Mall Galleries, London, 6 December 2024

11 Dec 2024

My fourth and final life drawing session of 2024 for Hesketh Hubbard Art Society at Mall Galleries was back on ‘quick’ pose duty (four 15-minute poses before the break and two of 30 minutes after) rather than ‘long’ (one pose for an hour either side of the break) or portrait (again, one pose, but clothed).

As ever here, I made a mental note of my six poses before arriving. Partly this was to make sure I wouldn’t repeat poses from my last two visits. Also, as this a multi-model venue with a regular influx of new young models, it gives me extra confidence that I’ll maintain a good standard. Of course, this need is pure self-inflicted psychologising.

After standing, sitting, standing and reclining in the first half, I sat down at the interval with a cup of tea and a pie (festive mince variety). Time flew as I chatted football with artist Graham Wood. We ranged from non-league Carshalton to bygone Wimbledon, to the Scottish contingent at Napoli. Quite rare subject matter in arty circles!

I stood and sat in the second half. Fifteen minutes into the 30-minute standing pose I knew I had a problem with my raised left arm. Vague tingles had started to become a cold heavy numbness. I couldn’t micro-manage it, so after five more minutes I had no option other than to apologise and try shaking it out for a few seconds.

Shaking provided only fleeting respite, so after another five minutes I was once again obliged to try exercising life into the troublesome limb. Tantalisingly close to the finish, when the physical dead weight was maybe equalled by the psychological burden, my sinister arm finally collapsed for good… just as “last 30 seconds” was called.

I kept my closing seated pose simple. Everybody seemed positive at the end, with no verbal criticism made of my malfunctioning appendage. Indeed I was asked why I put myself through such punishing poses when many models “just sit there”. The answer was as per the start of this blog: my compulsion to ‘maintain a good standard’.

I’m keenly aware of being an anomaly in the broad demographic of models who work here. I’m 55 years-old; male; ex-office worker; a bag of bones, bulges and blemishes; physically unusual, but rather unfit. I feel I have to work extra hard earn my bookings, otherwise there’s an endless supply of dancers and acrobats ready to take my place!