Betty Gerich, Artist, Painter and Sculptor

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Naked or nude, what is the difference?

Looking at Art:

The word naked implies shame. In pornography a naked human is intended to elicit an erotic response from the viewer. In art, we use the word nude for the unclothed figure and the presentation of the nude by an artist can conjure many different meanings. The female nude in particular can be made vulnerable or powerful depending on the intention of the artist and their presentation. The nude female has been seen as the personification of beauty and godliness in art history.

Work in the Studio:

As an artist, I have been fascinated by the figure, drawing from a nude model regularly. The challenge of representing the human form is intoxicating and has been an important part of my artwork. Every body is different and body language can be as expressive as the words we use. In the Emerging Figure sculpture I was interested in capturing the grace of the figure in motion.

Emerging Figure, Ceramic Sculpture, 12” x 7” x 7