Fairkytes Arts Centre, London, 9 October 2024

When I was last at Fairkytes Arts Centre, in April 2023, it was to model as a couple with Esther. Subsequently, as LeNu Life Drawing has grown in size, so booking two models has become the norm; not posing together but rather one on short poses and the other in a separate smaller room on long-pose duty.

This evening I was providing the long pose. Given the choice of short or long, I doubt any model would favour the long option, but I was in a relaxed mood and happy to be returning here, so I merrily went along with whatever was requested. Not least of all I wanted to keep life simple for the group’s organiser, my good friend Natansky.

As always seems to be the way, previous long pose models had either sat or reclined so I was asked if I would mind standing. I’d seen it coming – it usually does – so gave my consent. I got into position at 7:30pm and remained there for 45-50 minutes. After tea and biscuits at breaktime, I resumed for a further 45-50 minutes to the end.

I’d stood naked with one arm raised. Six artists were with me at the outset: one left at half-time as she wanted to draw the short poses too; another threw his drawing in the bin as soon as he’d finished, saying he always does; a third was fixated on struggling with my feet (a size 7 and a 12, he reckoned); and the other three all made portraits.

Such can be the fickle inspirational dynamic between model and artists. Ironically the long-pose models who’d sat or reclined were painted full-figure, whereas I stood and got mainly portraits. The lesson: before starting, perhaps ask the artists not how they would like me to pose, but what they would like to create. Then maybe I can sit too!

Of the artwork photos below, the first three were taken during the half-time break and the last four were taken at the end of the session.

Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:30pm

Part 1 : 45-50.
— break —
Part 2 : 45-50 continuation.

Artworks

With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.

Artwork by Helen Joyce.

Artwork by Suzanne Pye.