition. The human body is beautiful and artists have celebrated and been inspired by that beauty for millenniums.

Mastering the nude figure is also the greatest training ground for those aspiring to be portrait artists. I start all my students at SVA off painting the unclothed figure. The lessons to be learned here cannot be denied. Because of the degree of difficulty involved, if one can successfully depict the human form, then one can paint anything.

I would hope that by showcasing and critiquing figure paintings here it would inspire more people to try painting the figure from life.

I would agree that inappropriate images should be screened out and I embrace the idea of a password or whatever means necessary in order to jump start this new section.

I know there may be some people who may be offended by this, but many artists of high moral values and devout religious beliefs have painted the nude figure and celebrated the beauty of the human form in their art. As we all know, paintings of nudes by the great masters are the heart and soul of great museums worldwide.

[Kimberly Dow]

Nicely put Marvin!

Kirk Richards sent me the book he and Steven Gjertson wrote concerning uplifting God in art - and the history of this subject. These are two very devout religious successful artists and they clearly spell out their use of nudity in art and give very detailed lectured on it aimed at the folks that could be offended.

I'll try and find some quotes.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Again, there aren't a lot of members volunteering to be moderators and this adds another administrative thing to handle on the Forum. Perhaps in the future.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Great addition Cynthia! Very well put Marvin.

I think there is a obvious line for fine art and "sensational" nudes, I guess it would be a matter of discretion in a decision like this. I was blown away while visiting the Vatican and seeing plaster fig leafs on beautiful marble sculptures, the ones the painted with gold leaf really blew me away.

The human body is beautiful

Whew... you've never been to my house!

[Kimberly Dow]

Quotes from:

For Glory And For Beauty
Practical Perspectives on Christianity And The Visual Arts
By Kirk Richards & Steven Gjertson

The Nude Human Figure

One of the most misunderstood and controversial issues concerning the artist