Life drawing online, 21 January 2024

It had been so long since I’d last posed for life drawing online – February 2022 – that I struggled to recall the set-up for Zoom. However, my wait for another chance to work with London Drawing Group had been even longer – not since February 2020 – so there was no way I would let this one pass me by. I drafted a little pose plan.

Tutor Lucy McGeown had shared the pose times in advance and said I could decide on the poses as it wasn’t going to be a themed class. That done, I readied my studio. Heating on, chair in front of a radiator, yoga mat in front of the chair, a white sheet for contrast, phone on tripod, laptop on table, both devices connected to Zoom. Sorted!

Artwork by Steph.

Artwork by Steph.

Preparation of a pose plan is still a rare practice for me but, feeling a tad rusty on the technical requirements, I thought it best to have one less thing (or in fact 10 fewer) to think about. As it was, all went very well. A slightly late start meant the last pose was cut from 40 to 30 minutes but such adjustments are commonplace in life classes.

Artwork by Steph.

Lucy led the session smoothly throughout, staying in the sweet spot between offering only suggestions or observations (never instructions) and allowing silence to reign. At no time was I aware how many artists were online drawing me. To this day I still have no clue whether it was a handful or hundreds. Plenty, I suspect; the chat was busy.

Online sessions are an invaluable means of taking part for people – be they artists or models – who might otherwise have no access to life drawing. As a model working in London with its many opportunities, it’s perhaps complacent to say I prefer in-person bookings. I’m lucky they are there for me… and I’m glad to be there for those online.