Clairethemodel
Virgin
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2010
- Posts
- 10
THE ART CLASS PRISONER
by Claire
Author's preface
by Claire
Author's preface
This story is written by the author only, but there is a second input. This is from Dave who, after each section of the story, will give his reactions telling us what effect the story has had on him and how he is feeling about it. Then the next section will be written, and so on. Dave will not contribute in any way to the events in the story. He will just react.
* * * * *
Melanie, known to her friends as Mel, was an artist who worked in an art shop in a newly developed area of town which some years ago had been covered by large warehouses and heavy industry. Above the row of shops were two further floors which housed suites of offices catering for a wide variety of businesses.
On the first floor was a large restaurant where most of the people who worked in the building went for their main meals and snacks during the day. As Mel had been working in the building for several years she liked the opportunity to meet with people she had become friendly with over coffee or a meal.
These contacts, together with those she was able to make with customers who patronised the art shop, ensured a constant stream of friends and acquaintances who were interested in her art and who often gave her commissions for paintings and drawings and also some photography work. The latter came in very useful when customers wanted paintings of their pets. Getting a dog or a cat to sit still for her to paint them was almost impossible so that her photographic ability was useful to take a few photographs and to develop a final painting from those.
Quite close to the shops and offices, in an undeveloped area of the town, were a number of old warehouses. They were due for demolition in a few years time, but in the meantime the owners let them out to craftsmen and artists as studios at very low rents. It was in one of these that Mel had her studio which she used for both art and photography. She also ran several art and photography classes catering for all ages and abilities. Most of these were in the evening but she also ran a few half-hour lunchtime sessions for people who worked in the area and who were prepared to spend some of their lunchtime on their hobbies. With her shop job, her assignments and her classes Mel made quite a reasonable living.
Knowing so many people who worked in the building meant that Mel would always share a table with a friend when she visited the restaurant. One young man she often used to meet - in fact she kept a sharp eye open for him - was a young guy called Dave. He was a designer and managed one of the departments of his designing company. Mel was very keen on Dave and would always share his table if it was at all possible.
He was a friendly chap and they often had long conversations about things that interested them. But Dave had never asked Mel to go out with him. She knew he was single and unattached so she couldn't understand why he didn't take more interest in her.
In the recent warm weather he'd been dressed in tight jeans and a thin T-shirt which showed off his slim muscular body. Mel had been fancying him something rotten and her advances had become ever more obvious. She started wearing revealing clothes, low necklines and short skirts, but all to no avail. On one occasion she bought two tickets for a concert and told Dave that her friend had intended going with her but was unable to do so. She asked if he'd like the spare ticket but Dave had told her that he had to work late that evening and couldn't go.
Mel was getting really frustrated with him and got the impression that he was rejecting her advances. At home she would sometimes fantasise about getting him to pose as her nude life model in her studio. Just thinking about this scenario would often make her quite wet. So one evening, after fortifying herself with a couple of large vodkas, she decided she would ask him along to her studio as her model. She wouldn't ask him to pose as her nude life model, that would be a step too far, but he might not object to being a portrait model.
Two days later she had her opportunity. When she visited the restaurant, Dave was sitting alone at a table engrossed in a newspaper. She went straight over.
"Hi Dave! You OK?"
"Fine thanks Mel. I just wish the weather would cool down a bit."
"Yeah. 'Tis hot. I was almost frying in the car this morning in that traffic holdup."
Dave laughed. "You were caught too. The air conditioning in my car has packed in and that's made things much worse."
"Oh dear. Poor you," sympathised Mel.
"Yes, I'm thinking of getting a new car. Wouldn't mind an open tourer, specially in this weather, but the one I was looking at in this paper is a bit pricey." He spun the paper around for Mel to see.
"Mmmmm! Yes. You've got great taste in cars Dave. That's really sleek. Does the gorgeous model standing by the car come with it?"
Dave grinned at her. "Might see if I can stretch to it," he muttered. "The car, not the girl I mean."
Mel laughed and straight away grasped her opportunity. "Oh, by the way Dave, I'm running a portrait class next week. Would you like to be my model? The pay's not bad. Might help you to pay for the new car." She gave a short giggle.
"That's a thought, he replied smiling at her. "When's the class?"
"Wednesday evening."
Dave took out his diary. "Mmm. Yes, OK. But I must warn you I've never done any modelling. I might not be any good."
Mel was thrilled. "Oh I'm sure you'll be great. All you've got to do is sit still and let the students draw you. Most of them are middle-aged women. They asked me if I could get a handsome male model - and now I have."
Dave laughed. "Flattery'll get you everywhere Mel."
She smiled back at him. "I wish!" she thought silently to herself. "I really wish!"
"I've never visited your studio Mel. You'll have to tell me where it is."
"Oh, it's easy to find. Just carry on down the road from this building for two hundred yards and cross over to the red warehouse. I'm in studio five on the second floor. They're all signed."
"And what time do you want me?"
Mel was tempted to answer "All the time! Any time!" But she didn't. She just smiled and replied "The class is at 7.30. But if you come about 7.00 I can show you round the studio before we start. Not that there's much to see apart from my work."
"I'd like that," he replied. "The only time I've seen your work was in a local exhibition in the museum."
"Well, if that didn't put you off, I can show you some more on Wednesday."
"What do you want me to wear for the portrait?" he asked.
Mel could think of a very short answer to that question - "Nothing!" But she kept her cool. "Oh it'll be very informal. Just as you are now will be fine: jeans and T-shirt."
* * * * *
Mel had planned Wednesday evening very thoroughly. She arrived early and sorted through her paintings and drawings putting them in small piles on a table near the wall. To keep them flat she placed a drawing-board on top of each pile and labelled them. They were "Landscape", "Architecture", "Portrait" and "Life". She planned to show Dave the portrait pile first. That would seem quite natural as he could then see the sort of paintings that the students would do. She'd also show him some of her landscapes. But she deliberately would keep the life drawings until the class was over and all the students had left. Then she would show Dave the nude drawings.
She heard footsteps on the stairs followed by a knock on the studio door.
"Hi Dave! Come on in and take seat." He sat in one of the chairs she'd arranged in a semi-circle for the eight students she was expecting. Mel sat down next to him. "Any news about your new car?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes indeed. I took the plunge and bought it this morning."
"Wonderful! I'd like to see it some time."
"Of course."
"I've just been sorting some of my artwork on the table over there. Would you like to see some?" She stood up and led him towards the table.
"That looks quite a lot of paintings Mel. You've been a busy girl."
Mel took the drawing-board off the portrait pile. "You might think it's quantity over quality," she giggled. "I'm no Michelangelo I'm afraid, but I do my best."
Dave was impressed with her portraits. "Hey Mel! These are very good. I didn't know you had such talent."
"Thank you, kind sir. I have all sorts of talents you don't know about," she said with a flirty giggle.
"I notice that most of the models are women," commented Dave.
"That's right. Women seem to love being models. Male models are rather scarce. That's why the class will be so thrilled to have you this evening."
Mel showed him the rest of the portraits and then started on the landscape pile. Soon a knock on the door announced that the first two students had arrived. Mel briefly introduced them to Dave, then they went over to the lockers and started to unpack their equipment. The other six students arrived in quick succession and there was a hubub of chatter as they sat down. Mel introduced Dave to them all as the model for the evening and there were appreciative comments that "It was nice to have a man for a change", and a few motherly remarks from some of the older women.
"OK everyone," said Mel brightly. "We'll make a start. Dave, would you like to sit in that armchair facing us and make yourself comfortable. Get nice and relaxed. That's right. Just turn your head a little more to the right. The lighting's better. Great." Mel enjoyed telling Dave what to do. How she'd like him to be her life model!
"Right folks," she continued. "We'll work for forty minutes as usual and then have our coffee break. "I'll draw along with you as usual and after fifteen minutes I'll come around to see how you're doing. If you need help at any other time, just shout."
Everything went quiet and no one said a word. All Dave could hear was the scratching of pencils on paper. Although he couldn't move his body, he was able to move his eyes to look around the group. He noticed that most of the women looked to be over forty or more. There were only two men in the group and they looked even older. Dave thought they looked a pretty safe lot. His mind wandered and he thought about his new car and wondered whether he could really afford it. His thoughts were eventually interrupted by Mel getting to her feet.
"OK folks. We'll take a break there. I'll make the coffee now. Angela, would you mind going round with the biscuits please?"
After the coffee break the students took their seats again and Mel arranged Dave in the same position. This time she moved his legs and arms with her hands and also the position of his head. She wanted Dave to get used to her touching him. She had plans for Dave!!
Forty minutes later the class ended. The students placed their drawings on their chairs and everyone looked at them. There was a short time of discussion and Mel pointed out the good and the bad points of each one. In the end everyone agreed that Mel's was easily the best portrait and that she'd caught the likeness of Dave in a very dramatic fashion. The class then put all their equipment in their lockers and sauntered out of the studio leaving Mel and Dave alone.
Mel opened her handbag and took out an envelope. She handed it to Dave with a smile. "There's your modelling fee, and I want to thank you for being such an excellent model." She gave him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks Mel. My very first modelling fee. I'll put it towards my new car." They both laughed. Mel led him towards the table where her piles of drawings were."
"I'm really impressed with the portrait you did of me," said Dave.
"Yes, I was quite pleased with it too," Mel replied. "You must have inspired me. Would you like it?"
"Oh. that's very kind of you. I'd love it. I might even frame it and put it on my wall."
"D'you want to see some more of my artwork?" asked Mel.
She took the drawing board off the life drawing pile. "These are some I did during my life drawing classes," she said showing several nude female models.
"Wow! You're good at drawing nude figures as well," said Dave. He picked up another drawing. "Why is this girl posing with a tennis racquet?"
"Well, I often have a theme for the session. This one is 'The Tennis Player'."
"That's a good idea," said Dave.
"Of course they are just the female models. The male models are much more difficult," she said producing a sanguine pencil drawing of a nude male.
"So you draw men as well!"
"When I can get one. I really prefer male models. Their muscles are much better defined so I have to deal with a lot of small areas trying to represent three dimensions. It means a lot of very careful shading and highlights. But I love doing it. It's a real challenge. The trouble is male models are rather rare."
"Why's that?" asked Dave.
"Well, modelling is generally part-time work and women like that. Men usually work full time." Mel took a deep breath and her courage in both hands. "Would you like to do some life modelling for me?" she asked looking Dave straight in the eyes to see his reaction.
He gave a short laugh and took another look at the drawing. "Me? Life modelling? Not certain I'd like to pose in the nude."
"Why not? You've got a good slim body and I can see your abdominals through that T-shirt. I know the girls would love to draw you. They don't bite!"
They both laughed. "Well . . . I . . . er. . ."
"You get a bigger fee for life modellling," interrupted Mel. "Help to pay for your car."
Dave rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Mmm. S'pose it would at that."
"Go on! I'd love to draw you. You'll be helping me out. And I'll give you my first drawing."
He gave a short laugh. "That's a kind offer," he said. "But I won't put that one on the wall."
"You'll do it then?" exclaimed Mel.
"Yeeees. Why not?"
Mel threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again. "Great!"
As Dave made his way back home he started thinking. What had he let himself in for? Was he going to regret this?