I hinted at this in a post late last year. I tentatively mentioned to idea to my wife, who was surprisingly encouraging about it. I had intended to go last weekend, but after a Hellish week at work I just wanted to stay in bed on Saturday morning. This weekend, however, I gave myself a kick up the proverbial and went along.
So, for those who don’t know how these things work:
In my area the life drawing group meets in Lancaster’s Storey Institute, which is now a public building in the city centre, housing cafes , meeting rooms, studios and a lecture theatre. For those in the UK – one of these studios was seen being used as a practise space by Helen Skelton and partner in the recent series of ‘Strictly’
The group meets twice a week. Obviously because I work I can’t do Wednesday afternoons but there is no commitment in any case. The deal is that you can turn up for any session, pay £10 as a contribution towards room and model hire. If you don’t have your own easel or materials then some are available.
Seating is arranged in a circle around a podium where the model poses. At the appointed time the model strips naked and assume the first pose. In the case of this group there are:
4 x 5 minute ‘warm-up’ poses, then two 20 minute poses. Then there is a break for coffee and a biscuit (included in the price) before a final 40 minute pose.
Our model was a man called Neil, who was around my age.
So, how was it?
Well, the group organiser spotted the new face and came over for a chat before we started and to ask if I needed any materials and asked about my background. He put me completely at ease about my newbie status.
Sitting next to me was another relative newbie, an older lady who had travelled from Clitheroe (about 40 miles) and had only been a couple of times before. She was lovely and we had at least one thing in common – we had both been on art weekends at Alston Hall college up until it closed.
Then Neil appeared and dropped his robe and assumed the first pose. I half expected it to feel a bit weird but it wasn’t at all. I instantly forgot this was a naked person and he became just another object to draw. The 5 minute poses seemed to fly past, but much to my surprise I was happier with my drawings from these than from the longer poses later.
For one of the twenty-minute poses Neil had his back to me, which was tricky to draw simply because the light was quite flat and rendered his back rather featureless – no shadows to highlight his spine or shoulder blades.
The longest pose (40 minutes) was Neil lying on his back with one knee raised. This was a fairly easy pose to draw except my position meant the perspective was a bit weird.
At the end everyone just said a friendly goodbye and departed. One gentleman did engage me in conversation as I was leaving, just to say welcome.
There had been around 15 – 20 artists in the session, ranging from students to pensioners. About two-thirds were female.
My impressions.
- It didn’t feel remotely weird. In fact I found the whole process delightfully relaxing and it was lovely to actualy focus properly for two hours.
- I was, however, relieved that the model for my first session was male. I would otherwise have been a little concerned that my motives for being there might have been under suspicion. We middle-aged men are apparently all perverts and not to be trusted – just read any article in the Guardian if you have doubts.
- The Storey does great coffee.
Would I go again? Yes I will. It won’t be every week. It is a quarter of my weekend after all, and once gardening season picks up I will want to be at home. But I aim to go at least once per month.
The results:

Afterwards.
In order to give myself an ‘out’ in case of any unwanted social invites for a group lunch, I had booked a haircut. So I went along and got my hair cut by the beautiful Sian and was actually feeling quite chatty because of my relaxing morning. Then I met up with my wife who had just arrived outside and was fussing two friendly dogs whose ‘dad’ was also getting his hair cut. We decided to try a new Japanese/Hawaiian Bento place in the city for lunch, which was actually rather lovely. Almost next door is an Indian deli where we bought my intended evening meal for tonight, and had a chat with the young lad behind the counter.
By this time I was feeling well and truly peopled-out, so we went home where I spent the rest of the day hiding with a book and quietly gibbering to myself….
A picture from the garden this weekend, Argyroderma testiculare. This is not a Freudian choice because of the above. Honest….:

I’m so pleased to see you branching out into other artistic forms. It must be nice to have a new challenge. As you say, Spring is coming and you’ll be having fun with the plants. I look forward to seeing those pics, too.
Your Argyroderma is gorgeous, and I never would have thought about the testicular connection had you not said something. You gave me a Sunday morning chuckle. Be well, my friend! ❤️
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Thank you Linda❤️. So lovely to hear from you. Yeah – I needed something new I think.
I couldn’t resist with the Argyroderma😂. This is only the second time it has flowered in twenty years, so especially happy to see it! Sending hugs!
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Interesting experience to read about…and look at you…becoming an extrovert 😉
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Ouch! 😂
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Well done you for getting out of your comfort zone and having a roaringly good time (ha!). The drawings are fabulous of course. I liked the way you explained what happened in the class and the variety of artists present. I hope it becomes a regular thing.
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Thank you😂❤️. I wanted to explain how it worked because, for me, those uncertainties were the biggest anxiety I had about going as a newbie. It will be regular – probably once a month for now. After I partially retire late next year I will go more often.
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I love those kinds of days, where everything seems to work. When you try new things and they work, it’s novel, people are nice, and you did something outside of your comfort zone. Good for you, Darren. Thanks for the dick drawings! JK. I really don’t know how you didn’t giggle. I would have….but that’s the kind of idiot I am.
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Thank you Lani😍. As for the dick drawings – you are welcome😂. My wife did comment that my drawing of that part of his anatomy was a bit ‘tentative’…..
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Hahahahaha
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That’s great Darren, I am always thinking of what to create next, but not sure I would go to a life art session. It’s good to try new things, I love doing this and I need to do this, but get very comfy at home on the weekends! Hope you are all good 🙂
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Thank you Gill. My job is so stressful right now that if I didn’t go out and get distracted then I would just brood on work all weekend. If I could actually relax then I might stay home too!
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Huge day for you, Darren. I think you are brave going to a class like that. I am such a prude. The model looks like a fairly ordinary bloke.
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It did feel brave. But was fine after a few mins. Yes, both male models so far have been normal middle-aged blokes. The one female model was a gorgeous young woman and I found it a lot more difficult. Overcoming decades of conditioning to not look was tough.
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I can imagine.
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