Studying the Figure
Figure Study Collage
My interest for studying the human figure began back in high school. I saw the work of Boris Vallejo and it caused a great impression on me. Even before I decided to pursue a BA in Fine Arts I began drawing the figure. My style and use of the line began developing as my interest for understanding the intricacies of the human body.
Working with live models in college opened a new vision of the nude figure. As year passed I continue the process of understanding the connection between how we see the human body and our spiritual nature. The first clay nude sculpture ever created was made by God in the garden of Eden when He created the first man. Being able to sculpt the human figure is for me like partaking in the experience of creation with God.
Interestingly, it was the fall of men that changed our vision of the body and so it began:
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Studying the figure also gives the opportunity to study human behavior. The way we look at the naked body is an indication of a spiritual condition deeper than skin. Each perspective is possibly an indication of a distorted truth, a life changing experience, scars and issues of the past. I don’t pretend to justify my art and how I represent the body in my work. Nevertheless, I hope that your encounter with my work helps you consider your own condition. “Where are you?”
Renewing our minds
During a sparing session, one of the fighters was a little timid during a fight. His skills were not showing. My martial arts instructor Renshi Herbie Bagwell told him: “It is all in your head. From the neck down you have all you need to win”. How many times do we get paralyzed by fear? How many times we lose the fight without even trying? How many times our perception makes us forget our skills? How many times our mind is keeping us away from what we are capable to achieve?
Renewing our minds is a concept shared by various sources. Practices that involve spiritual and emotional cleansing talk about the concept of focusing the mind into thinking positive in order to achieve results. Social cognitive theory in learning psychology explains the importance of life experiences to form what we think of ourselves based on our interpretations of those experiences. Therefore, it is important to take advantage of every situation to learn and form an acceptable, affirmative perception of ourselves. Faith, for example, speaks about believing that something will be done and seeing it done before they are done. Christianity speaks of the renovation of the as well:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
Born Again by Dr. Iván Tirado
We often follow a behavior and thinking pattern based on what our environment and experiences forced on us and we end up thinking that we have no other choice but to continue living that way (remember the kid hiding during art class). Let’s give ourselves a chance towards a new life. We can’t change the past, but we don’t have to follow the same pattern. From the neck down we have all we need to win. We have a choice! We can try again! We can try something new! We can still win the fight! We can be born again!