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Under a grid and three spotlights in an otherwise dimly lit room, a slender, 5-foot 9-inch redhead disrobes in front of 20 students.
She sits naked for a couple minutes in a chair wrapped in a purple sheet then stands, striking a pose for the onlookers.
The redhead's name is Brandy Holmes, a University of Idaho student who is a nude modeling for art courses.
"A friend of mine is a VTD (Virtual Technology and Design) major and they have to take these drawing classes," Holmes said. "He was excited because he got to draw nude models."
Posing sounded fun, Holmes said, so she was put in contact with the right people and was hired in fall 2006.
As with any job, there were apprehensions about going in on the first day. Holmes said she was worried about students snickering or making jokes. But the instructors have zero tolerance for disrespecting the models. One snide comment and they're gone from class.
She was also worried about the biological rigors of the job.
"My first day I was sweating so much I was afraid it was going to show," she said.
Holmes flipped through an art book before her first class but now her pose choices come from a more organic place.
"I have an idea of what's difficult and what's fun," Holmes said. "When I get bored, I think of a story in my head and I pick a pose from that story."
Boredom isn't a factor for Holmes anymore. In addition to her imagination, she's also developed meditation techniques to help her concentration.
"The hardest part is staying focused," she said. "When you get impatient, time just crawls."
Surprisingly, Holmes doesn't consider the ambient noise of an art class — scraping pencils, sketchbook pages turning, the classical music — distracting at all. But she does admit picking poses that are comfortable to hold for long periods can be challenging.
"Simple things you don't think would hurt starts hurting in 10 minutes," Holmes said. "A lot of things you have to learn by accident."
Examples of deceptive-looking poses she gave include sitting up straight in a chair or cross-legged Indian style.
Sometimes an instructor’s comments will guide how Holmes stands or sits. For example, if the teacher tells the students their foreshadowing needs work, Holmes will choose a pose that forces them to foreshadow more.
"That sounds mean (but) I do that to help people learn," Holmes said. "It also gives the students the opportunity to practice what they have issues with."
During breaks in class, she'll walk around to look at students' sketchbooks propped up on their benches and easels. And it seems Holmes' passive teaching techniques are working. She says the best part of the job is seeing herself rendered in graphite and charcoal.
"The best part is seeing yourself through other people's eyes," Holmes said. "There's no other way you can really do that.
"I was immensely flattered (the first time). All the artists were gifted and talented. Plus, all the minor imperfections you get insecure about don't show up. ... I haven't seen one person's drawing that looks like what I think of myself."
Holmes, a senior in mechanical engineering, plans to continue modeling when she returns to UI next year as a graduate student. Although she's paid well -- $15 per hour -- Holmes says she doesn't do it for the money, but rather to perpetuate art.
"Nude art always has a nice feel to it," Holmes said. "It's respected and timeless."
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