East Croydon United Reform Church, 12 August 2023

Croydon Life Drawing Group has been one of two groups this year that repeatedly, very generously, offered me life model bookings but always for dates when I wouldn’t be free. After months of on-off persistence we finally found this midsummer Saturday. Upon arrival at East Croydon United Reform Church, further persistence was needed simply to get through the church hall security doors. An artist eventually retrieved the security PIN and we started at 9:30am with poses of 5, 5, 10, 10, 15 and 15 minutes.

My last booking here – early January 2022 – was midway through the second winter of COVID-19. Back then I was naked before an arc of artists, most of whom chose to wear a face mask throughout. This time we had just one mask-wearer, while all other protective coverings were of the kind taped over windows for modesty. Several of the windows were ajar for ventilation so at leisurely intervals their coverings took turns to flap down and hypothetically expose me further… in a corner without onlookers.

After a break for beverages and biscuits, we concluded with a single pose lasting one hour and 30 minutes. I sat myself comfortably, contriving angles and negative spaces with my limbs, and there remained motionless for the opening 50 minutes. I then took a few moments to stretch anything aching or numb before settling back down to finish the task. At the end, some artists here always let it be known they find my physique a challenge – I like to think this explains the organiser’s determination to book me!