“We’ve known @steveritterlife probably over a decade…” said @themoonandnude Instagram promo – one of the nicest ever written about me, actually – for this event. Indeed they have. In fact we’ve known each other for more then twelve years and it’s still a pleasure to return every time there’s a chance to model at one of their events.
The promo also noted I am “…never ever late…“, which felt like an open invitation for fate to select this occasion to throw all manner of obstacles in the way of my journey. Erring on the side of caution, I set out half an hour earlier than would otherwise have been necessary. And duly I maintained my good record, at a leisurely pace.
Setting to work with a nostalgic head and a warm heart, I progressed through a fairly spontaneous sequence of poses that felt suitable for slightly lop-sided oval of artists. The only premeditated posture was the 5-minute pose, for which I recreated my very first pose at my very first Moon and Nude session. All those years ago… 🙂
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20.
— break —
Part 2 : 20, 20.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
Artwork by mi_sketches_.
Artwork by Rosalind Freeborn.
Artwork by mi_sketches_.
Artwork by Alan Baines.
Artwork by mi_sketches_.
Artwork by mi_sketches_.
This was my second of three sittings for portraits with Ilford Art Society. For me, the requirement was exactly as per last week: that is, sit facing the artists for a full hour, then take a fifteen-minute break, before returning to sit for a further forty-five minutes through to the end.
The principal difference between this session and last was that artists were invited to focus on ‘line’ rather than ‘tone’. This related not only to defining edges, but also how the thickness and use of lines can convey depth. Some gave it a fair go whilst others were happy simply to draw nice colourful pictures in whatever way they preferred.
To vary the challenge for myself, I attempted to maintain a smile on my face (the best place for one, I reckon) throughout the entire hour and three-quarters. If you’ve never tried this yourself, let me tell you it’s much trickier than you might imagine. Hopefully I succeeded without it turning (gurning) into a grimace! I think it was appreciated. 🙂
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Part 1 : 60.
— break —
Part 2 : 45 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by David Fallows.
Artwork by Jolanta.
Life drawing sessions are offered from Monday to Friday by Adrian Dutton’s groups at various venues each week. I’ve worked with Adrian for years and had modelled for all his current groups within the past year, some more than others, with the exception of his Friday long-pose group at the Garrett Centre in Bethnal Green.
Not only had I not posed for the Friday group in the past year, you’d have to go as far back as 22 July 2022 to find my last visit. And you’d have to go back even farther, all the way to 15 December 2016 for my last duo session at any of Adrian’s groups; due to an unplanned double-booking, however, that’s what this became.
It was a ‘duo’ session only insofar as two models occupied the same pose space. No interaction. I told fellow model Sandra I was happy to stand so maybe she would like to sit, thereby making different levels and shapes within the overall tableau. This was agreed and after three 5-minute warm-ups that’s how we proceeded.
For some reason my left arm decided to go numb for the last half-hour of the first half yet was perfectly fine throughout the second half in the same pose. All was well apart from that. Nice to have a pretty full turnout of artists, including several familiar friendly faces. And it was nice, after a three-year wait, to have that Friday feeling again.
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 5, 5, 5, 55.
— break —
Part 2 : 30 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Leah.
Artwork by Ned.
Artwork by Tim Revell.
Artwork by Helen.
Artwork by Charles O.
I’ve modelled for artists in a range of places over the years – museums and galleries, colleges and studios, community halls and shopping malls, clubs and pubs, even in a cemetery – but this was my first time inside a supermarket. Yet why not, when Tesco Extra in Goodmayes offers a Community Space free of charge to local groups?
Finding a suitable venue ideally at no or low cost is for many art groups their greatest challenge. The Tesco Extra Community Space utilised by Ilford Art Society is roomy, with tables and chairs and facilities for making tea, and most importantly is separated from the main shopping area by a windowless wall with its own private door.
Arguably the only downside is its ceiling lights being very bright and too even; fine for enabling artists to see what they’re doing, not so good for creating definition, shadow, tone and contrast on the model. Mind you I’ve known this to be just as much an issue in prestigious art venues that come at a far higher price than Tesco.
Unperturbed, when I sat for this, the first of three tutored portrait sessions with the art society, they gamely decided to focus on tone for their drawings. Actually I was a little crestfallen; I’d worn my most dazzlingly colourful top, only to find everybody would be using charcoals! Ah well, next time. It was a lovely introduction to the group.
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Part 1 : 60.
— break —
Part 2 : 45 continuation.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
To follow my long-pose booking the evening before, there could hardly be more of a contrast than this session with Cosy Life Drawing at Framestore. Here it’s all about energy, variety, inspiration and character, with no pose lasting more than 15 minutes, and most taking considerably less.
Pose durations are predetermined from start to finish – even being programmed onto an app that calls out instructions in its quaint monotone voice: “1-minute pose, let me know when you are ready…” When I reply “Ready!“, I suspect it’s a human finger that actually starts the timer, rather than artificial intelligence. Fingers aren’t obsolete yet.
Knowing the full scheme of durations in advance allows me to plan whole sequences of connected poses instead of thinking perhaps only two or three moves ahead. With these I made liberal use of Framestore’s creative props: two poses with an arrowless bow, four with a long-handled padded mace, five with a foam scimitar… it’s great!
Best of all, I really enjoyed it. As a general rule I prefer sessions with lots of quick-fire changes that encourage imagination, but here I felt particularly happy and engaged. I could sense myself becoming more playful and inventive as we went on, only dialling back to more traditional poses for longer durations at the end. Lots of fun.
Pose minutes, 6:30pm-9pm
Part 1 : 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 10, 10, 2.
— break —
Part 2 : 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 15, 15, 15.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
This evening session at The Conservatoire in Blackheath started a week in which I had bookings every day from Monday to Friday – a phenomenon not seen since way back in February 2016. On the one hand, it’s just how they happen to fall, and on the other I usually prefer to space out jobs so my body has more time to recover.
The five bookings this week were highly varied with no repetitive strains on the same areas of the body, which meant spacing wasn’t needed. The Conservatoire has short warm-ups and one long pose; Tuesday would be only short poses, while Wednesday would be portrait, Thursday all-day portrait, and Friday back to shorts and a long.
When I was last here my long pose was an easy recline, so I was expecting to stand or sit this time. In fact, we opted for a bit of both as I perched high upon a tall wooden block for 95 minutes: from 8pm to 8:30pm, ten-minute break, from 8:40pm to 9:15pm, five-minute break, and finally from 9:20pm to 9:50pm.
Aches and pains were no greater than would be inevitable from any prolonged period of motionlessness on a surface not designed for first-class comfort. I departed feeling still in fairly fine fettle for the week ahead. My ageing body had cleared its first hurdle; just four more to go…
Pose minutes, 7:30pm-10pm
Part 1 : 1, 1, 1, 5, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 95.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Victoria Rance.
Artwork by Victoria Rance.
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.
steve ritter 