We hadn’t reckoned on being quite so out of practice. Last year, Esther and I had duo posed for life drawing groups on seventeen separate occasions. In the first six months of 2018 it had been just twice, the most recent being way back in February. It’s easy to forget the extra concentration needed to make a well-balanced sustainable pose for two people – especially when both are so eager to take position.
We resumed our double act at The Birds in Leytonstone – a new venue for both of us, but with a life drawing group led by an old friend, Jenny, who runs the Monday night group at The Plough and Harrow nearby. I took an immediate liking to The Birds as its upstairs room is ideal for art – warm, spacious and flooded with natural light. Plus, we got 25% off the price of all drinks! No wonder we began with a 5-minute dancing pose.
This starter was fine, if occasionally requiring some tension to steady our balance, but thereafter we got it very wrong. Only for ourselves, mind you; we remained solid for the artists but internalised a lot of discomfort. Esther stood for 10-minutes and I sat by her feet with my head tilted too far back, thereby earning an excruciatingly achy neck. For 25-minutes, we then sat in an embrace with only arms and back muscles for support.
After an interval for refreshments, we finished the session laying down with our bodies spooned together for an hour. It looked serene but by halfway we were into all sorts of numbness and pain. With hindsight each pose was more suited to the pose time that preceded it. But never mind! It was great to model as a couple again, to catch up with Jenny, to inspire the creation of such wonderful drawings and to socialise afterwards.
After a hiatus of more than six months it was my great pleasure to be back last week modelling for one of Adrian Dutton’s London Life Drawing groups. Resumption took place at the Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, near Farringdon, on a warm spring evening. The sun was still burning bright as I descended to the buildings’ basement.
Probably on account of sultry conditions outside and simultaneous World Cup football being shown in countless local bars, we had just six artists drawing. Nonetheless, my commitment was the same as if there were six hundred. At 7pm, I started the session with a 10-minute standing pose.
Next came four identical poses of 2½ minutes, rotating 90° each time, and these were followed by another four identical poses in rotation, this time 5-minutes each. A single 15-minute standing pose completed the first half. Finally I reclined for two poses, each of 15-minutes, then took a seat for 26-minutes to the end. And still the night was hot!
Life drawing sessions at The Dellow Centre continue to evolve. Formerly, a typical set of poses would range between 10 and 25 minutes; on this Saturday afternoon, our longest pose lasted 36 minutes whilst the shortest was a mere 7 seconds. Throw in a 5-minute movement pose for good measure and we now have a more dynamic group.
We started with a 15-minute standing pose, ostensibly allowing time for latecomers to settle in, although few if any arrived. Artist numbers were down a little since I was here last, but it was a gloriously sunny day. Next came the short poses: 5-minutes, 4, 3, 2, 1-minute, 45-seconds, 30, 15, 7-seconds. 17 and 16-minutes took us to a tea break.
Out of compassion I kept the very short poses quite simple. For a 5-minute movement pose, I slowly turned a full 360°, starting crouched, stretching high at 180°, and ending curled into a ball – I wish I’d been able to photograph one artist’s page full of arms and legs! To end, I just lay down for 36-minutes, having thoroughly enjoyed the new format.
I almost gave it a miss this year. Sad circumstances away from the ride had lessened my appetite for any activity that might appear frivolous, but ultimately with little else of much use I could do that day, I was persuaded to join in the World Naked Bike Ride for a tenth time…
World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)
WNBR is a worldwide campaign that demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists and protests against car culture. Its linked objectives are to:
- protest against the global dependency on oil
- curb car culture
- obtain real rights for cyclists
- demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets
- celebrate body freedom
As per last year, I had agreed to help out as a ride marshal, and I’d already been part of a clothed test ride the previous Saturday. Now having resolved to participate in what would be my ninth London Naked Bike Ride, I couldn’t be half-hearted about it – the body paints would be coming with me.
Trinity bare gardens
For a fifth consecutive year I would be amongst the riders leaving from Trinity Square Gardens. I arrived at 2pm, forty-five minutes before our scheduled start, and found the place already awash with cycling enthusiasts. Friends on the scene included Cy, who is increasingly active in organising the whole London ride, and Natansky, who always organises this Tower Hill start point.
Other familiar friendly faces included Paula, veteran of many naked bike rides, and my fellow marshals, Chas and Pawel. Mike was to be a clothed advance guard who would give warning of possible route obstructions, whilst Peter and Raid were busily creating spectacular body paint designs. Me? I kept it basic like last year: self-applied top half all gold, with bottom half a vivid pink.
2:08pm: ride regular Paula among the first to be decorated
2:18pm: on my knees in the foreground, preparing to paint – © Cy Wol
2:32pm: Lucy Muse interviews Natansky for London WNBR 2018 Lucy Musings #2
A combination of major roadworks at the junction of Trinity Square with Byward Street, plus what looked like our biggest ever group leaving from this start point, meant it was decided we should lead out from the north gate of the gardens; me and Pawel in front, and Cy coordinating. Gradually we edged out towards the Jehovah’s Witnesses at the end of the road. Chas held the rear, Natansky shuttled… and at 2:45pm we were off.
2:43pm at Trinity Square: me and Cy, all set to lead out the Tower Hill posse
2:48pm on Lower Thames Street: …away we go!
Southwark sojourn
Byward Street, Lower Thames Street, Upper Thames Street – we wanted to start slow and steady so our large group could keep together, yet two guys were intent on racing ahead. They didn’t know the plan so I had to shout at them constantly. A left at Queen Street Place, a pause at the end of Southwark Bridge, and still they raced on. I yelled, “Wait, you fuckwits!!“, but it made no difference. At least the rest were a great bunch.
2:55pm on Southwark Bridge: waiting for the tail to catch up
3:00pm on Sumner Street: with The Shard at our backs
3:03pm on Sumner Street: a pause in front of Tate Modern
We all took a right into Sumner Street but needless to say our breakaway pair missed the turn despite my continuing bellows. I think they got back with us, but frankly I was beyond caring. Our next wait for stragglers was on the junction with Southwark Street, near Tate Modern. Here, one of our naked cyclists suddenly began reeling with howls of despair – he’d just been spotted by his entire extended family on a day out. Eek!
3:07pm on Sumner Street: Natansky and Pawel steering us onto Southwark Street
3:14pm on Blackfriars Bridge: heading back north
Swerving the fascists, part 1
We turned right into Blackfriars Road and continued across Blackfriars Bridge to a left turn for Victoria Embankment. It takes ages to get everyone down off the bridge so we had a couple more long pauses in sunshine by the river. A gang of three or four young boys on bikes appeared and one informed us we were “disgusting“; though apparently not enough to deter him from following us for an hour.
3:30pm on Victoria Embankment: another pause while our tail snakes off the bridge
Usually at this point we go up Northumberland Avenue to Trafalgar Square, then back down Whitehall. Today, however, Whitehall was infested by a rabble of violent English neo-Nazi knuckleheads shouting for their ringleader to be let out of gaol. Our advance guard, Mike had gone ahead by tube and called to confirm it was a no-go area, so we continued on Victoria Embankment and met him at the corner of Westminster Bridge.
3:36pm on Victoria Embankment: at Westminster Bridge with Mike, bottom left
3:39pm on Westminster Bridge Road: leaving the fascists behind – © Richard
We wheeled freely over Westminster Bridge then went from Westminster Bridge Road into York Road and Forum Magnum Square. The earlier detour had cut short our route so we were the first group to arrive, at 3:40pm. Eventually others joined us and as our numbers swelled it was clear this must be the largest ever London Naked Bike Ride. I did my best to encourage riders forward so there would be space enough for everyone.
3:42pm at Forum Magnum Square: amongst the first on the scene, with Paula
The stop at Forum Magnum Square is a chance to park the bike and chat with people. One bystander said he wanted to do the ride but his partner didn’t like the idea of him naked in public. Did I have any advice? Well some ride clothed, some in underwear or a mask, some only go naked for part of the ride, but ultimately it’s about love, respect and trust. Good luck, Dion!
3:57pm at Forum Magnum Square: London WNBR grandees conflab
Thirteen hundred ride out
We were on the move again at 4:05pm, starting down Belvedere Road. One organiser with a clicker counted us as we left and reckoned we had 1,300 riders taking part – a new record. From Belvedere Road we inched up Concert Hall Approach, swung round to Waterloo Bridge and continued through Lancaster Place before heading east along Strand via the broad sweep of Aldwych.
4:09pm on Belvedere Road: moving out en masse
4:16pm on Concert Hall Approach: with the Royal Festival Hall behind us
4:20pm on Waterloo Bridge: a final farewell to south of the river
4:24pm on Aldwych: sweeping round the arc
4:26pm on Strand: by the Royal Courts of Justice
Strand became Fleet Street from where we soon veered left into Chancery Lane. I was now no longer a leader of the ride, preferring instead to drop back into the pack and let more experienced organisers take change for the remainder of our protest. A left on to Carey Street, followed by a right on to Searle Street led us to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The time was 4:30pm and I’d been on the road for an hour and three-quarters.
4:27pm on Fleet Street: a sharp left into Chancery Lane
From Fields to Garden
We paused at Lincoln’s Inn Fields till 5pm. It was a chance to use toilets, have a rest and find friends, both old and new. A Spanish couple approached and asked to have a photo taken with me as I was in the colours of their national flag (I guess the pink was red enough). Elsewhere I greeted Calu, whose Naked Movement events I’d joined on a couple of occasions. All around were familiar faces from bygone rides.
4:44pm on Newman’s Row: another 15 minutes and we’ll be off
When at last we’d completed a circuit of the square, a course was charted for Covent Garden. We went along Remnant Street, Great Queen Street, Long Acre, Bow Street, Wellington Street, Tavistock Street and Southampton Street where we hit our first and only set of cobble stones. These juddered us a brief way along Henrietta Street in the direction of Bedford Street but – a decisive moment – would we turn left or right?
5:03pm crossing Kingsway: from Remnant Street to Great Queen Street
5:07pm on Bow Street: one man’s personal protest
5:08pm on Tavistock Street: at the Kryolan store, source of my body paints
5:10pm on Southampton Street: Covent Garden straight ahead
Swerving the fascists, part 2
Our protest ride was putting smiles on faces wherever we went. By contrast, on-going neo-Nazi thuggery in Whitehall had caused injury to police officers and resulted in five arrests. It meant we would not be able to complete our intended route, round Trafalgar Square and along the Mall, so instead we invoked our Plan B that had been tested by organisers the weekend before – upon reaching Bedford Street we turned right.
5:12pm on Bedford Street: Calu in colours
5:13pm on Garrick Street: all the city’s a stage
This fresh detour took us through the heart of London’s West End “Theatreland”, and it was superb. As we went our merry way into Garrick Street, Cranbourn Street, Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue the crowds grew bigger and more boisterous. So much joy and support! It was as if for one afternoon we’d become the capital’s premier tourist attraction. We were loved and loving it.
5:15pm on Garrick Street: Arts Theatre ahead, where I’ve life modelled this year
5:17pm on Charing Cross Road: swinging left down Shaftesbury Avenue
5:20pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: the inevitable selfie
A different home straight
It took an eternity for us to advance along Shaftesbury Avenue – feet were on the floor more than they were on pedals. Up ahead, Piccadilly Circus was still busy with traffic from Regent Street, which meant our naked throng could only cross over to Piccadilly when the lights gave us right of way. It was slow progress in modest-sized groups but, with the finish line not too far away, I don’t think anyone was in a hurry.
5:24pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: congestion en route to Piccadilly Circus
5:31pm at Piccadilly Circus: vulnerability and solidarity amid crowds of onlookers
Piccadilly itself was a different proposition. With the Mall now denied to us, it became our new home straight – free-flowing and literally straight. No car culture to hamper us here; not on our side of the road anyway. We surged past the Royal Academy of Arts, The Ritz hotel, artists at the edge of Green Park, Bomber Command Memorial, all the while bearing down on Wellington Arch ahead.
5:34pm on Piccadilly: with the Royal Academy of Arts to our right…
5:35pm on Piccadilly: …and The Ritz hotel to our left
5:37pm on Piccadilly: almost there – © tony grimes
End of the line
Like last year we didn’t finish beneath the arch itself. Instead we turned left onto Duke of Wellington Place and went a short distance along Constitution Hill. After a final few moments of cycle congestion we entered Green Park to finish at a circle of trees. The time was 5:45pm – exactly three hours from when we left Trinity Square Gardens. For me, the London Naked Bike Ride of 2018 was over.
5:39pm at Duke of Wellington Place: queuing to finish – © A. P.
5:41pm on Constitution Hill: our bygone finish line, Wellington Arch, just behind me
5:44pm on Constitution Hill: following Chas to the Commonwealth Memorial Gates
5:50pm at Green Park: job done, time to get dressed – © planetnd
Whilst others were preparing for a naked ride back to their start point, or a clothed ride to the WNBR London Afterparty, all I wanted was to get home and shower. It had been an excellent ride made all the more exceptional by our detours, but I missed sharing it with my partner, Esther. Hopefully next year, though. 2018 may have been the biggest London Naked Bike Ride yet, but there’s still more peaceful protesting to be done.
More on WNBR London 2018
Bygone blogs
Previously on the London Naked Bike Ride:
- London Naked Bike Ride 2017 – New Bridges
- London Naked Bike Ride 2016 – A Silver Lining
- London Naked Bike Ride 2015 – Feel Good Painted
- London Naked Bike Ride 2014 – A Fresh Start
- London Naked Bike Ride 2013 – Arch to Arch
- London Naked Bike Ride 2012 – Into the Light
- London Naked Bike Ride 2011 – Re-wrapped
- London Naked Bike Ride 2009 – First Time
On a mellow late-spring evening at Mall Galleries, I was in the mood to chance a few aches and pains in the pursuit of better poses. I would only be required to provide four, each to be sustained for 30-minutes, so I wouldn’t get too carried away – just an extra arm reach here, a extra lean there, more of a head tilt perhaps…
I think slightly fewer Hesketh Hubbard Art Society artists were with me compared to the three female models on 15-minutes, long and portrait poses, but that never makes me envious, just more determined to do well for those who’ve opted to draw me. First I stood reaching out in a stride, then sat leaning forward with legs extended.
After a break I sat leaning back upon my wrists, then closed with a familiar favourite of one arm across my head and the other behind my back. The only previous time I tried holding the latter for 30-minutes my arm went numb after 25 and I was left balancing a dead weight. History repeated itself here, so now know my limit for that pose!
Life drawing@Telegraph Hill has relocated from the Telegraph Hill Centre to the nearby home of its organiser, Frances. This was an inspired decision as Frances has a perfectly suitable room and by cutting her expenses she has been able to halve the cost for artists. Everybody wins, except the Centre, though it always seems busy.
Unfortunately due to circumstances wholly unrelated to life modelling, I wasn’t able to enjoy the session as much as I otherwise would have. Frances noticed that I was out of sorts from the moment I arrived but was both discreet and considerate. We started at 7:30pm with poses of 5-minutes, 5, 10, 15 and 20-minutes up to half-time.
I’m not aware that my mental distraction had a detrimental impact on the quality of my poses, but certainly my mind was elsewhere throughout. After our break for teas, chat and cat-stroking, we closed with a single long-pose of 40 minutes. I thought I would be original by laying with my legs up on a seat, but apparently that’s the norm here!
Thus, we concluded and I had to make a speedy exit. It’s a shame because everyone was so friendly and it had been a lovely warm day… although I accepted the offer of a heater about 20 minutes from the end. It had been good to experience the group in its new setting; I hope one day I’ll be better able to appreciate it even more.
Good to see yet more new faces this month joining the merry group of artists at cave in Pimlico. As ever, head cave-dweller Karen cheerfully made each one feel welcome and dispensed art materials before calling the familiar pose times – five of 1-minute to get us warmed-up, then two of 5-minutes and two of 10-minutes.
For the first 10-minute pose I sat on a low stool and leaned back with my head on the floor. This inversion caused a certain number of vexed sighs but also resulted in some effective sketches. As a compassion to us all I kept the next poses simple. Red wine and scones with jam were dispensed during our interval – oh, I do like it here…
The session ended with two sitting poses of 20-25 minutes-ish. It hadn’t been hot day yet it was warm enough for the door to remain open all evening – perfect conditions to model. I can’t recall all the CDs that were part-played as background music but it was pleasing to hear a few tracks from The Stones Roses debut again. It’s been ages!
steve ritter 