The Birds, Leytonstone, 16 April 2025

21 Apr 2025

Back to The Birds in east London. In contrast with my long weekend journeys to and from Tunbridge Wells Life Drawing, this commute is just two short hops for me; still plenty of time for reading on the trains. I am currently enjoying ‘Dombey and Son‘ by Charles Dickens, so I need many journeys to get me through its 1,022 pages.

It’s always a joy to pose for Leytonstone Life Drawing; for the space, the music, the lighting, the pose lengths, the relaxed vibe, and especially for organiser Jennifer Wolf. Jenny has a natural warm-heartedness and infectious enthusiasm for art-making that in turn makes me conscious of wanting to do better myself. It’s a positive feeling.

Artists are at liberty to make art in any way they choose, but during the shorter poses Jenny likes to suggest a challenge or two. For example, this evening as I stood at the centre of a square of tables Jenny timed a 15-minute pose in three 5-minute intervals and suggested artists move round to a different side after each.

Some artists rise for the challenge whilst others stay put (most understandably those with easels or a spread of watercolour paints). It doesn’t matter, so long as everyone is content with their practice. I certainly was with mine. And afterwards, I managed to enjoy even more of ‘Dombey and Son’… courtesy of train delays all the way home.