Had a rewarding evening at a new (for me) life-drawing venue in Monmouth, with a new model who was herself modelling for the first time. Then at home read up about Egon Schiele and others. Went to bed thinking 'life-drawing'. Got up really early, fed dog and cat, read some more Schiele with smatterings of Rodin, Courbet, and those who had had difficulties with their explicit portrayals of the female anatomy. Drove through the forrest to life-drawing in the Wye Valley. Greeted with the news that the model's alarm had a flat battery so she overslept, then her car had a flat battery and jump leads were needed to start from another vehicle. So, Bob, seeing as you have such an amazing head, we all have decided to ask you to sit for us for a portrait session until the model arrives in about an hour or so (I was seduced by the offer of a 'free' life-drawing session next time, and by recalling the number of requests I had received in recent times to model for portraits and head sculptures). My head is in demand, and here is an opportunity to satisfy this demand, so that I can at last get on with my life.
So, I sat! I focussed on a painting on the wall. Red silk scarf, luxuriant white hair and recently trimmed white beard, denim shirt and Himalayan Yak necklace, and all those wrinkles, bags under the eyes, and numerous other personality characteristics which many have found so attractive as to request a sitting.
Three breaks to relieve my neck pain, then after one hour I suggested we stop for coffee before the 'real' model arrived. My thanks particularly to Bryony, Kathie, Jen and Angela whose pieces I include below.
The model arrived, much to everyone's relief. A lovely pose. Back to normal......for an hour or so.........then the lights went out, the heating went off, and a sort of humming started up. Levers were tried, buttons were pressed, phone calls for help were made. Eventually we all gave up. It was lunch time. I left for home, and to write this blog. What happened in the afternoon life-drawing session I do not know.
Who'd be a model? I was a model! I have always appreciated the significance of the contribution of the model to the life-drawing process. But it is rarely without its challenges and frustrations. I am an egalitarian. The model and I are one!
