Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Recognition is a one way road

So far as I can tell, no artist with whom I've met in a public place has had any difficulty in recognizing me. As soon as our eyes meet, her eyebrows will raise in recognition and she makes a beeline for me. There's no uncertain squinting, no tentative smiles or waves to verify identity, no hesitant voices asking, "Kari??" I occasionally give the oh-so-clever description that I'll look just like I do in my portfolio, but with more clothing and glasses. Even without that hint, nobody who has seen my work as a model has ever had difficulty picking me out of a crowd.

On the other hand, I have plenty of friends and acquaintances whose interactions with me have exclusively involved clothing and glasses. Oftentimes, these folks seem completely thrown off when viewing my modeling work. I can't even recall the number of times that somebody has asked me, "That's you??"

No, I found some other skinny, flat-chested chick with pit hair who's naked on the internet and am merely attempting to pass her work off as mine.

....

Of course it's me! But this is a phenomenon which has established itself as a definite pattern.

As always, I'm interested in hearing others' thoughts on this. Models, have you experienced the same thing? Photographers, painters, etc., do you ever struggle to recognize a model with whom you're meeting for the first time? Non-model, non-artist individuals, rock my world with your outside perspective!

And, for round one in the free modeling time* trivia bonanaza, here's your question: The intelligence of this aquatic animal is especially surprising given their relatively short lifespans and apparently solitary lifestyles.

*Fine print

5 comments:

  1. I find recognition outside the studio is more based on age then anything else. The older artists will always recognize me.. no hesitation at all. I've been spotted in grocery stores, gas stations, and even at a wedding. (where I was introduced as "this is bob, you know.. the model in the drawing you liked").

    With students however there is uncertain squinting, tentative smiles or waves to verify identity. Most of the time when I see this, I'll turn things around on them and say, "hi there, I thought it was you, but I didn't recognize you with my clothes on!"

    Cheers,
    Bob

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  2. Interesting!

    I can't wait for somebody with whom I'm meeting not recognize me just so I can use that line.

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  3. Sounds like the answer for your trivia question could be an octopus, at least it fits the description.

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  4. Ding ding ding!! We have a winner! Shoot me an e-mail at modelkarimarie at yahoo and we'll work out details.

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  5. Well done Chuck! I was thinking it might be some sort of mollusk but just couldn't pin it down.

    And Kari, good job at the question and the prize. In any event it wouldn't do me any good to guess. I'm a model, not an artist... I couldn't draw you if my life depended on it.

    Bob

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