The Art of Isolation, London, 19 October 2024

25 Oct 2024

Six months on from my last time life modelling at The Art of Isolation, the long-pose slot has evolved. Whereas in April the session was comprised mostly of short poses with a 35-minute pose at the end, now ‘Long Pose Saturday’ starts with two 5-minute warm-ups before focusing entirely on a single 90-minute pose.

As the model, my main shift in preparation is from semi-spontaneously manifesting a diverse selection of interesting and sustainable poses appropriate for short durations of between 1 and 15 minutes, to instead imagining just one pose that has within it an equivalent store of latent energy and challenging perspectives for an hour and a half.

The question I usually ask myself is: do I take the easy option of settling down on the comfy armchair or do I treat the artists to what will probably be a rare standing pose? Happily on this occasion a compromise was available. By reversing the chair, I could perch upon its back and thus be almost upright whilst comfortably seated.

Every session at The Art of Isolation is enjoyable, and this one was no exception, but it was extra special for me as Esther was able to come and draw. It seems like years since either of us drew the other, and more than eight months since we last modelled together – though happily we now have two more duo bookings before 2024 ends. ❤

So it’s time I got active with art materials again and found somewhere to draw Esther. One of my retirement hopes is to discover whatever artist lies within me. It won’t be a great artist but I’m more interested in finding what feels like my own personal, natural style, free from external influences (insofar as that’s even possible).

Watch this space… but don’t hold your breath. 🙂

My next work with Esther will be video and sound-desk duties for her performance of ‘From the 7th Layer – a theatrical life drawing odyssey’ at Candid Arts on Saturday 16 November 2024. The show premiered in Berlin earlier this month so this is its first time in London. Join us to draw, or simply absorb the journey. See you there?