In the dim lights of Studio 225, the only sounds to be heard are the quiet hiss of the ventilation system and the occasional rustle of paper. A single nude model poses in the middle of the room, warm lights highlighting the planes of his skin. Every so often, Anne Rogers ‘19 calls out a one-minute warning, signaling to participants that their time for the current pose is short. All in all, it’s a calm, unstructured environment that’s a nice reprieve from the business of stress and classes. The best part? You don’t even have to be in an art class.
“Something not a lot of people know is that you don’t have to be in a drawing class to come to figure drawing, and you also don’t have to be an art major,” said Rogers. “If you’re interested in drawing, you should show up and be a part of it. You don’t have to have drawn before. There isn’t really a lot of instruction in this context, so you can just mess around or get a friend to show you something.”
While the expectation is that you walk into the session to draw the model, students are by no means held to that. Losing interest in the model and doodling on the page, for example, would not be judged in the slightest. That being said, it is a good idea to use the sessions to their fullest. Figure drawing sessions in the real world often cost a significant amount.
“It’s a real privilege to have someone stand still for us so we can just draw them,” Rogers said.
Rogers added that, though she does get paid to facilitate the sessions, she would do it without compensation.
“I’m an artist, and I love drawing just as practice … I get to draw and I’m getting paid to do it, and I get to facilitate other people’s drawing.”
Students that find they really enjoy figure drawing may want to consider taking an art class.
“It’s pretty hard to get into art classes if you’re not an art major,” admits Sarah Phillips ‘19, a studio art major. “But if you show you’re interested, your chances are a lot better.” She’s currently enrolled in a figure drawing course at the College.
Coming to figure drawing sessions isn’t required for the course at this point in the semester, but Phillips shared that she enjoys coming in for practice.
“I just really enjoy drawing, and it’s nice to have an activity beyond reading. It offers an alternative to reading, but it’s still productive and activates a different part of your brain,” said Phillips.
Figure drawing sessions are from 7 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Enter the figure drawing studio through room 223 to get into room 225; just turn and go through the sink room on the right upon walking in. Paper and drawing materials are provided at the session, so all you have to do is bring yourself.
