What about nudes, anyway?

[Kimberly Dow]

What could possibly be more interesting than painting skin? If the person is nude - it is even MORE skin. I love seeing nudes if they are well-done. I would hang them in my house. Well - maybe not in the diningroom or kitchen, but everywhere else. I think there are paintings and ideas in paintings that can be hurt by the distraction of clothing.

I cant imagine anything more beautiful, interesting or fufilling than to paint than people. Since most of us here do this full-time or part-time at least - I would imagine most would agree. People have bodies, not just heads. People are dressed most of the time - but that portion of time they arent can be pretty darned interesting and lovely to see.

I am out of state, but there is a book Kirk Richards wrote with Steven Gjertson (sp?). It is about Christianity and art. There is a section on nudity. I will find the Michangelo quote when I get back home - but it is something to the effect of painting people is a noble profession and glorifies God. Then he goes on to say that surely we can see as creations of God that our feet are more noble than shoes, that our hair more noble than our hats, that our skin more noble than our clothing, etc.

I really should wait until I get the quote at home. I know Im making it lose all its punch with my clumsiness.