My first nude life modelling in seven weeks – including several weeks away travelling around the Balkans – was back with old favourites, The Moon and Nude. It’s exactly nine years (18 October 2017) since I first modelled for them at The Victoria Stakes, and over twelve years since my debut for them at The Old Dairy.
Regular host Julia couldn’t be here this evening but her stand-in, Alex maintained her high standards. The classic format of pose times was unchanged, as was attention to the model’s possible needs. The start time was new (6:45pm instead of 7pm), but the biggest change was within my own body.
The day before this session I had an NHS ultrasound scan on my left shoulder. I was told the pain and mobility-loss, which began earlier this year and has since escalated sharply, is caused by “inflamed and thickened” tendons. Preliminary assessment: I’m likely to need a steroid injection and physiotherapy. So…
It’s good that I know the cause and (hopefully) a solution but it’s not a quick-fix. In the meantime, I have to re-learn my job as a model. As a rough estimate, sixty percent of what I had considered reliable ‘bread and butter’ poses that I could create at any time are (for the time being, at least) no longer possible. I have to protect the injury.
But this life drawing session in Muswell Hill wasn’t all about damage-limitation. It was still an evening of presence and positivity. It was great to see so many regular artists, even better that we had the biggest overall attendance I’ve seen here post-pandemic and, best of all, to have inspired such superb art whilst adapting to my new reality.
Pose minutes, 6:45pm-8:45pm
Part 1 : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20.
— break —
Part 2 : 20, 20.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
This was the first of two modelling sessions in three weeks for LeNu Life Drawing at Fairkytes Arts Centre in Hornchurch. The group books two models for Wednesday evening life drawing: one for ‘quick’ poses nude (or sometimes in underwear) and the other for a single long pose (nude or clothed).
For this first session I was in the long-pose room. Artists had been asked beforehand whether they would prefer nude or bright colourful clothing, and they chose the latter. So I rocked-up in my brightest most-colourfulest clothes and settled down for a single long seated pose, with one break for tea and biscuits.
As matters took their course, however, just four artists joined me… and three of those drew only my face. Thus, my sartorial efforts were rendered largely irrelevant. Still, its nice to brighten-up a room, and maybe the warm tones of my ad-hoc outfit influenced the artists’ colouration of my features. 🙂 A good time was had by all.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Part 1 : 45.
— break —
Part 2 : 55 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
This post should be all about the joy of another life modelling session at Framestore, or the pleasant surprise of finding the Cosy Life Drawing London group has literally doubled in size. Nothing satisfies me more than two-to-three hours of dynamic poses for nice talented people who together are going from strength to strength.
Alas, whilst all was superb with the people, the process, the environment and the art, there was trouble within me. I’ve had discomfort brewing around my left shoulder and upper arm for several months but this was the first session where I have found poses or gestures – previously considered routine – are becoming nastily painful.
As of now I have no problem raising the arm to, say, Nazi-salute level (which is never going to happen, obviously) but to raise it to full vertical or angle it behind my back or even simply put my hand on my head or fold my arms can be anything from dull achy to excruciatingly painful, both in the moment and for some time afterwards.
I’d originally hoped it was simply a strain that would naturally heal within a few weeks but if anything it seems to be getting worse. I’m currently out of the UK but when I get back I shall have to seek an audience with my GP, hopefully to discover the nature of the problem and, even more hopefully, to get it fixed (if that’s even possible).
I’m not optimistic, however. There is a bound to be a cumulative cost when years of a severely sedentary lifestyle and poor body maintenance are punctuated by weird and wonderful poses sustained for sometimes ludicrous luck-pushing durations. So I shall get my shoulder checked out… and in the meantime try to modify my modelling.
Pose minutes, 6:30pm-9pm
Part 1 : 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 10, 10, 2.
— break —
Part 2 : 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 15, 15, 15.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
The act of sitting for portraits – that is, the very act itself – with Hesketh Hubbard Art Society at Mall Galleries is almost always the same. Upright, passive, hands resting at lap level, forward-facing, steady gaze, sustainably expressionless. Sixty minutes, a break of fifteen, another sixty minutes, done.
Last time here I dared to meddle with the format by positioning hands in prayer, but I don’t like to push my luck too far so I reverted to normal service. Variety this time was in the faces of those semi-encircling me. It being mid-August, peak vacation period, a few regulars were absent and one or two newcomers were filling gaps.
For me and, so far as could divine, the artists too, this evening went swimmingly well. Strong vibrant works were in abundance; I avoided the sitters’ curse of drowsiness; it was good to catch up with people I hadn’t seen in months, and better yet to see them in all smiling mood. So, yeah, my appreciation of portrait work very much continues.
Pose minutes, 6pm-8:15pm
Part 1 : 60.
— break —
Part 2 : 60 continuation.
Photographs
In progress and at the half-time interval.
Artwork by Jessica Lam.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Oscar Jin.
Artwork by Zoe C.
Artwork by Yulia Sukhanova.
Artwork by Jessica Lam.
Artwork by Desmond Sloane.
Artwork by Pauline Cushnie.
Artworks by geo.
In July and August, when education establishments take a long break between terms and even several informal art groups call time-out for a few weeks, London Drawing steps into the void with its Summer Schools.
I’d been booked for a ‘One Day Portraits’ summer school at Waterloo Action Centre with artist Kim Scouller. The course had sold-out (showing not everyone disappears at summertime), with sixteen people signed-up to sharpen their skills.
It was a two-day course and I was one of two models (Santosh, the other) posing for the second day. We sat back-to-back with a colourful fabric-draped partition between us and each with eight artists standing at easels arranged in an arc before us.
There’s not much to say about the actual business of modelling for classes like these as it’s just sitting… sitting… zero movement… only sitting… fending off drowsiness… sitting… sitting… breaks every 20 minutes… hour for lunch… sitting… sitting…
There was a 10-minute warm-up then a demo of charcoal sketching by Kim, followed by 20 minutes’ practice time with charcoals for the artists. Next, a demo by Kim using oil paints, which led into the meat of the course: artists oil-painting small portraits.
The nuggets of joy for us models come largely from sharing this creative process; the highs and lows; magic and redemption; satisfaction and achievement. It’s the people, of course. Characters. Nice people. It was a privilege to be their focus.
Pose minutes, 10am-4:30pm
Part 1 : 10, 20, 40.
— break —
Part 2 : 125 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by anna croucher.
Artwork by anna croucher.
Artwork by anna croucher.
Artwork by Hester Lee.
Artwork by Grace Kinsey.
Photos
My final job before a planned four-week hiatus to go long-distance travelling was with Clapton Drawing at The Clapton Hart. This meant being back under stewardship of Catherine Hall, erstwhile of Drawing the Star where I’d posed two weeks earlier.
This evening was a more low-key affair than a fortnight ago at The Star. I would have said “quieter“, but for a rowdy incoherent intervention during our break by a local lady with mental health difficulties – a regrettable but rare incident. I hope she finds help.
Aside from our drawing and modelling, Catherine and I used this evening to conclude some private business. As well as being a great group organiser, a fantastic tutor and good friend, Catherine is a brilliant artist. So I’ve bought another of her paintings.
She’s set herself the ambitious target of painting a billion (you heard correct) skies on 20cm x 20cm canvases. I already owned ‘Study, My Sky 0,000,000,017‘, from 2020; I now own ‘Study, Your Sky 0,000,000,051‘ from this year’s summer solstice.
The thing with it being such a new painting is that whilst I paid for it at The Star, I was not able to collect it that evening because the oil paint hadn’t dried sufficiently. This is art reality! But allowing two more weeks, it was safe for me to collect in Clapton.
Numbers 17 and 51 now hang side-by-side on the wall of my staircase at home. I am quite enjoying collecting art at the moment. Not in any disciplined or investment style, but as the whim takes me. Within what I can afford, I simply follow my heart.
This summer I made three separate bids in the ‘secret auction’ of Leigh Art Trail and was delighted to succeed in acquiring two of the three pieces. I’d obtained two pieces in previous years via the same route. Mantra: support the living arts!
It seems with my modelling I am inspiring art, and what I earn from it now contributes to me buying art. Both ends of the equation bring me joy. Check out ‘Study, Your Sky 0,000,000,051‘ below, and many more skies on Instagram @catherinehallart.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9pm
Part 1 : 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 10, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 10, 10, 10.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Sean Gilligan Studio.
Artwork by Sean Gilligan Studio.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Joseph O’Connor.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Sean Gilligan Studio.
Artwork by Ayla.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Sean Gilligan Studio.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Ayla.
Artwork by Sean Gilligan Studio.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Ayla.
Artwork by Joseph O’Connor.
‘Study, Your Sky 0,000,000,051’
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Photo by Catherine Hall.
Back with Walthamstow Lifedrawing for a second time at their colourful new venue, Walthamstow Toy Library. Usual pose times (a sequence I like) and in the round as usual too. Reliability allows me loosely to plan more than a couple of poses ahead.
Nonetheless I still managed to fall into a familiar trap. I forgot to take into account the weakening effects of a pose on a particular limb, and to follow it with a compensatory pose rather one that would double-down on the debilitation.
In this instance I followed a pose that numbed my left arm with another pose with the same outcome, but compounded by insufficient recovery time between them. Details, details, details. That aside, it was another lovely evening with lovely people!
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:15pm
Part 1 : 5, 5, 5, 5, 10, 15, 20.
— break —
Part 2 : 30.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Harriet Armstrong.
Artwork by Harriet Armstrong.
Artwork by Leah.
Artwork by Harriet Armstrong.
Artwork by Leah.
