?s about setting up the model

[Deborah Chapin]

I'm primarily a plein air painter so you'll have to excuse the ignorance of this question. I'm participating in an Academic Atelier at the Nat'l Academy and I've noticed that no one ever gives instruction on how to set up the model and lighting. Is there some source for this information? It seems to me that 1/2 the battle of doing a portrait or figurative work is the lighting on the subject and the pose. What is the thinking and decision making process of setting up the model?

Thanks in advance
Debbie