Last night I attended a Figure Drawing group for the first time. I'd been wanting to draw from nude models for a while now (it's been about ten yrs since I've done so) but I thought my only option would be to take a course at the local community college. I didn't like that I idea because it ain't cheap and I also didn't want to feel beholden to a class schedule due to my odd working habits. It would suck to pay all that money and only attend half of the classes. Anyway, this group is perfect for me, they meet twice a week, it's six dollars a session, and they meet just a mile from my apartment. The group is sponsored by the St. Louis Artist's Guild and their building is this small mansion that's almost 200 years old set in a park. The third floor studio is the perfect environ for this kid of work.
I was surprised to see the group as full as it was. There were about 20 folks there and you can come and go as you please. I was afraid that it'd be, like, me and two old women in a room with a naked model--Im very glad it wasn't that intimate.
I didn't bring any newsprint or charcaol in case I did feel a need to make a hasty retreat. So, I just had my sketchbook and a bag of pens and pencils. None of the tools were ideal but it was fun, while doing my pen sketches, to try and deal with light and shadow using hatching. I'l probably try that again sometime but right now I'm real anxious to get back in there and push some charcoal around. If there's anyway I can scan those large images when done then I'll be sure to post them here.
I didn't bring any newsprint or charcaol in case I did feel a need to make a hasty retreat. So, I just had my sketchbook and a bag of pens and pencils. None of the tools were ideal but it was fun, while doing my pen sketches, to try and deal with light and shadow using hatching. I'l probably try that again sometime but right now I'm real anxious to get back in there and push some charcoal around. If there's anyway I can scan those large images when done then I'll be sure to post them here.
This session was also interesting because there were two models instead of just one. Apparently, it was the female models first time. I found that fascinating--how do you get to the age of 40 or so and decide that you would like to pose in the nude in front of a bunch of strangers? I couldn't help but let my mind wander during the session and think about what might be going on in her life, what path she was walking, that brought her there that night. I spent the whole of that session creating little stories for her. 
2 comments:
I can see it now. A 40 year old Brian Hurtt just dying to pose nude for some 20 year old female art students...
Some nice figure drawings there! I love how your style still bleeds through, even though you are drawing from life. It's so interesting to me that even though many artists are observing the same subject, their personal habits are still a force in their artwork.
Life drawing is something I don't do nearly enough. There are some open sessions near my apartment, but cost way too much. If only I lived near an art college or something...
I know what you mean about styles bleeding through. I had the same thought as I was looking at these images--even I could see my own comic "style" in the drawings.
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