Art-Models Muses, we love you

Since the publication of this article in 2010, updated in 2015, some of these artists are retired from the job. Good luck my sweet friends !

Gerhardt Thompson : 

Regarding the models there are not enough words.

Without them there would be just a landscape, without their passion and expression there would be just a pretty face and for me the beauty of a woman is not in their physical attributes instead in what they have to share through self confidence, expression, understanding and trust. 

Each of the models I work with share natural beauty, there is never any make up and I have to remind them not to do their nails, there is nothing artificial just body language and it is my job to look closely at feelings, light, mood and to integrate the sum of these parts.These young ladies are bright and their abilities should never go unquestioned. The models work hard and give 200% of themselves. 

It is for this reason that I must do my very best for them each time I pick up my camera. They have my utmost respect !" Gerhardt Thompson

Carolyn Lacasse

Éric Daoust

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St Merrique, and author, and singer.

OnePixArt - "Spirit Dance"

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Iris Dassault And Photographer.
Jim Young - "Breaking waves"
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Dollybeck
Aref Jaroudy - "Fashion Nude"
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Kat Love And Photographer.
Greg Brown - "Unknown"
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I can't say enough about how incredibly fortunate I am to have the opportunity to work with these wonderful people. Their patience and understanding and trust are all invaluable to making the images work so well. I've said before, if it wasn't for them, I would only have a large collection of well lit and quite boring paper backdrops ! Not to play any favorites, but there are a few people who have supported my work with their incredible talent and friendship. Scott Nichol

Catphrodite
Scott Nichol - "Comfort of friends" - Second Art Model Rayn
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Betcee May
Meritt A. Vincent - "Nude"
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Vassanta
Dan Van Winkle
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I photograph the female figure for many reasons.  I believe the female body is the original aesthetic object, the source of all our ideas of what is beautiful.  Therefore, the female figure provides the perfect subject matter, just as it has been an important subject since the beginnings of art. Dave Levingston

Lela Rae And Musician.

Nad Iksodas - "Passions"

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Madame Bink
Mick Waghorne - "Death in Action"
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Candace Nirvana
Andre J - "Nirvana"
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Anyssa Jordan
 Perry Gallagher - "Branch"
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Miss Anya
A.J. Kahn - "Mimicry"
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I work with people that are more than models, they are truly the main subject of the image - these people bare their soul, more than their bodies, they explore their boundaries, their freedoms and freely give of their emotions as well as their poses. Without these wonderfully understanding artists, there is no hope of Art ever being created. Beau Nestor

Theda
Sylvie Blum - "Afraid of edges"
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NevaehLleh
Jeff Wack - "The Garden Tree" 
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Iveta Niklova
Paul Timon
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Lady Anais
Joseph Orsillo - "Stronger"
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Brooke Lynne
Andrew J Baran - "Despair"

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What makes you beautiful is something much deeper than skin
Than your arms, breasts, thighs and unspeakable gems
It's what you show but don't speak, time and again
It's something much greater… It's the you that's within
Thank you. Isaac Fowler, painter.

Elena Buga
Art Ward
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Xainafairy
Michael Rosen
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Erin And Musician.
Danny Bourne - "Like a burnish'd throne"
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Bella Blue
Michael Siu - "Pensive"
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Muse
David Charles - "Child of the Corn"
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I seldom work with professional models, concentrating on 'normal' women. Most of my models haven't posed nude before and experience a real shift in self confidence as a result of working with me. I'm blessed with a beautiful and tolerant partner who models for me on a regular basis and assists on many shoots. I'm fortunate to have the trust of so many women without whom I would not be able to create. My shoots are a collaboration and I attempt to capture something of the models personality in all my work. Rob Benson

Jessamyne Rose
Malcolm Smith - "In the moment"
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Ulorin Vex And Illustrator
Yerburi - "Dive"
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Sarah Ellis
Dan Van Winkle
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Nettie R Harris
 Chip Willis 
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Thank you for sharing and thank you for your bravery, honesty and commitment to your craft. I tip my hat to you all. Isaac Fowler, painter.

Groovaciousk
David Winge - "Beautiful Inflection"
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Joceline Brooke-Hamilton
 Mark Varley
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Ivory Flame
Ivor Tetteh-Lartey
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Carlotta Champagne
Dave Rudin
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Moon Marie
 K Leo
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Lorelei
TP Photography - "Desert Sunset"
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Muses, we love you

David LeBeck and Stefano Picco, a photo and its digital work

2007





The original picture by David LeBeck

"Goddess"
Art Model Betcee May

" We went back to the backbone trail to catch the sunset but a ridge to the west proved to be higher than i remembered Damn! Still, we did some very different work from the last session. Betcee said she now knew how I photograph outdoors so her poses were less conventional. Then, as we lost the light I did some lovely portraits of a Very beautiful woman ! My inspiration, My Muse : The Glorious Betcee May"

AND...


The digital work of Stefano Picco
with the agreement of David


Stefano Picco
"Aphrodite"
Art Model Betcee May

" I was inspired by David LeBeck photography "Goddess" of Betcee May. I made some prints of goddess, letters and words. Cut them an collage it on a din a3 paper. With different layers of paper I fix it. Later i made some photos with my reproduction table. Finally I put it into photoshop, to sharpen and colorize it."

The kind feedback of David

"I'm always flattered when someone wishes to use any of my art for a project of theirs. It's exciting and humbling. I want to encourage it. If I can inspire as I've been inspired, that's wonderful. Thank you !"

His Muse

Betcee May, Art Model and Muse

Betcee May

by Rodney Ray
"Aaaaah..."

by Courtney Dailey

Betcee May is an internationally renowned model. I'm sure that everybody know her (it's really impossible to miss her work !).

That said, she's also a passionate painter since her childhood, what explains her so particular artistic approach :

"My subjects have always been women. There is an intense beauty that comes across when people are in their most natural state, nude. As an artist, this provided constant inspiration."

In the beginnings of my long Columbo's style investigation, I believed she was a model, and that's it, a true Muse dedicating with success her life to this so difficult work. But, surfing from site to site, I've discovered how much she cares for life... I've seen the quality of her texts and the deepness of her humanism. I've seen her shining soul. Wow...

While reading her, I was more and more surprised to meet an artist so engaged. And, finally, before to write these words, I told me with a big smile : " yes, we are all connected."

Now, I know why David L. Le Beck loves her so much. And, stronger than ever, with hope and impatience, I'm waiting for my Muse... And she knows what I mean.

by Ward LaForme
"Sun Seduction"

" We are all important and we are all connected.

I believe that is the most important lesson of all : it is about being in this moment right now - alive, open and evolving."

by Merritt A. Vincent
"Nude"

Who I am ?
" Nekkid twirling, swirling daisy fairy girl skipping and tripping barefoot through mud, blue glass, hearts and chocolate....
I am lazily eager, inspired and sleeping most of the time. I will eat anything.
Play the guitar for me and I am yours.
I like boys who are gentlemen and girls who are a little more raw and not scared of me.
I come from wild hippy free flowing amazingly brilliant and wonderful parents. I was born in a barn on eighty acres of trees and daisies. Coming out, I was early, backwards and not breathing... I make up for it now.

I was raised to see the beauty and have ultimate respect for human and animal life, the planet I was born onto, and my own existence. I was brought up with few boundaries and with an expectation to constantly grow and challenge myself on all levels.

by Mark Tierney
"...and on my knees I..."

by Ward LaForme
"Body"




I have been everywhere and still nowhere somehow.
Quiet. Analytical. Emotional. Passionate. Sensual. Raw. Alive. Bruised. Wanderer. Spontaneous.
Maternal. Hungry. Dreamer. Playful.
Tree-hugger. Tree-climber. Mud wrestler.
I love my dog.
I've been told I smell like playdough.
I look like my mom.
I moisturize with olive oil.
I am secretly ...

Look me in the eyes and I will tell you anything.

I fall in love every day.

by Rick Schamberger

by Rick Schamberger
"Timeless, ageless..."

I'm a damn good muse.
I like to make naked art.
I'm an artist.
My skin is my multi dimensional moving-living-breathing-inspiring canvas.
That's why I'm here.

by Robert Faber




I have said I am a muse on a mission. This is largely in reference to my work as a model.

To me, being called a muse is the greatest compliment I could receive.
As an artist myself, I have full understanding of how important inspiration is. If I can provide that to someone, or to many... what an ultimate blessing.

What makes you wake up in the morning ? What motivates you ? What inspires you ? If I can be the answer to any of this, that alone gives me purpose.

My mission - to inspire both myself and others, to grow, challenge, think, share, work towards a greater good, love my planet and those who walk it, to LIVE, fully.

by dbImages
"Sweet winds of Ireland"

But... ?... What is a Muse ?
The demonstration by David LeBeck

by David LeBeck
"Keyhole Rock, 292"

" Recently my dear friend and muse Betcee May wrote in response to a comment on one of our photos the following note :

"I think one of the wonderful things about David's work is that he truly appreciates the honest beauty of a woman, without the gloss and pretense that so many photographers hide their subjects in.

By letting ME shine through and not a photoshop filter, he is demonstrating his trust in something that goes beyond glam. He is showing Life. These are images that make you want to crawl into them, reach out and touch, caress, smile and love with." Betcee May

by David LeBeck
"Two Rocks, 129"




Betcee said something very much like this to me directly on our very first shoot together. I've been trying fitfully to get her to put it in writing ever since. When I saw this I was touched and thrilled. What a wonderful thing for her to say.

I know that when she writes so eloquently like this she speaks from her heart. To know that she believes in me like this is humbling, and wonderful. I realize also that perhaps I inspire her a little too. This is part of why she inspires me, like no one else can, to try to make photographs that make you want to crawl into them, touch and caress, smile and love with. I'm so grateful to her for the inspiration she gives me. I'm proud and astounded by the response to the Art we create together !"

by David LeBeck
"BackboneTrail, 175"

" Thank you My Friend, My Muse !
You make me strive.
You make me think.
You make me better than I was before I met you.
I raise my glass of spirit from the land of my Illustrious Ancestors and toast the many years of collaboration we have ahead of us !"

by David LeBeck
"Woman"




by David LeBeck
"Two Rocks, 068"

by David LeBeck
"Planet - Skin - Heart"