Frequently Asked Questions

Signing up is instant! Visit our sign-up page and create your account. You can immediately start browsing the community, viewing profiles, and exploring opportunities.

To unlock messaging and posting, complete your profile and submit it for review. We manually review profiles to maintain a trusted community of genuine artists and models.

Once you submit your profile for review, our team will review it soon. We carefully review each profile to maintain the quality and safety of our community.

You'll receive an email once your profile has been reviewed. If you have questions, feel free to contact us.

To gain full access, you'll need a completed profile that includes:

• A profile picture
• Your name
• Your city
• At least one portfolio image (you can upload up to 100)

Once you're satisfied with your portfolio, you can request a review by our moderators to gain full access privileges.

Once your profile is approved, you'll have full access to the community! You can message other members directly, post opportunities, and respond to opportunities from artists and models.

We recommend reading our Community Guidelines and reviewing our Safety Tips before connecting with others.

Anyone can post an opportunity! After logging in, navigate to your dashboard and click "Post New Opportunity." You'll provide details about your project including:

• Type of art (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture)
• Dates and times
• City
• Compensation (paid, honorarium, trade, or portfolio building)
• Any specific requirements or preferences

Your opportunity will be visible to the entire community. Opportunities posted by artists appear with a sanguine duotone, while those posted by models appear with a teal duotone.

Yes! You can browse model profiles, view their portfolios and preferences, and send direct messages. Models have full control over their profiles and can specify what types of projects they're interested in and any boundaries they have.

When reaching out, be respectful and provide clear information about your project. Models appreciate when artists are upfront about expectations, compensation, and logistics.

Compensation varies based on the project, session length, and what's mutually agreed upon. Common arrangements include:

• Paid: Rates vary widely—from minimum wage for community art classes to $50+ per hour for experienced life models. Photography and commercial work typically command higher rates ($90-250+ per hour)
• Honorarium: A modest payment to acknowledge time and effort
• Trade: Exchange of services (e.g., portfolio photos for modeling time)
• Portfolio building: For art classes, community projects, or mutual portfolio development

We encourage fair compensation that respects both the artist's budget and the model's time. Be transparent about what you're offering from the start.

Browse available opportunities in your dashboard and click on any that interest you. You can send a message directly to the poster expressing your interest and asking any questions about the project.

Include relevant information about your experience, availability, and any questions you have. Be clear about your boundaries and preferences upfront.

Your profile includes sections where you can specify:

• Types of art you're interested in (portrait, figure, life drawing, etc.)
• Comfort levels and boundaries
• Preferred compensation types
• Experience level and any special skills

You can update these preferences at any time, and artists can filter their searches based on what you've indicated. Never feel pressured to do anything outside your comfort zone.

Every session is different, but here are some common elements:

• Clear communication about expectations before the session
• Discussion of breaks and comfort levels
• Respect for your boundaries at all times
• Professional behavior from the artist
• Payment or agreed compensation provided as discussed

Read our Safety Tips for detailed guidance on meeting safely and maintaining boundaries. Trust your instincts�if something doesn't feel right, you can always decline or end a session.

We maintain community safety through multiple approaches:

• Profile review: Every profile is manually reviewed before granting full access
• Review system: Members can review their experiences after collaborations
• Reporting tools: Easy ways to report concerns or inappropriate behavior
• Community guidelines: Clear standards for respectful behavior
• Local focus: City-based communities build accountability

While we work hard to maintain a safe community, members are ultimately responsible for their own safety. Always follow our Safety Tips when meeting with others.

If you experience or witness behavior that violates our Community Guidelines, please use the reporting system. You can find the "Report" button on any profile, message, or opportunity.

All reports are reviewed promptly and kept confidential. We take violations seriously and will take appropriate action, which may include warnings, suspension, or permanent removal from the platform.

After completing a session together, both artists and models can leave reviews. Reviews should be honest, professional, and based on your actual experience. They help build trust and accountability in the community.

Reviews are permanent and cannot be deleted by users, though false or malicious reviews can be reported and may be removed by administrators. Focus your reviews on communication, professionalism, and whether expectations were met.

Your messages are encrypted and cannot be read by administrators. The only exception is when you report a user—a portion of the conversation is decrypted and included with your report so moderators can take appropriate action.

We don't sell your data to third parties. Your email is used only for account-related communications. For complete details, read our Privacy Policy.

Your profile is visible by default, including to the public and search engines. You can hide your profile in your settings if you prefer.

You control what information appears on your profile, including:

• Profile photos and portfolio images
• Bio and experience details
• Preferences and boundaries
• City

You can update or remove information at any time.

You can delete your account at any time from your account settings. When you delete your account:

• Your profile is removed from public view
• Your messages show you as "[Deleted User]" to other participants
• Your reviews are no longer visible
• You cannot recover your account after deletion

If you need assistance, contact us.

artmodels.ca serves 13 major Canadian cities across the country:

• British Columbia: Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna
• Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, Banff/Canmore
• Prairies: Saskatoon, Winnipeg
• Ontario: Toronto, Ottawa
• Quebec: Montreal, Quebec City
• Atlantic: Halifax

When you create your profile, you'll select your primary city. This helps connect you with opportunities in your local area while being part of a national creative community.

Our city-based approach maintains the trusted, accountable community feel while expanding access to opportunities across Canada.

Currently, artmodels.ca is free to use. There's no fee to join, no commission on your work, and no middleman taking a cut. Your creative arrangements are entirely your own.

Absolutely! We welcome traveling models and international guests planning tours in Canada. It's a great way to line up guest spots and workshops before you arrive.

You can browse opportunities in your destination cities or update your profile bio to include your travel dates and availability. We take no responsibility for work permits. If you don't have the right to work in Canada, we recommend you stick to unpaid opportunities.

We're different in several important ways:

• Profile-reviewed: Every profile is reviewed prior to being given access to the messaging system
• Art-focused: Our community is centred around artistic collaboration and is not an agency. Our goal is to make it easier for independent artists and models to connect with each other for opportunities to collaborate, whether paid or not
• Local-first: While artmodels.ca is available nationwide (with more cities to come later), we recognize people will be looking primarily within their own neighbourhoods for collaborators. But some of you may want to find connections across the country
• Community-moderated: Built by artists for the art community, we are motivated to make this site a small but welcoming place

We exist to support Canadian artists and models in building meaningful creative connections.