My Husband has to draw a Nude woman for his University degree.

Life drawing is a skill that allows you to draw the human body better - its postures, motion, volumes and the fall of shadow across the body. A life drawing class is very different to how it would be drawing someone you know, where there is more of a relationship between the drawer and the model. It is very different to a strip club, where people go with the express intent of seeing nudity to become aroused. Nudity in the instance of life drawing is more a way of understanding the core of the posture without interference from clothing.
This is how I think of it anyway. I think the first few times I went I was a bit awkward about it.

Look, as a guy, I can tell you that MY (notice I did not say "ALL MEN," the reason being is I could never testify as to what OTHER men would feel in this situation, only what I feel), that MY body doesn't have an on/off switch when it comes to sexuality. I have never been unfaithful to even a girlfriend let alone my wife, but one of the reasons I have never been is because I try my best not to put myself in situations as described above. I can tell you that in the past, I have noticed that every now and then a girl who has the physical traits I find desirable will walk into the same room at a Christmas party , social event, etc and I have a feeling of physical desire come over me (very temporary, but the feeling was there, and obviously she was fully clothed). I believe this is biology. This is how I am wired. I have never acted on these temporary feelings, but I have taken certain steps to avoid certain situations. I have been to countless bachelor parties where at the end of the night, my then fiancé and now wife has picked me up before my friends go to the strip club. Sure I take a ribbing for it, but I love seeing how my wife looks at me when she arrives to pick me up (my wife does the same for me at bachelorette parties due to her faith}. Once, my wife hired a younger girl to do housework on the weekends (my wife works weekends and my kids are currently in college). The young girl was very attractive and seemed overly friendly. The next day I told my wife she had to let her go. Some might find this on the side of a "Relationship Nazi," but I would rather error on the side of caution. I love my wife, I love my kids and I can't describe the beauty I see in her when she enters the room (it is indescribable, her inner beauty and her physical beauty - the temporary feeling I spoke about above doesn't even compare to this). Sometimes she could be coming home from work, tired and annoyed and watching her enter the front door I have actually cried because what I see in her could never be replicated. From what you describe with your husband, it seems like you have this kind of love. Do I think you have to do what I do or expect your husband to do the same (especially in college for a degree with a class full of people)? Not at all. Just talk to him every day. Assure each other your love is still there and strong as ever, and probably getting frisky w each other are all great ways to know your husband still loves you!

PS - By the way, I suspect your husband thinks its cute and actually makes him feel good inside you are getting a little jealous - I know it would make me feel good as long as it didn't turn obsessive! Anyway, good luck! When he has the degree it will all be worth it!

Nudity is beautiful and should be admired by everyone. Its only the way you were raised that's interfering with your logic. If he loves you and is loyal its all that matters. I see women that are pretty, women that I might even have the hotts for, but why in the world would I ruin a 16 year perfect relationship with my childhood sweet heart over a total stranger who means nothing more to me then a pretty/sexy pose. Its stupid and would not happen. Trust in him.

I am going through the exact same thing right now. My husband and I have only been with each other and I'm the only woman he's seen naked (in person). We're hoping that he gets accepted to BYU Provo's art program because the figure models wear bathing suits. Otherwise he will have to go to another school where the models are fully nude. Good luck, it's just nice to know that I'm not the only one going through this.

Thank you so much for this post!!! Your situation you described is almost identical to what I am going through. I am having such a hard time with my husband's figure drawing class. Knowing that he knows another womans curves so well hurts me. I'm still not totally ok with this, but I am trying so hard. I really want to support my husband, and I know that without this class he can't get his degree, but I still have such a hard time it. Everyone's comments are so helpful!

Just stumbled across this, probably way too late but wanted to add my two cents;

what the people above said is exactly right - and this goes to anyone who feels insecure about their partner drawing nude models - TAKE A CLASS YOURSELF. It will alleviate all worry about the subject. It will probably take about 10 minutes for you to realize, oh, this isn't sexual at all. and then, wow this is hard, no wonder he needs to practice. Figure drawing is simply one of the best ways to quickly improve one's draftsmanship. For everyone saying it is a special or a sacred experience or anything of that portentous stuff i really have to disagree, it's an exercise that develops your observational skills. Ain't nothin personal or sexual about it and this is coming from a young male art student.

As for the woman whose husband takes women he knows home and paints them nude, that's completely ridiculous. There's really no other word for it. ESPECIALLY if he's just a hobbyist. He may say he's an aspiring artist and blah blah, but for him to be this adamant about doing something that bothers you, he better be making some money off of it. If he had a gallery show every couple of months and this is how he made his living, well then maybe he can argue that. But if its just for fun...and make no mistake, if he's not making a business out of it then it is just for fun, even if he says its art - then he needs to rethink things. There are PLENTY of studios that have weekly nude drawing sessions that usually only cost about 6 bucks a night. A studio environment with 20 other artists is WAY less intimate than your own home, and WAY more appropriate for a married person. That's just my opinion though. Does he want you out of the house when his models come over? If i was married and i HAD to have a nude model come to the house (i really cant imagine why i would though) I would at least want my wife in the house, maybe even in the same room if the model was ok with it, so that nothing would be left to her imagination. Again though that's just me.

Take an art class or join an art group where they draw nude models, after a few session you will see for yourself that it is NOT about sex at all.

Instead of judging your husband you should an art class where they draw nude models. You will quickly realize as most artist do, that most nude figure drawing is NOT about sex.

Seriously take up my challenge, give it about 3 classes and you will start to realize this. You will see that there is a separation between nudity and sex. And the art class does become a non-sexual sterile enviroment.

Wouldn't it be nice if our partner could just draw us instead? That's the alternative I wish was out there. Am I right when I say that a college art student has to take these classes and is not allowed to "skip it"?