The very first life drawings were found as part of prehistoric cave paintings. Today, life drawings are still constantly being produced by artists all around the world. Learning how to make sketches from life is rewarding, albeit challenging. Hence, there is no doubt that life drawing is an essential skill to any artist’s practice.
Here are some reasons why life drawing is practiced.
1.Challenges and improves your observational skills and draughtsmanship

Reproduction drawing (IV) (After the Leonardo cartoon), by Jenny Saville
Life drawing is a crucial skill to pick up in art practice. The human body is beautiful yet complex. When you are in a life drawing class, the model poses with various gestures and movements over several poses. This is during which you will have to observe and capture how the body appears when each movement and emotion is made. The more you look and observe, the more you see. Life drawing sessions are great for you to attempt to capture all the subtle details that build up the human form.
2. A great refresher for capturing proportions

Panthea 01 by Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum
Capturing the right proportions is one of the hardest skills to master. When you experience a life drawing session, there will be multiple poses within a session – you will have to work within a short period of time to capture the right form and proportions. Hence, life drawing sessions serve as great time for you to practice on capturing form and proportions at a fast and efficient manner.
3. Converse with the community of art enthusiasts

Studies for the Libyan Sibyl by Michelangelo Buonarroti
When you are at our life drawing class, you will be attending it with many other students and artists. You will have fun interacting and talking to fellow participants, observing their works and looking at the various styles of art. At the end of the day, you might be able to learn a thing or two from your fellow participants!
4. It is a unique experience every session!

Seated Figure of Mercury by Parmigianino
Whenever you join a life drawing session, the environment changes, the model may or may not be the same and the poses done would vary. As such, whenever you come for a life drawing session, you can look forward to a fresh experience.
5. The human form is beautiful!

Jamaal by Robert Zeller
Life drawing involves a model. When there is a life model in front of you, you will get to observe the beauty of the human form as you translate what you see on to your sketchpad. Hence, these life drawing sessions may perhaps be an introspective session for you and provides you the opportunity to relax and appreciate the human form.
6. Wonderful way of relaxation
Figure drawing by Kenyon Cox
Life drawing sessions are usually very tranquil. When you come for life drawing sessions, you can get a quiet time to yourself, your pencil and paper. A 2.5 hours of relaxing figure drawing and sketching might just be all you need to unwind and settle down for the night.
Come join us for our nude and portrait life drawing sessions once every month, on Thursday evenings.
Sign up for our life drawing sessions using these links:
Click here for more information on our nude life sessions!
We are running a promotion, a 4 sessions life drawing pass for $180nett (U.P. $240nett).
All art materials are provided and light refreshments of biscuits and tea will be served.
*Course fees are nett priced and includes the hiring of life models, guidance by a professional instructor and all art materials.
As our figure drawing sessions involves nudity, the Nude Life drawing sessions are restricted to participants aged 18 and above.
Email us at [email protected] or call us at 6733 2155 for any enquiries!
Ideas extracted from these websites:
Visual Arts Cork: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/figure-drawing.htm
Mark Mitchell: https://www.markmitchellpaintings.com/blog/the-importance-of-life-drawing-in-art/