cave, London, 21 December 2017

“No hands!” was the plea as we readied to pose after the break. Therein lies the prime challenge for artists drawing duo life models: two models, two faces, four hands, eight limbs… and if the duo is me and Esther, there is going to be quite a bit of intertwining. So, as a kindness to the suffering artists at cave in Pimlico, when we resumed with a seated pose, we attempted to conceal our hands. Having two models was intended to be a Christmas treat, yet at times it may have felt more like a torment…

It was a merry little session as befitted our last life modelling, and the group’s last life drawing, of 2017. Group organiser, Karen had put lashing of gorgeous mulled wine on simmer, with a couple of full Irish cream liqueur bottles on the side and the ubiquitous plate of mince pies. Only occasional despairing sighs from artists struggling with their works was out of keeping with ambient festiveness, but for models it is a positive sign of their desire to do us justice.

Our poses were 5-minutes, 5, 5, 10, and 10-minutes before the interval, and then two poses of 25-minutes to the end. This evening’s CDs were Moloko (was it “Rameses” or “radishes”?) and Enigma. The heaters were on but generally the evening was mild compared to recent weeks so, despite a couple of achy poses, we were comfortable. Such has been our feeling at cave from the outset – it is a warm community that has always made us very welcome.

Thank you, Karen, Anjie, et al – see you in 2018!