Life Drawing In A Lecture Room

Whenever I need something to do on Tuesday nights, I go to Art Society’s weekly life drawing classes and remember what an awful artist I am. But something keeps taking me back there. Maybe it’s the atmosphere — the serenity of drawing in a silent lecture room, or their playlist that I desperately need the name of. Or maybe it is because I like peeking at the sketches of the incredibly talented artists who sit in front of me. However, these life drawing classes are for everyone, regardless of artistic ability.

It is a little jarring to have the drawing classes in School VI of Sallies, but it is nothing like going to a lecture—there are actually signs directing you to the lecture room. Once you get up to the entrance, each artist is required to scan a QR code containing the terms and conditions for drawing the nude model. Afterwards, you can pay cash or card for entry: £5 for non-members and £3 for members of the society. This time, they were also selling Art Society pencils for £1 which I bought and which were perfect for sketching. Otherwise, all materials are free and you have a range of pencils, pens, paper, and cardboard to choose from.

The classes take place from 7-9pm every Tuesday, but to give people time to settle in, it started at quarter past. You do not have to stay the entire time, but you can only leave during the 8pm during the intermission out of respect for the model. Models start with one-minute poses, then work their way up to two, five, ten, and finally a fifteen-minute poses each hour. Despite being an impatient artist, the time does seem to go by quickly as I lose myself in the act of drawing and the amazing playlist. The music was tranquil and perfect for the atmosphere. Though I could not name a single song, I did recognise Bob Dylan which should give you an idea of the musical aesthetic. The rest of the room was dark and silent as the model posed on a couch with one fluorescent light illuminating her and another lightbulb adding shadow which admittedly did make it even harder for me to draw. 

After the event, the model sometimes likes to see and take pictures of the drawings, but the paper is yours to keep. You can see your improvement over the weeks — I know I have. You can also audition to be a model at the beginning of the semester, but it does seem to be a coveted role; I have not seen the same model twice in the few times I have gone. Other than these weekly events, there are special collaborations you can see on the Art Society’s Instagram, like a DJ collaboration with Szentek in a few weeks. The Society recommends that you buy tickets for these club events ahead of time on FIXR, as they tend to sell out quicker. Tickets for those go quicker, so the Society suggests buying them ahead of time on FIXR. They also occasionally have a live band whilst drawing in place of a playlist. Overall, these Art Society’s weekly life drawing classes are a challenging and relaxing option for your typical Tuesday night and worth checking out at least once.

Photo: Unsplash