I love this painting, "Venus Verticordia"
by, Dante Gabriel Rossetti.  It is the open eyes, looking right at you, not embarrassed to be nude, showing the frankness and honesty, of the model, that I think is so wonderful.  That is what I try to show in my paintings, that beauty is glorious and to be able to display it is a gift.

I also love the Mona Lisa.  And of course that special smile.  That look is wonderful in any painting. 

To the right is Madame X, by John Singer Sargent.  A great painting that nearly ruined his career, because of the scandal it caused.  The original painting had the woman's strap on her right shoulder down.   It was later repainted to put it in place.  Here is a link to a good article about the painting, and there is even an old photo of the painting in its original version.   http://jssgallery.org/paintings/Madame_X.htm

I like this shot, except for the hairs straggling down. 
I  prefer bare shoulders. 

Another similar pose.  I don't care for the pearls, as I feel they distract from the image.  Maybe just the small strand at top would have worked.

I would like to do a painting, that that has elements of both Mona Lisa and Madame X.   I love this three quarter pose and the dramatic lighting.  (Don't care for the mink, however.) I want to do a  pose with the Mona smile, and echoes of Madam x.   The painting will be long and narrow.  Instead of having the arm cocked like in this photo, I would like it just down to the side.  With the other arm hidden behind the body.  A long white or black nightgown, or dress, with thin straps.   I am thinking of a couple of different possible poses.  One with the dress in place, and one with with the strap down, exposing the left breast.  This would be part of the Lady of Beauty series I want to do. Click here for info.

Back poses.

This is a good example.  I love doing the back, covered like this, or fully revealed.

Another pose I would like to see with the strap up and down.

I've wanted to do a painting similar to this for a while, featuring the model from behind, leaning on the end of a bed.  I'm not concerned that it actually be shot leaning on the bed.  I can make up the bed and the walls.  I would like a pose similar to this, only with black high heels on.  Would also like to see the same pose with heels and stockings.

For a long time, I've wanted to do a scene like this.  A proper woman, in a dress, only with the dress down off the shoulders exposing her breasts.  It would not have to be at a piano, but in a chair, on a couch, or just somewhere in a place that you would not expect.

Are you familiar with the painter, Jack Vettriano?   I like his style, and especially the women he paints.  He is controversial because he is quite commercial.  Many in the art world are envious of him because of that.  I just think he makes interesting art.

His paintings tell a story. (Although I could do without all the cigarettes, but that's his thing.)
Here are a few of his paintings to inspire. 
I welcome any ideas you have for compelling poses.

I love painting light streaming through a door or window onto a lovely body.  Here are some examples. 

I'm going to reveal a little secret here.  Like most artists, I don't like to paint hands.  They are hard to do, to make them look natural.  In a pose like this, the right hand down along her side is fine, that is not difficult to paint, but the one on her hip would be difficult.  So if I were posing this model, I would have her place her hand behind her back, or down along the side like the other.

Classic Pose

Bathtub scenes are always great to paint,
especially with light from a window like
this, that reflects on the water.

I took this photo (and several other similar ones) last year in the Denver Art Museum. What I would
like to do is make a humorous painting with a real model on the pedestal.

I love, what I call boudoir poses.  Anything to do with a lovely woman in her bedroom or getting dressed.

I appreciate you helping me with my paintings.  I hope you will have fun participating with me in this work of art.

I do not own the copyright for any of these photos.   They are used only as examples of poses I like.