The Chron finds out why there is such an interest in life drawing
Tutor Gerald Porter teaching a life drawing class at the National Adult School (NASO).
LIFE DRAWING is a fascinating way of learning to draw. And classes where you are taught by drawing a nude model have been springing up as interest has increased in learning the basics of how to draw.
LIFEDRAWING is a fascinating way of learning to draw.
And classes where you are taught by drawing a nude model have been springing up as interest has increased in learning the basics of how to draw.
One of these is run by artist Gerald Porter at the National Adult School (NASO) hall in St Michael’s Road, Northampton.
Gerald has been involved in art and education throughout his career including working at the Tate Modern in London as their curator for schools and teachers and working for Creative Partnerships East Midlands and The Mighty Creatives, sourcing artists of all kinds to run workshops in schools.
He has noticed a growing interest in the craft. He said: “It’s a discipline that all artists have used and we have come full circle. Understandably there’s a return to some discipline. There’s been a kind of resurgence of interest in drawing the human figure.
“The demand is outstripping the supply. Even if you are a hobby artist, coming to life classes is a chance to see other people’s work and to get guidance and to train yourself.”
Gerald’s Monday night class has attracted A-level students keen to improve their work. The class began with life model Robbie striking a pose in the middle of the room for about 10 minutes while everyone drew. Then another 10-minute standing pose. This is followed by a longer sketch where Robbie sits down. After a break for tea there is a chance to draw one final longer pose.
Gerald takes a look at students’ work and gives advice on how to improve.
He said: “My thing is to give them guided tuition in the sense that I’m not interfering, I’m giving them a chance, in a supportive environment, to learn.
“It’s a very natural thing and if you can create the right climate and people are at ease with themselves you can encourage mark making. It’s making it accessible, its not too laborious.”
So can anyone learn to draw? Gerald said: “If you can get over the ‘oh I can’t draw, I was told I was hopeless.’ Well we might have taken three times to pass our driving test. So it’s a bit like that. When you are starting to learn to draw, it’s learning to relax.”
So what do students get out of the classes? Gerald said: “Satisfaction. They get something to take away, something to look at. It’s confirming their enthusiasm or ambition for doing art. It trains them in hand and eye. There’s a lot of satisfaction in putting something in front of yourself and trying to make your own response to what you see.”
It is also a great way of switching off from everyday life. He said: “You are spending two hours completely focused on something and that is a great safety valve.”
Gerald will be running classes at Caroline Chisholm School in Northampton which start on October 31 and there will be more classes at the NASO hall in January. He is also taking part in The Big Draw, a national initiative to raise the profile of drawing, by running family drawing workshops at St Peter’s Church in Marefair, Northampton, on October 15 and creative drawing workshops for people in business at the Portfolio Centre at The University of Northampton on October 12. To find out more about the classes, call Gerald on 07769912411. To book onto the course at Caroline Chisholm School call Northampton 236236.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.