West Hampstead Community Centre, London, 17 June 2025

West Hampstead Community Centre runs life drawing classes and portrait drawing classes. On this my first visit, I would be sitting (clothed) for portrait artists. As with all debut sessions, I allowed plenty of time to arrive. This is partly in case of unexpected transport delays, partly in case I have trouble finding the place, but mainly to give the tutor – Andrea Morreau – confidence I wouldn’t let her down.

Only a handful of artists joined us, fewer than expected, but then we are entering that time of year when all groups tend to see their numbers dip. The pose plan was a new one for me at a portrait class, but was eminently sensible: three 15-minute warm-ups, seated in a corner of the room, turning 45 degrees after each pose so every artist got a face-on view, a three-quarter view and a profile view; then finally a 1-hour pose.

By the second warm-up, artists were evidently hitting their stride as it was agreed we should lengthen to half an hour. After this isolated aberration, we reverted to our plan for the remainder of what was a serene session. Inexplicably, I managed a mere four hours’ sleep the night before and had been awake since 3:30am so I struggled not to nod off during the last two warm-ups. I stayed alert thereafter. A mug of tea helped!

Pose minutes, 2pm-4:30pm

Part 1 : 15, 30, 15.
— break —
Part 2 : 60.

Artworks

With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.

Venue: West Hampstead Community Centre, 17 Dornfell Street, London, NW6 1QN.

Artwork by Andrea Morreau.