The Conservatoire, Blackheath, 19 June 2023

At The Conservatoire with tutor Victoria Rance, easels had been set out in a circle for an anticipated full class. Come 7:30pm, most had an artist standing behind them. The left-overs were claimed during my warm-up poses: 1, 1, 1, 5 and 10 minutes.

I felt fresh and was open to any (reasonable) suggestion for the single long pose that would occupy the rest of the evening. Victoria suggested a seated pose, symmetrical and straight-legged. With compromises on symmetry and straightness, I got close.

My back was cushioned, my knees were slightly bent to keep the pose stable and my arms were asymmetrical for the sake of my shoulders. The one area I overlooked: I’d neglected the backwards tilt of my head and consequently had 2 hours of neck ache.

Notwithstanding a pain in the neck, I was fine with just a couple of breaks. Only upon seeing the excellent final works did I realise what I’d unwittingly inspired: 14 drawings of me giving a blood sample at hospital, just as I’d done a few days before. How odd!