Posing nude for art is one of the oldest and purest forms of modeling. It is a trademark of portraiture, a tradition rooted in artistic history and a position that students still have.

Kelsey Durako, a junior from Normal studying human nutrition and dietetics, has worked as a nude model in the School of Art and Design for the past two years. She said the job has made her feel more liberated and rewarded than any other.

“Its not one of those jobs where you just stand there and look pretty, it’s a lot of self-motivation,” Durako said.

Durako is one of many students who have held the on-campus position. Erin Palmer, an associate professor in the school of art and design, heads the hiring process for models. She said SIU is unique because most universities hire professional models, while SIU has always exclusively extended the opportunity to students.

“It’s never really been hard for me to sit there and display myself. I don’t really have a lot of shame in showing my body,” Durako said. “It’s all for the better sake of art.”

Palmer said learning to draw a figure from direct observation is extremely difficult but equally rewarding. It is a privilege, she said, that cannot be replicated and something every art studio should familiarize itself with.

It’s a key point of Palmer’s position to establish a strong comfort level for models. She meets with each model individually and speaks with them at length in regards to the stigma attached to nude modeling and what to expect their first day of work.

Alec Wallis, a junior from St. Louis studying music business, worked as a model for two semesters. He said despite being nervous initially, he thoroughly enjoyed his time as a model.

“I’ve had friends who model, and they’re really uncomfortable about it. I’m the total opposite,” Wallis said. “I’m really straight forward about the job. I thought I was going to start working out and be self-conscious. I didn’t care. You just go with it.”

Durako said she shares Wallis’ optimistic outlook on the position. She said she has never felt uncomfortable with herself or with others knowing her work, and she is proud of what she does.

“I did have a friend who took the same class I was modeling in, and that was one of the few moments in the time I’ve been working here that I felt unnerved and awkward,” Wallis said. “I knew the guy fairly well and it was a little strange having him sitting across from me.”

Both Durako and Wallis said one of the greatest rewards about the job was seeing the work students had done of them. Wallis said he would walk around after class, and see all of the extremely varied pieces. He said students used an array of charcoals, pastels, pencils and markers to produce their vision of the student. On her breaks, Durako said she would also walk around the room to see the work others had done.

“It’s interesting to say the least,” Durkao said. “Sometimes it will be funny, like ‘do people really see me that way?’ But it’s more of ‘this is how they interpret life, so I can’t judge them or their work.’”

The creativity of the position is something that both Durako and Wallis said they valued the most.

Durako said the flexibility of the job and welcoming attitude is shared by models, students and professors.

Palmer said above all, respect and acceptance in particular are of the utmost importance when it comes to hiring and coordinating models.

“We encourage all genders, age ranges and body types,w” Palmer said. “We work hard to foster an attitude of mutual respect and positive energy.”

Durako said the efforts are visible and there’s a certain level of privacy and respect between models and students. She said even freshman and first-year students were mature and unfazed by the nudity.

“Honestly, it’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had,” Durako said. “The pay is nice; the instructors are very considerate; there’s a lot of creativity that goes into it; it’s interesting to see how people interpret you.”