East Croydon United Reform Church, 11 October 2025

Croydon Life Drawing Group sessions begin at 9:30am on Saturdays. Back when I worked full-time, Monday to Friday from 8am, I didn’t especially relish the prospect of setting an early alarm at the weekend as well. Now I am retired, however, it’s actually quite pleasant to be out earlier from time to time… even in Croydon town centre.

I wasn’t the only one up early. We had a full-house of artists, all seats taken, which is great to see. The room was nicely warmed and I felt on pretty good form so I pushed my shorter poses so that, for example, a pose I would usually hold for 3 minutes was instead held for 5; a typical 5 was stretched to 10, and so on.

After such exertions the reward is a ginger biscuit, a mug of tea and the chance to sit for the remaining hour and a half. I sat upright rather than slouching, arranged angles in a way I hoped might be optimal for the full horseshoe of observers around me, and then simply allowed the minutes to tick by. Just one token stretch.

As always, it’s fascinating to meet and speak with artists; some familiar, some new to me. Shout out to Felix Gabriel who, in addition to figurative art, makes extraordinarily exquisite glass engravings. Check out his Instagram @felixgabriel76 – a perfect gift idea for Croydon Christmas shoppers?

Pose minutes, 9:30am-12:30pm

Part 1 : 5, 5, 10, 10, 15, 15.
— break —
Part 2 : 93 with a 1-minute break on 48 minutes.

Artworks

With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.