10 of us, fixated, staring at the intricate details of the fleshy naked body. The air is filled with the faint scent of perfume and the vocal styling of Vanilla Ice – “Lets kick it! Ice Ice Baby”
For $15 dollars the casual scrawler of images can wander in off the street, take up an easel, some paper and large chunks of gritty charcoal to draw naked people. A naked woman, Maree this week, sits still, first for 5 minute poses, then for 10 minute poses, finally for a series of 20 minute poses.
Any superficiality is quickly disposed of, drawing naked people is exactly like drawing anything else in fine detail, the person, the nakedness is gone, and all you see are the shapes of the shadows, the shapes and forms. This is the key of course, stifle your childish giggling, and look for the sharp angle where the fat covering the tricep clings at its base to the bony arm. Look for the falling line of shadow from the head straight down the chest, clipping beneath the breast and cresting at the abdomen.
It makes for good practice, and like all drawing I certainly enjoy it, anything to whisk my mind off to the meditative state where drawing happens, is it worth $15? I’m not sure, perhaps.
Brisbane – Wednesdays at 7pm Metro Arts building on Edward street. See you there!