About AK Art Models

AK Art Models was created by Alaskan painter Alex Rydlinski

When I was learning to paint I worked primarily from photographs; from reproductions in old master books and also reference photos that I took myself. As I got deeper into the traditional working methods of my favorite painters I began trying to work from life. When I studied at the Nerdrum school, where working from photos is prohibited, I came to understand why painters still swear by this challenging practice. There is an urgency about working from life. If a model is struggling in front of you there’s no time to worry about superficial details like painting every eyelash or every wrinkle. You have no choice but to adapt and work freely, as the model is sure to move. There is also the lasting experience between the model and painter. I will never forget my time modeling for Nerdrum, and my small contribution rings out forever in his work.

When I got back home to Alaska I knew that working from life would have its challenges. I only knew of a few small life drawing groups throughout the state, and I knew from my time drawing at UAF that the pool of available models is small in Alaska. I created Alaska Art Models to try to deepen that pool. If we can get enough people signed up artists will benefit greatly by having more options for their projects, more models to fill in for last-minute cancellations, and more regular life sessions. Models will benefit by earning some extra cash and getting involved in the arts community. 

A quick word on the name ‘AK Art Models.’ I haven’t been a fan of the word ‘Art’ for many years. It has ballooned to an impossible breadth, supposedly including everything from Michelangelo to bananas taped to walls. For someone interested in practicing and improving their skills the term ‘Art’ seems inaccurate and misleading. So if I can’t stand the term, why build a site around it? Firstly, I needed to make a distinction between models for drawing/painting and models for fashion/photography. Models for our purposes could include every single person in Alaska. I wanted to make clear that by ‘model’ we’re not just talking about slender twenty-somethings with exquisite cheekbones—although those fair few are also welcome here. Secondly, Art is a term that everyone is familiar with. And rather than get into a philosophical conversation about the state of culture in the 21st century, I really just want this site to work.

I should also say that this website doesn’t generate any money. If enough people sign up and the site begins to function as I hope it will, I will be repaid by the opportunity for my own regular life drawing practice, which is very important to me. So thank you so much for visiting and please help spread the word!

Alex