On Saturday I attended a zoom online life drawing session.
There are two different life drawing sessions I attend, (they are not classes). Both are based in Melbourne. One of the few things that lockdown has allowed me to attended these online.
Both life drawing sessions follow a traditional format and start with a few quick poses 2 minutes or 5 minutes, then a few 10 or 15 minutes, and then two longer poses 20 or up to 45 minutes. Logon into Zoom. You keep your video and mute your sound, At the end, you hold up to the screen camera and show your art if you want to and can share on social media – usually Instagram. When people hold their art up you can see LOTS of completely different styles, art materials, and sizes of paper (some are huge on easels) or a few on ipads. I sketch on A3 size paper.
However, they are run differently. I like them both.
The first is at The Art Room. They are usually on Saturdays, which is when I usually hold my own watercolour pencil sketching classes and so I have not been able to attend. I had attended a few at the studio before lockdown. In the online life drawing session, they provide wonderful high-quality photographs that were taken of the models before lockdown. Nude. male and female, all sizes, shapes, and ages. The photos are on the screen for the set amount of time.
The sketch below is with a new pencil. It is a multicoloured pencil from Daiso (a two dollar shop). It changes colour as you go. A few friends had talked about it and one posted me one. Fun.
So while I sketch, and my Audio is on mute I can play whatever music I want to listen to. Usually ABC Classic or Jazz.
Today it was a combination of close-up hands and feet and some full-length body poses. For me, it was one of those sessions, where everything just came together and worked on the page, This does not always happen. I always have fun, it is always challenging
Top Secret Life Drawing is run by another organisation via their Facebook page and I have never been to their live drawing session. During the lockdown, they are held on Thursday nights. I could never attend these in person at this time.
The models are live and also on zoom from their respective cities and countries. There is usually a theme- a director’s movie’s (Quentin Tarantino), a singer (Madonna), This month there is a theme of horror movies. am not attending any of those,, The model (or two) have props and sometimes clothed in something from the theme. So there is a bit of time spent as the model sets themselves up for their camera, getting body angles right for viewing and sketching,
Music is played that suits the theme. From 7.30-10.00. So I am all lively and awake at 10pm on a Thursday night and have to wind down and sleep soon as I have work the next day.
I am looking forward to going back in person, however, I am appreciating what I have now.