It was early afternoon on the hottest day of the UK’s late-May heatwave yet transport networks were already failing. Most London underground lines were showing ‘Severe Delays’. With nothing better to do, I decided to leave early for The Winchester.
In the ten minutes it took to walk from my home to my nearest rail station all mainline train services ceased, with line failures at both ends of the track. Nothing got through after 2:30pm for more than a whole frustrating hour.
When a train finally arrived some time after half-three, it had four carriages instead of the usual eight, no air conditioning and every station was busy. The journey was slow and stifling; a stop-start crawl all the way to my London Overground connection.
Relieved to have made it thus far at least, I then find all trains on the Overground line are suspended due to a broken-down freight train. When trains did eventually start to trickle through, the first was missed as passengers were sent to the wrong platform.
After a grimly Dantesque journey of three hours fifty minutes instead of the usual one hour twenty, I arrived – on time – for Living Art Life Drawing. It was no surprise that fewer artists than usual had also managed to defy the odds and join us.
Perhaps because I’d anticipated problems and allowed so much extra time, I actually felt quite relaxed and relatively fresh for modelling. This is such an outstanding group to work for in every possible regard that I would hate to give less than my best.
As per my previous visit in January, everything was organised perfectly: there was a fan for the pose space, I was offered water, sheets and cushions were present, there were constant updates on pose times, and I wasn’t rushed between poses.
I find the progress calls on pose times (“5 minutes left”, “1 minute left”…) so important and so helpful, it surprises me that not all groups do it. In addition this group also has the most brilliant playlists with which I can either measure time or simply lose myself.
Artworks around the room were superb. If the artists were hot and bothered, it did not reflect in their creativity. I was sad for organisers Françoise and Alex that there were not more people drawing, but for me, arduous journey notwithstanding, it was a joy.
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 10, 10, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 20, 15, 10.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Alex.
Artwork by Alex.
Artwork by art.chiepavlo.
Artwork by Françoise.
Artwork by art.chiepavlo.
Artwork by Françoise.
Artwork by Alex.
Artwork by Françoise.
Artwork by art.chiepavlo.
Artwork by Alex.
Artwork by Alex.
Artwork by art.chiepavlo.
Artwork by Alex.
Artwork by Françoise.
The RMT union strike by tube train drivers set for 20 May was called off a day or two before, but by then I had bought train tickets for an alternative route to Bethnal Green allowing plenty of extra time. Thus, I entered the Garrett Centre crazily early.
The space for life drawing had already been set-up by regular artist George Mitchell, who kindly offers his help before anyone else arrives. There always seems to be a lot of goodwill for Adrian Dutton’s groups and for Adrian himself, who is beyond nice.
I felt strangely moved to see the space at its quietest. It was like waking before dawn to catch the sun’s first light; stillness and serenity ahead of the day’s work. I’ve posed here for hundreds of artists over the past 13 years, but never stood alone.
Soon enough I had artists on all sides of me. These included a few familiar faces and others that were new both to me and the group; a healthy mix. So I posed, they drew, Adrian made food for everybody, and together we made a community… and art.
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 5, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 10, 30.
— break —
Part 2 : 5, 15, 20.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Little did I suspect when I posed for Walthamstow Lifedrawing at Harmony Hall just two months ago it would be my last time there. Alas, this much-loved space has gone the way of so many community venues; fallen victim to spiralling rent and now closed forever, or so it seems. But Walthamstow Lifedrawing goes on.
The group has relocated to Walthamstow Toy Library, no more than a three-minute walk away. They still meet on Monday evenings, 7:30pm to 9:15pm, the same format and the same friendly charm. A community is more than its bricks and mortar; people were making art for millennia before being forced to make rent. Art will endure.
Thus, in our new playful setting I entered the round, removed my dressing gown, and held various poses ranging from 5 minutes to a half-hour. Disappointingly, there were no toys I could use as props… only a single lonely balloon, half-deflated, the remnant of some bygone party… relatable, really. So I made a few short shapes with that.
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.
Back with Cosy Life Drawing London in the movie-making magicians’ technological dungeon at Framestore. My poses are strictly analogue, however, and so are the life drawings… apart from one artist using a tablet… oh, and a robot calls the pose times.
Last time here I declined to use props but said I would return to them at this session. So, for the 5-minute and 10-minute poses of our first half, I brandished a sword and a combat pole, hopefully in ways that were original. I’ve brandished them before.
At half-time I revisited the props bin to select some new items, but all I could find was more (fake) weapons: automatic rifles, bows (no arrows), more swords and poles. An umbrella was also present, though I wouldn’t be surprised if that was poison-tipped.
Posturing with weapons isn’t really my style, and I’d posed with their umbrella on one of my previous visits, so I cast about for any non-lethal alternatives. Answers were at hand! The glass from which I’d been drinking, and a towel provided for seat padding.
Duly, five 2-minute poses with the glass were followed by three 15-minute poses with the towel, taking us to the session’s end. It’s curious how different props can create a whole new dynamic for poses. Maybe I need to experiment more often.
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.
At Hesketh Hubbard Art Society evenings in Mall Galleries, artists work from three models: one for ‘quick’ poses of 15 or 30 minutes (nude), one for a 2-hour ‘long’ pose (nude), and one for a 2-hour seated portrait pose (clothed). In any given year models on the society’s roster will tend to be booked once on each of these three platforms.
This evening it was my turn to be back on long-pose duty. In truth, I don’t think any of us especially relish the long pose. It’s an endurance exercise. I’m one of perhaps just four or five who occasionally volunteer to stand in pose. When I stood last August, it was horrendous. I already felt ill upon arrival. Even so, I was minded to try again.
It might seem odd but maybe because I did feel so out-of-sorts back then I was more motivated to banish that old ghost and get everything right this time. Duly I gave very careful consideration to all aspects: angles of feet, angles of legs, weight distribution, balance, positions of arms, flex of elbows, elevation of chin, direction of gaze…
Crucially, I brought with me a yoga mat of the type that folds rather than rolls. Folding this to triple thickness I made the perfect base for my feet; soft yet stable. And having done so, all that remained was the endurance part: an hour standing with only a brief shake of the arms to restore circulation, then a break, then an hour with two shakes.
Standing motionless with an arm slightly raised for almost the whole of two hours can never be entirely pain-free, but my attention to detail paid-off. This was infinitely more bearable than my last experience. I’ll file this one mentally (in every sense) as a good evening’s work. Ghost banished. An exorcism with lovely people.
Pose minutes, 6pm-8:15pm
Part 1 : 60.
— break —
Part 2 : 60 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Simon Taylor.
Artwork by John Williams.
Work in-progress at the half-time interval – artist not known.
Artwork by Henry Gilbert.
Artwork by Amanda Coleman ROI.
This was the fifth of my five bookings for Kindred Studios Artists made way back in January. Over the duration of these sessions, Kindred Studios has become a happy place for me, where I have met many talented and charming artists. All that remained for now, though, was to relish one last encounter with them… silent and static.
I was asked to incorporate a couple of specific yoga-inspired poses this evening, so I obliged with the positions requested, plus a couple more besides. Prior to 2026 I was attending yoga classes almost every week. Now, however, I’m managing only once a month. In part, this is due to my ageing frame losing ever more flexibility.
An aspect I have always found difficult is my body being entirely incapable of making an ‘L’ shape. That’s a showstopper for many yoga basics, such as: folding at the hips with a flat back, or sitting upright with legs out straight, or laying with legs up, or even ‘downward-facing dog’. But I’m fine with legs-crossed or ‘warrior’ or ‘swan’, etc.
As with all poses, it’s about having awareness of your body and a willingness to push it near to its limits but never beyond. Make allowances too for the cumulative effect of multiple poses. I think I got the balance of this session right. Now I have one last visit planned: Kindred Open Studios, 27-28 June 2026, 11am to 6pm… off duty!
Pose minutes, 6pm-8pm
Part 1 : 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 10, 10, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 10, 10, 15, 15.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Graham Dexter.
Artwork by Graham Dexter.
Artwork by Graham Dexter.
Artwork by Graham Dexter.
It had been over six months since I last modelled at one of Adrian Dutton’s groups, and over eighteen since my only previous session at The Bath House. Hence, I was extra motivated to give maximum effort this evening.
As per the evening before, my enthusiasm was translated to mainly standing poses. On that occasion I sat for 33 minutes and stood for 67 minutes. Here, I had one pose kneeling for 1 minute, sat for a total of 15 minutes and stood for a total of 73 minutes.
It’s important to note the difference in impact of standing for many short poses versus standing in a single pose of equivalent length. We take care to ensure long poses are comfortable and balanced, whereas with short poses we push ourselves more.
Pushing ourselves through multiple short standing poses, with all the expected twists and imbalances, forces our muscles to work harder and distributes our weight across the pressure points of our feet unevenly for unusually long (cumulative) periods.
Often it’s only afterwards that any damaging effects are noticed. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time modelling at this session. The energy in the room was good, no-one was making demands, it was just me pushing myself. Adrenaline, I guess.
The result? Well, I had arrived with persistent pain in my right heel and I left with new similar pains in the ball of my right foot, which stayed with me for over a week. I have to be more careful. I need to be more mindful of consequences. I must do better.
There’s a message in this for young models too. When your body is lithe, healthy and supple, the cumulative effect of your pose choices is likely to be far from your mind. It will catch up with you eventually, though. How could it not? So please be careful.
You may stay just within your limits for each individual pose but trouble starts to brew when you push those limits for pose after pose after pose. Don’t pile disproportionate weight onto the same pressure points again and again. Take time. Think. Take care.
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 5, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 5, 10, 20.
— break —
Part 2 : 5, 20, 18
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Alex Potts.
Artwork by Alex Potts.
Artwork by Alex Potts.
Artwork by Alex Potts.
Artwork by Alex Potts.
Artwork by Graham Clapham.
Artwork by Adrian Dutton.
Artwork by Alex Potts.
Artwork by Sylvietta sketches – see Instagram reel.
steve ritter 