Arts Theatre, London, 27 July 2022

This return to Arts Theatre for City Academy came so soon after my previous visit that I found paintings of me in oil, still hanging up to dry. Those were clothed portraits whereas this would be session 3 of 5 in a Painting the Figure course. When I arrived, tutor Lawrence F Crane was busily preparing the ‘Pigeon Loft’ studio space.

Three artists joined us, all very capable mark-makers and highly receptive to the flow of theoretical and practical knowledge that Lawrence eagerly shared. We started with four 2-minute warm-up poses for sketches in charcoal. Then I got myself comfortable on a chair, angled sideways with one arm over its back; the evening’s long pose.

I sat for 45 minutes, had a break, then resumed for 35 minutes to the end. Aside from being absorbed by Lawrence’s enthusiasm, focus and clarity (not everyone has it all), most impressive was how quickly and effortlessly the artists captured my proportions, allowing them to focus primarily on exercises with oil colours. A fascinating session.