What is it about Andy that compels Christina to share her very private world with him? Why does she allow him to paint her, and why does she like being a model more than Al does?

What is it about Andy that compels Christina to share her very private world with him? Why does she allow him to paint her, and why does she like being a model more than Al does?

I think he was truly a friend and nothing was asked of her -a light friendship that she needed at that time in her life.

He is non-judgemental but rather appreciative of the place in which she lives. He looks at the old wall paper, the fraying furniture, the threadbare curtains and sees beauty in these things that she loves. Through him she notices them again, too. He sees beauty in her and not her crippled condition--he takes her out of herself and she doesn't dwell on it either.

I think first, because as katherinep just said, he sees the same beauty in her world that Christina does. More importantly, he sees her. He accepts her as she is without judgement. He listens to her without boredom. And he doesn't ask anything of her, other than space in her home and her time when he has her pose.

Andy is also disabled and accepts her as she is, and does not tell her what to do. He is also a warm presence and comforting to her. She is very lonely.

He has a disability too. He accepts her as she is and likes her without wanting to change her. He also accepts the way that she lives without electricity and modern conveniences. If you think about it total acceptance is a rare thing.

Andy has something in common with Christina; he also has difficulty with walking and he knows how she might feel. Christina shares her world with Andy because she knows he can understand because of his own personal experience. Christina let’s Andy paint her because his interest in her is genuinely about the artistic value of Christina as an individual and not a person to be pitied. I think Christina likes being a model more than Al does because she doesn’t mind sitting still for long periods of time and she’s able to take her mind off the physical inactivity while Andy paints.

I think she related to him initially because he had a limp and then appreciated his interest in her home that she loved. Posing for him could have been some sort of payback for his friendship. Maybe she hoped the paintings of her would come out more flattering than they did. Al seemed like a very private person, with little vanity, and probably thought posing for Wyeth was a waste of his working time.

Andy also has a limp and doesn't quite fit in. He's a loner and is totally honest with her. He doesn't look at her as disabled or "less than." I think they truly understood each other. She felt safe to confide in him. I think she liked the modeling because, for once, she was the important one and she felt Andy really "saw" her, and not just as an object to paint. Al had no patience for sitting still that long, nor did he have the need for attention.

For her to be the center of someones world must have been liberating for her. Plus, Andy is also on the fringe and from that standpoint really understands her. I think in this setting she must feel "seen", understood, appreciated and admired.

I agree. He’s completely removed from her world and doesn’t look down upon her home or her disability. He sees beauty.

Christina shares her private world with Andy because he accepts her and gives her a purpose by using her as a model. Christina in turn accepts Andy and lets him work in private. Because of her disability Christina can sit for long stretches of time without complaining, a perfect model for an artist. She allows Andy to paint her because she trusts him. Also, she is happy staying home. Al, on the other hand, has a lot of work to do and he needs and wants to go to different places away from the farm.