If you have an interest in art and want to  learn more, life drawing is a classic way to acquire the technical skills needed. If you’re not shy about nudity, then drawing the naked form is an interesting way to create your first works of art. We sent our reviewer Ellie Porter along to a Life Drawing and Painting Workshop at The Institute to learn more about capturing the human form on paper…

Course: Life Drawing and Painting Workshop
Venue: The Institute Arts Centre
When Is It? Thursdays, 7.00-9.30pm
What You Need: Materials provided, or bring pencils and paint. The model will be naked – so leave your blushes at the door!

‘I’ve been meaning to sign up to a life-drawing class for years, so when the chance to try one out came up I jumped at it. I did art at GSCE and A-Level but, as those were quite a long time ago, I’m pretty rusty. So it was with a sense of trepidation that I entered the doors of The Institute, East Finchley… What if I’d forgotten how to draw?

Granted, this is definitely not a class for total beginners; as the course outline says, some previous experience is required. Running over three terms, the course takes place on Thursdays from 7.00-9.30pm and is aimed at improving observational skills, increasing confidence and expertise and developing understanding of line, anatomy, tone, proportion and composition. When I arrived, the teacher, David Waller, quickly ascertained my level of experience and then showed me where to find paper, pencils, charcoal and an easel or trestle – you can bring your own supplies, but there are plenty of different media available for students’ use.

Short poses
Once everyone had settled in, David introduced our model and explained how the class would proceed. A long red piece of cloth hung from the ceiling – and this was where our challenge lay. Our task was to draw or paint – up to the individual artist – the model in three 15-20 minute poses, and really observe how her form interacted with the red cloth. For the first pose, the model stood holding the cloth above her head with one end wrapped around her feet – and we were off. As everyone got going, David worked his way round the room, observing, advising, helping stricken artists and praising as he stopped at each easel.

I don’t mind telling you, it was hard! But after a while I got into it – and began to enjoy myself. After our 20 minutes were up, David asked us how we had found the task. Did we think it was difficult? What were the challenges? Two more short poses followed, before we stopped for a break.

David then got us to pick our favourite of the three pieces we’d done so far and – eek! – put them in the middle of the floor for all to see. It was interesting to see how everyone had used such different styles and media: some had used pencil, others charcoal and some paint. David led the class in a group critique of our work, which was nerve-wracking but also illuminating. One student pointed out that with the final pose, where the model was wrapped in the cloth, it was difficult not to draw based on what you assumed was under there rather than what you actually saw.

Time flies
To round things off, a longer session was set up. Our model lay on her side on a material-draped couch, with her arms above her head, and a spotlight was placed near her to create interesting light and shadows. The pose lasted 40 minutes, which sounds like a long time – but when you’re concentrating hard it seems as if mere seconds have passed when the teacher announces you have five minutes left!

I chose pencil for this drawing, having experimented with pastel and charcoal, and was pretty pleased with my work until I got to the face – where I managed to make the poor model look strangely demonic. Fortunately, I managed to rescue it with judicious use of the eraser and a few helpful pointers from David. Then, when our time was up, we had to walk around the room inspecting everyone else’s work. Pretty scary, but also fascinating.

So, if you have a basic art background and want to hone your life-drawing skills, I’d really recommend this workshop. David is a great teacher; no-nonsense but always ready with gently constructive criticism as well as praise, and the class critique sessions were informative and helpful. I came out of the class inspired to take up drawing again – and if you’re a bit rusty yourself, you may well do the same.


Meet the Tutor: David Waller
David graduated in 1986 with an Honours Degree in Sculpture. His work employs a variety of media and techniques, drawing on both fine art and free-form approaches to the subject. He enjoys constructing and acknowledges the influence of the man-made and the natural world. His work often combines and embraces human, natural, organic, abstract and mechanical influences. He currently works at his studio in Muswell Hill and teaches part-time at The Institute on its Sculpture (modelling and carving), Life Drawing and Improvers: Drawing and Painting courses.