We had a full house of 12 artists at easels this week for Monday evening life drawing at The Conservatoire in Blackheath. As usual, we began with five dynamic warm-up poses ranging from 1 minute to 10 minutes.
Our remaining two hours would be occupied by one single long pose. For inspiration, tutor Victoria Rance scanned through the artworks I’ve shared on this blog, and was drawn to a seated pose from last month at Tottenham Art Classes.
The Tottenham version only had to be held for 10-15 minutes, so a few modifications were required to make it sustainable over a greater duration. We prepared the space and I held my shape for an initial 45 minutes before taking a 15-minute break.
Upon resuming we had great difficulty recreating the pose to everybody’s satisfaction based on their drawings up to that point. Note to self: when commencing a long pose with complex positioning, make sure a reference photo is taken at the outset!
To avoid a repeat of the same difficulties I decided to remain in position for the full 50 minutes to our finish. It wasn’t too challenging for the first 30 minutes of each half but thereafter it was all about managing fiery muscle pain down both sides of my back.
As reward for my perseverance, the session was brought to its end 5 minutes earlier than usual, which meant I was able to catch the earlier of my two possible Cinderella trains home – but still with time to appreciate the artists’ splendid creations.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-10pm
Part 1 : 1, 1, 1, 5, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 45, (15-minute rest), 50 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Second 1-minute pose.
Rise and shine for life modelling with Croydon Life Drawing Group from 9:30am on this cold Saturday morning. Mercifully, group organiser Francis Wardale had already switched on room heaters, situated high upon the walls of our pose space. Even so, I took the precaution of also switching on a portable fan heater, nearby on the floor.
The first hour was for short poses that ranged in length from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. Next, after a tea break we would have a single long pose of about an hour and a half. After half an hour, artists wearing jumpers and cardigans started complaining: “it’s so stuffy in here…”
The complaint was repeated at the interval, and they were right, it was stuffy, but also it was 10°C outside. I would have happily said some heaters could be turned off, but I thought it was a shame no-one voiced any consideration for their nude model. Before the restart, wall heaters were sacrificed; I was fine to go on with just the fan heater.
Tellingly, during the long-pose I noticed one artist put her jumper back on. My comfort was sufficient, however, not only to need no temperature tweaks, but also not even to need a brief stretch until 70 minutes had elapsed. Ultimately, I left on a happy high as the extraordinary portrait below was given to me as a gift. Now that’s heart-warming.
Pose minutes, 9:30am-12:30pm
Part 1 : 5, 5, 10, 10, 10, 15.
— break —
Part 2 : 93 with a 1-minute break on 70 minutes.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
When I was last at Fairkytes Arts Centre, in April 2023, it was to model as a couple with Esther. Subsequently, as LeNu Life Drawing has grown in size, so booking two models has become the norm; not posing together but rather one on short poses and the other in a separate smaller room on long-pose duty.
This evening I was providing the long pose. Given the choice of short or long, I doubt any model would favour the long option, but I was in a relaxed mood and happy to be returning here, so I merrily went along with whatever was requested. Not least of all I wanted to keep life simple for the group’s organiser, my good friend Natansky.
As always seems to be the way, previous long pose models had either sat or reclined so I was asked if I would mind standing. I’d seen it coming – it usually does – so gave my consent. I got into position at 7:30pm and remained there for 45-50 minutes. After tea and biscuits at breaktime, I resumed for a further 45-50 minutes to the end.
I’d stood naked with one arm raised. Six artists were with me at the outset: one left at half-time as she wanted to draw the short poses too; another threw his drawing in the bin as soon as he’d finished, saying he always does; a third was fixated on struggling with my feet (a size 7 and a 12, he reckoned); and the other three all made portraits.
Such can be the fickle inspirational dynamic between model and artists. Ironically the long-pose models who’d sat or reclined were painted full-figure, whereas I stood and got mainly portraits. The lesson: before starting, perhaps ask the artists not how they would like me to pose, but what they would like to create. Then maybe I can sit too!
Of the artwork photos below, the first three were taken during the half-time break and the last four were taken at the end of the session.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Part 1 : 45-50.
— break —
Part 2 : 45-50 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Helen Joyce.
Artwork by Suzanne Pye.
Having arrived well early for this Leytonstone Life Drawing session at The Birds, I was able to be a bit useful by helping with preparations. Organiser Jennifer Wolf has an eye for detail, especially when it comes to lighting a pose space.
This involves not only positioning a bright lamp high-up on a tripod in one corner, but also swapping lightbulbs in some of the many suspended ceiling fixtures. Being 6’4″, I’m a handy person to have around when it comes to lightbulb-changing.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have so many artists present this evening to benefit from our optimised illumination. It was one of those nights when several regulars were absent, for various reasons. Regrettable, but this is life. On another night it’ll be rammed.
Whilst the quantity of artists had dipped, the quality of artworks hadn’t. It’s a pleasure to pose for Jennifer herself, and especially Olga Szynkarczuk, who not only creates the most extraordinary works ambidextrously, but also videos her process.
For me it was a comfortable session with only a slight arm-numbness during the final standing pose. It’s just a pity there weren’t more people this time to appreciate it from start to end, and give Jennifer the return she deserved for her effort and enthusiasm.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Part 1 : 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 12, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 20, 25.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Olga Szynkarczuk.
Artwork by Olga Szynkarczuk.
Artwork by Jennifer Wolf.
Artwork by Olga Szynkarczuk.
Artwork by Jennifer Wolf.
Promo for this session
Instagram reels
It was the first day of the rest of my life. OK, so technically every day is, but this one was particularly special. At 5pm the day before, after more than 34 years of full-time employment, I walked away from my office job for the last time. Too many pressures both within work and outside of it… I’d simply reached the end of my tether.
I turned 55 in August and hope to be financially solvent for a few years. I travel a lot, always on a careful budget, but otherwise live a very low maintenance life. Whether this proves to be my retirement however, remains to be seen. What’s certain for the time being is I have just one job: life model. Words I never imagined myself saying.
How fitting it was then that my first life modelling job on the first day of the rest of my life was for Drawing the Star at The Star by Hackney Downs. I’ve been modelling here every year since April 2015 – for me, the longest such run at any venue. I truly love being here and always feel appreciated; the best foundation for a fresh start.
I’d worked with group organiser Catherine Hall only six days before at The Clapton Hart, venue for her new Clapton Drawing sessions. What chance I will model there every year for a decade too? Probably slim, as it’s hard to visualise myself still doing this till I’m 65, but then I’d have said the same of my current age 10 years earlier.
It’s a pivotal moment for me, maybe one of the biggest decisions I’ll ever make… yet weirdly it doesn’t even feel like a “decision” as I know I could not have gone on. This moment had to happen, whereas the future remains an open book, still to be written. I’m now looking only forwards. But it was wonderful to be here in the present.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9pm
Part 1 : 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 10, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 10, 10, 10.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Riyadh.
Artwork by Riyadh.
Artwork by Riyadh.
Artwork by Riyadh.
Artwork by Louise Cowley.
Artwork by Louise Cowley.
Artwork by MISHLA.
Artwork by MISHLA.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Mark Lindow.
Exciting times in north London! The ever-excellent Hackney-based Drawing the Star life drawing group on Tuesday evenings now has a Wednesday sibling in Clapton, at The Clapton Hart pub. The first Clapton Drawing session was on 4 September with multi-talented Stephanie Osztreicher modelling. I had the honour 3 weeks later.
As per Tuesdays, these sessions are led by exceptional artist, art tutor, facilitator and organiser, Catherine Hall. And like all the best experienced people, Catherine knows when you have a winning formula, you stick with. An abundant supply of art materials is available for artists, and reassuringly familiar pose times are called for models.
The focus is on quickfire dynamic poses: 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, three of 1 minute, three of 30 seconds, then two of 10 minutes taking us to our break, after which we end with three more poses of 10 minutes each. So far, so similar. The big difference, of course, is this setting.
The pose space lacks the intimacy of sessions at The Star by Hackney Downs, but what a luxurious abundance of room there is for artists! And tables too, for those who like a broad flat surface upon which to work. Arguably best of all: a large skylight that will undoubtedly come into its own during the summer months.
As is frequently the case for new life drawing venues, the first few weeks range from being insanely busy to unexpectedly quiet, then rammed again, then less so. In time numbers will stabilise, hopefully to the comfortable and sustainable level required for another creative success story. All the ingredients are right here.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by LenkaLenka’s Imaginarium.
Artwork by LenkaLenka’s Imaginarium.
Artwork by LenkaLenka’s Imaginarium.
Artwork by LenkaLenka’s Imaginarium.
Artwork by Carole-Anne.
Artwork by Carole-Anne.
Artwork by Mark Lindow.
Artwork by Mark Lindow.
WC Fields is said to have advised: “Never work with animals or children“. Happily for life models, the latter is an absolute non-starter. Occasionally, however, a four-legged figure saunters unselfconsciously into the pose space. At The Beehive it was the pub cat that couldn’t resist taking the floor with me for Tottenham Art Classes.
My first act of preparation was to delicately shoo my feline friend from its comfortable situation on a low bar stool that had been provided for me. Once all set, I started with poses of 5, 5, 10, 10, 10 and 15 minutes, up to our break. Every now and then, either peripheral vision, second sight or animal instinct told me the cat was joining in.
When we resumed after the interval, poses of 2, 2, 10, 10 and 16 minutes completed my work. At the end, a paranoid part of me expected to see drawing upon drawing of only the cat. Instead, I was delighted to find I’d been captured beautifully, without any distraction… and happy that at least one artist caught the little fur ball with me. 🙂
Artwork by Chris.
Artwork by Chris.
steve ritter 