The artists who create this art often share stories of freeing themselves from the restraints of cultural norms. To choose figurative fine art, one must confront the expectations of societal judgment and break free. This freedom, when claimed, gives creatives the space and permission to pursue art for the sake of the creative process and beauty itself.

True art cannot be created to satisfy others. It won’t appear when trying to meet the expectations of the audience or in the quest for external validation. True art empowers the artist.

The models, photographers, and artists in this issue of Model Society Magazine have shared similar motivations for making these images. They have created these works of art because they value the process as the truest medium for their message. In one way or another, each of them has shed layers of expectation and granted themselves permission to create for their own sake and personal fulfillment.

As you contemplate the images in this book, you’re offered the same opportunity as the artist to transcend limitations and claim greater freedom in how you appreciate human beauty, art, and the world around you.