As part of the Project Educate Artistic Nudes Segment Week I present you a interview with the professional artist and very friendly =UniqueNudes!!!

My name is Richard Rasner and I am a functioning professional artist. It is my only job and I love what I do. I 'inherited' Nakayama Studios from my best friend when he passed away, and I have now taken on new photographers to teach and nurture as artists. I currently have gallery showings in Bonn, Germany and Las Vegas, NV (U.S.) and a scheduled one for October in Los Angeles, CA and back in Las Vegas, NV in December. My second book Abandoned: The Relentless Passage of Time is due out late 2008.

^Helewidis - Do you remember art being a big part of your childhood?
=UniqueNudes - Music, actually. Both of my parents were music majors, as was I in college. Music, like photography is both an art and a science, utilizing both halves of the brain. But like all kids I also liked to draw, paint and sculpt, though I never showed much of an aptitude for any of the above.

^Helewidis - Who was your inspiration as you played with your finger paints?
=UniqueNudes - Can't say I had a specific inspiration, but I created a lot of undersea stuff, so Wyland, I guess.

^Helewidis - Were you supported by others to create?
=UniqueNudes - Surprisingly, yes! My parents were very supportive.

^Helewidis - What medium did you use as a child?
=UniqueNudes - Graphite. I was a pencil junkie.

^Helewidis - What is Art to you?
=UniqueNudes - A way to communicate to others, to bring joy, to convey feelings, to make people think.

^Helewidis - What are your aspirations regarding your art?
=UniqueNudes - I want to bring artistic nude art (specifically photography) back to being a respected art form once again.

^Helewidis - What is your favourite medium?
=UniqueNudes - Digital photography. I love film, too, but I have infinitely more control with digital.

^Helewidis - If you could, you would?
=UniqueNudes - Photograph a single nude model in every significant location around the world. (In front of the Pyramids, on top of the Eiffel Tower, below the aurora borealis, etc.)

^Helewidis - How did you find dA?
=UniqueNudes - I followed a link to view one of my friend's art pieces. I found a few other friends on there; started an account to watch them and eventually decided to upload a few pieces from UniqueNudes.com, my personal website. I'm still here 4 years and 1,500 deviations later.

^Helewidis - Did you use other outlets for your art?
=UniqueNudes - My website, as mentioned above, but primarily brick & mortar galleries in the real world. I like to see my work as a tangible object, matted and framed and hanging with other art in a gallery where it can be appreciated by art lovers.

^Helewidis - Why dA?
=UniqueNudes - It's the biggest, and the best. When I met Angelo (aka $spyed) at the ver 5 beta test we sat and talked a long time about the future of dA and where it all was headed. He has an amazing vision, and despite all the drama people try and cause, I'm here for the long haul.

^Helewidis - What would you like to see here at dA?
=UniqueNudes - The recent addition of deviantFILM was a great idea, as was portfolios. Those have been high on my list for years and now that they are here I guess I need to think of new things I would like to see.

^Helewidis - What is your favorite part of dA?
=UniqueNudes - The fans. I love interacting with people from all over the world who are seeing my art for the first time, and offering me feedback, and buying my prints to hang in their home and share with their friends. I also like to offer feedback in return, and support and nurture growing artists.

^Helewidis - Do you tell offline friends about dA?
=UniqueNudes - All the time! I wish all my models would join so I can credit them easier as well.

^Helewidis - If you could tell the world about dA what would you say?
=UniqueNudes - Come and join the world's largest art community! Make friends and learn to truly appreciate art!





^Helewidis - How do you choose your models? What is your criteria? Why would you turn someone down, for example? and Where do you find them?

=UniqueNudes - That's a lot of questions! Well, for the most part these days models find me. I get emails every day from people all over the world who want to model for me. Sometimes, though, when I am looking for a specific look I will post a casting call on ModelMayhem.com.
My main criteria for models is that they are in it to make art, not money. I will take all body types and sizes, provided they are genuinely interested in creating art. I have NEVER turned down someone for a shoot provided they meet the minimum criteria of willing to pose nude and not in it for sexual gratification. (This is often a problem with many of the male "models" that contact me.) But I truly value every body (and face) type, and I think my work reflects that. If you want to create art, I want to work with you.

^Helewidis - What inspired you to pursue this particular genre (Artistic Nude) in the first place?

=UniqueNudes - Honestly? I was a 21 year old male, and when Mike Nakayama (my best friend) asked me if I wanted to help out at his studio where he was shooting nudes for men's magazines I jumped at the chance! I soon got bored of 'girly' pics though and moved into serious nude art shortly after his death.





^Helewidis - What is the biggest challenge you've had to face as a nude photographer?
=UniqueNudes - The stigma. People automatically assume you shoot porn. *sigh*

^Helewidis - What is your favorite lighting setup? Why? or, if you only do outdoors: how do you find the places? Ever had any troubles with the law/other people, etc? how did you overcome them?

=UniqueNudes - Indoors I favor the 70/30 split with hot lights for a lot of shoots, as I've always liked the way it looks. However, my *favorite* indoor light setup is 50% single light black & whites, or classic "noir" lighting. I have an affinity for the look of Hollywood glamor shots from the 30's and 40's.
Outdoors is actually my favorite place to shoot, though, as I get bored easily in my studio. I usually try to ascertain if permits are necessary for where I'm shooting so I don't have law troubles, but I am guilty of the 'stealth nude' shoot in places where I probably shouldn't have been. Occasionally people have wandered by but I've yet to have any major problems in the last 11 years.

^Helewidis - What do you answer to intolerant people complaining about nude art being only pornography? What would you tell them to open their eyes?

=UniqueNudes - The one thing I have learned in my long career as a nude artist is that if people are intolerant to nudes and close-minded/puritanical enough to believe that all nudityorn then there is no way (nor any reason) to attempt to change that. Move on and deal with the people who do care about your art.





^Helewidis - Regarding models, what kind of attitude do you expect from them? and what kind of behaviour you support?

=UniqueNudes - I expect models to be punctual and professional. This is my JOB, and theirs too, at least for the day. Show up late or unprepared and you're fired... I'll find someone else who is serious. I support models who are professional yet not so uptight that they can't be friendly. We all get along best once we relax.

^Helewidis - What do you do to make a model feel comfortable being nude in front of the camera? Do you ever have music playing to get the mood right? Could you share some ways to relax when behind the camera or giving directions to a model?

=UniqueNudes - If a model isn't comfortable being nude in front of the camera she's probably not right for my work. It's REALLY obvious if the model isn't comfortable. I do play music at shoots, but I play music everywhere. Since my work is very non-sexual, there isn't a "mood" to get in to. I find that even the newest of the new models relax once they realize I'm not trying to hit on them, or get them to do porn, or any of the sort. Once they understand this is my JOB, they stop being tense.





^Helewidis - Could you share your 10 best tips with the community?

=UniqueNudes -
-- Be honest with everyone. (Models, clients, etc.)
-- Believe in yourself and your art.
-- Do NOT EVER hit on your models.
-- Constantly try new things.
-- Find the beauty in the everyday.
-- Create art for art's sake, not money.
-- Do not be bound by other people's rules.
-- Never pressure a model to do more than she is comfortable with.
-- Always have a backup plan.
-- Surround yourself with other like-minded artists who will support you.


If you are interested in answers I have given in the past (some of which are the same, some of which are different) there is a list of my previous interviews from dA, magazines and television here: [link] and also a list of documentaries, books and so on...



Thank you very much, Richard!


~

You are officially invited!

Summer is here and so is the Project Educate Week for Artistic Nudes (July 14 to July 18 - you can read updates in ^projecteducate and other week's info).

As of right now, besides other interviews and the ABC's (that you can check out by searching my news), we have launched a mini-contest: [link] and the schedule is up at [link]


Thursday, 17 there'll be a Surprise Trivia with prizes, at #artnudes - so keep your eyes peeled for more!...


During the week there will be more thematic articles and journals, from the community itself. You can get track of it by following this journal: [link]

Last but not least, there will be random giveaways during the week in #artnudes and some other dA places!

Join us and please, spread the news and/or use the stamp so everyone knows about this event!!!






Have fun!!!