Let's face it, young men and naked ladies; sounds like hard work doesn't it.In fact after your very first five minutes, life drawing simply becomes a discipline. You draw; she sits. You're dreaming of Ursula Andress; she looks like Bernard Manning. You're trying to get your drawing to look half-bloody-decent; she's got an itch that simply won't go away.
Then some overpaid lecturer (who pretends to be an expert) comes along and criticises everything you've spent the last two hours doing. You rub it all out and begin again. She's moved. I've moved. Your pencil breaks. Your hands are covered in charcoal dust. You give up and go to the pub. And, hell's teeth, it starts all over again the following day.
Weeks, months, years, you sit in front of these sad penniless models, scratching away with your 2B. They hate it; you hate it. The paper mills of Scandinavia are put on overtime; the lead mines of North Wales take on extra choristers.
Why do we do it? Because it makes us LOOK! That overpaid twit can tell at once if you're just 'SEEING'. So we are forced to LOOK, LOOK, and LOOK again.
The two examples above (circa 1969) are just throw-away reminders of those wonderful days. I've long forgotten her name, but she was a good model. She probably should have been sitting for Mr Rubens; just look at those thighs, or was I dreaming!
Not that I have any intention of drawing, but by the sound of it, it is a crushing experience.
ReplyDeleteTime-consuming certainly.
DeleteI used to be such a model in the far distant past when I moved in such circles Cro - alas never paid for the 'priviledge', but I did used to find it extremely boring and somewhat chilly on occasions. The temperature was never just right and a two bar electric fire placed near just warmed one part.
ReplyDeleteI think all life models had a two bar electric heater shoved in front of them. It seems to have been traditional.
DeleteI attended life drawing and drawing classes all day every Saturday for three years in the early '90s. When I did my Fine Art degree we never had a life drawing class. My Saturday tutor taught at Central St Martins but Norwich School of Art would not employ him on the degree course on the grounds that he was too "traditional". He was only allowed to teach on a Saturday on a course not recognised by the art school.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds very odd. Life drawing is supposed to be disciplined and traditional. What you do with your skills afterwards is up to you.
DeleteI was set to play Sandie - the girl who poses nude in The Prime of Miss Jean Broadie. Then they saw me naked and cancelled the production.
ReplyDeleteThey probably wanted someone less attractive, who wouldn't take all the attention away from the play itself!
DeleteI'm not sure Picasso ever got the hang of it, or perhaps he just didn't look hard enough.
ReplyDeleteHe was in fact a very good draughtsman. If you look at his 1915 portrait of Ambroise Vollard, for example, you'll see what I mean. It was only in his later years that he seemed to get noses and eyes all in the wrong place.
DeleteYou're funny... and your drawings are good. you have a wonderful wit!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you madame. I do my best.
DeleteDid you ever have the opportunity to practice the art by drawing unclad members of your own gender?
ReplyDeleteU
Yes, but not so often. I think they must have been harder to find.
DeleteIt does not seem to be comfortable on either side, the one with the pencil or the one with the twitch. One is sweating and the other is freezing.
ReplyDeleteWe suffered equally.
DeleteI've never had any drawing talent (which is odd as both my parents and my brother had/have) so the situation you have outlined was never one I managed.
ReplyDeleteThe talents I lack are countless!
DeleteHello from Idaho and I wouldn't say I have any great talant for drawing..But I'm making my own tarot cards and just finish up anther one.
ReplyDeleteFound your blog though Andrew if you have time stop in for a cup of coffee
Hi Dora. I'll pop over.
DeleteThe models looked like Bernard Manning? Surely not. Who on earth would want to draw Bernard Manning?
ReplyDeleteAre you interested in joining the illuminati brotherhood and make your
ReplyDeletedreams come true this is your chance to make it happen. contact now
and enjoy Benefits of being
a new member. As a member you will get to enjoy many
things name them cars, money, fame, popularity,
houses, connections etc. - you will be given $30,000 every two weeks
as a membership blessings, inbox us now if interested email ...illuminatiworldwidenet@gmail.com...whatsapps contact ...+2349036812898 for more info