Life drawing isn’t just for art school; website Meetup.com offers people who share an interest in traditional life drawing the chance to get together and sketch from the human figure. Regular sessions can be found all over London from free to about a tenner so I convinced my partner to join me as we dusted off some art materials recently for Draw @NW London (at Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London).

You know what they say, “Practice makes…”

Well, if not perfect, then at least there were many interesting images by the end of the class…

Drawing by Kelise Franclemont, 45 minute pose, 2013, conte and coloured Art Stix on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
Drawing by Kelise Franclemont, 45 minute pose, 2013, conte and coloured Art Stix on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.

One of my favourites from the night, by an IT professional who claims to be a “terrible drawer”, shows a real spark of creativity and energy… and proves that drawing isn’t solely the domain of so-called “real artists”:

Drawing by Tom Butler, 45 minute pose, 2013, graphite on cartridge paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
Drawing by Tom Butler, 45 minute pose, 2013, graphite on cartridge paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.

According to Campaign for Drawing, drawing is vital to contemporary culture as a “… tool for thought, creativity, social and cultural engagement…a basic human skill useful in all walks of life…”

drawing by Kelise Franclemont, 2 minute pose, 2013, ink on paper in 'Draw at NW London', at Mini Picassos, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
drawing by Kelise Franclemont, 2 minute pose, 2013, ink on paper in ‘Draw at NW London’, at Mini Picassos, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.

And there’s just something so captivating about drawing the human figure in particular that there are hundreds of groups around London where beginners and experts alike can practice their hand in front of a live model.

15 minute pose, 2013, pencil on newsprint, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
15 minute pose, 2013, pencil on newsprint, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.

One such group, Draw@ NW London [no longer active; however there are lots of other Meetup.com groups for life drawing], holds Monday night “drop-in” sessions at Mini Picassos, adjacent to Kensal Rise. Mini Picassos is an art school and studio for people of all ages “who are excited about art, artists and being creative”. Although the focus is generally on developing creativity in toddlers and children, the evening classes for adults include painting, general drawing skills and, of course, drawing from live models.

Gallery of drawings from the Monday night’s life drawing session

5 minute pose, 2013, charcoal on newsprint, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
Some 5 minute poses, 2013, charcoal on newsprint, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
Some 5 minute poses, 2013, charcoal on newsprint, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
Some 5 minute poses, 2013, charcoal on newsprint, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
15 minute pose, 2013, chalk on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
15 minute pose, 2013, conte on cartridge paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
45 minute pose, 2013, conte and chalk on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
45 minute pose, 2013, chalk pastel on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
45 minute pose, 2013, charcoal on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
45 minute pose, 2013, charcoal on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.
Drawing by Kelise Franclemont, 45 minute pose, 2013, conte and coloured Art Stix on sugar paper, Draw at NW London, Mini Picassos, Kensal Rise, London. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont.

More links and information

Event details: Draw @NW London takes place 6:45P – 8:45P Monday nights during school term at Mini Picassos studios, 8 Station Terrace Kensal Rise London NW10 5RT. Paid admission (£10). [UPDATED 01 January 2014 – this Meetup.com group is closed and the life drawing course is no longer offered at Mini Picassos]

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