The Star by Hackney Downs, 31 October 2023

It had been 4 years since I last modelled for a Halloween-themed event, and 7 years since I last posed on Halloween itself. This session at Drawing the Star wasn’t billed as a Halloween special, and anyway I had no time during the day to sort out props or body paint… but organiser Catherine Hall brought a skull, and a skull is all I need!

Artwork by Rae Birch Carter.

Artwork by Peter John Holmes.

To a life model, a skull can simultaneously be a prop, a focus, and an inspiration. Any pose undertaken with the skull could equally be presented without it, but the dynamic changes as the skull becomes a device for interaction. Suddenly, every pose is a duo pose. These began with timings of 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes and 2 minutes.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

Artwork by Catherine Hall.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

The quick poses came to a head with three of 1 minute and three of 30 seconds. In a very literal sense they came to a head, as each of these was with the skull too: either raising it aloft or pressing it underfoot, feigning to throw it or thrusting it to the ground, or simply standing akimbo with skull on hip.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

Before our break we slowed the dramatics with two poses of 10 minutes each. First, I stood up straight, left leg a pace forward, fingers interlinked below my backside. It’s a stance I’ve presented many times, but never before cradling a skull. I followed this on my aforementioned backside, sitting on the floor, skull held upon a raised knee.

Artwork by Rae Birch Carter.

Artwork by Irene Michaelides.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

We had a good circle of artists. As usual after the interval, before resuming Catherine invited a show of hands on preferred pose lengths for the final half-hour. Never was a popular vote concluded so speedily: the first voice said “two fifteens” and one-by-one each arm raised was an arm in agreement. No contrary view expressed.

Artwork by Mark Doherty.

Artwork by Catherine Hall.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

Artwork by Terence Williams.

Artwork by Joseph O’Connor.

For 15 minutes I stood stooped with my left foot on a low stool, left elbow on left knee and skull in left hand, while my right hand rested upon my lower back. To end, I stood straighter, put my left hand on my hip and, with a finger of right hand threaded behind the skull’s jaw, set the skull upon my right shoulder; cheek by jowl, if you will.

Artwork by Peter John Holmes.

Artwork by Catherine Hall.

Artwork by Alex McKenzie.

Artwork by Terence Williams.

Artwork by Joseph O’Connor.

Artwork by Rae Birch Carter.

Artwork by Mark Doherty.

When time was called, I shifted myself out the way as rapidly as possible so artworks could be set out upon the floor for admiration. Such a strong session, so many strong drawings! I’d felt invigorated from the outset by my co-model, the skull, and now it felt both gratifying and moving to see this outstanding response. Happy Halloween! 💀