Life Drawing at the Opera House

On Sunday afternoon I went to a Life Drawing workshop at the Opera House Centre for Creativity. It's heald a few times a year and usually books out quite quickly. Everything is supplied, though experienced drawers (artists?) brought their own utensils. 

I'm not a good drawers, nor am I really that keen but the lure for me to this expereince was instead of nudes, the model was an opera singer who would sing to us, in costume. She changed costume three times over the course of the afternoon, and sang three songs.

It was a really lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends - one was an avid drawer and one a novice. The first timer found the instruction really helpful, and was actually quite good at it. After each song, there would be a little lesson on composition, how to draw hands, proportion, shading, which utensil to use and other beginner class tips. (Please note permission was given to take photos but most life drawing all photography is banned)

I've become a bit slack on my Torshlusspanik List and I never did the follow up on the Life Drawing class I did before. That one was with a nude model and it was interesting how quickly you stopped to notice. You focus more on 'fragments' of the person - curves, shadows etc so it's not like seeing a naked person at all after the initial (for want of a better word) shock. I enjoyed that evening immensely for the zen nature of it. You become so focused that you don't notice time passing. We started with 1 minute poses and ended with a 15 minute pose. The 15 minutes seemed to fly as fast as the shorter ones. It was quite amazing how you built to that narrowed attention, even as a novice.

One of the teachers did this while showing us shading and spacing
See Pina Bartolo for more of her work

I am not an artist, and I have no talent in this field but I can happily attempt the curve of the dress or hips and buttocks - I just have to cut out hands and heads, which are hard. In the nude class, she put a lampshade on her head to be funny and that I did a fully body for (sans hands). She later asked if we had been ok with that and I told her it was actually the best for me cos I struggled with faces!

Bottom line, life drawing is worth an attempt for the mediation like qualities. If you really aren't comfortable with nudity, or with your artistic skill, this one with the opera thrown in is great, because you will still be moved by the beauty of the voice and music, even if art is not your thing.

And that's what's been on my calendar!

Life Drawing at the Opera House

Life Drawing at Camelot - this also has live music. I've just realised I picked both for the music not necessarily the drawing! Ha.

For those that don't know about my Torschlusspanik list, the origins lie here.

Torshlusspanik List:

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet
5. Off road buggy driving
6. Play Assassins Creed
7. Jetpacking (check)
8. The Color Run (check)
9. Invent something
10. Cooking Masterclass (check)
11. Master a Masterclass (check)
12. Perform a rap song (check)
13. Trampoline adventure (check)
14. BMX Riding (check)
15. Do a cart wheel (check)
16. Ride an Electric Bike (check)
17. Astonish Myself
18. Write a book.
19. Participate in a distance event (check)
20. Climb Sydney Tower (check)
21. Dance in a dance class (check)
22. Trust a stranger

23. Get a truck for the Landmine Museum and Relief Centre in Siem Reap

24. Paint a picture

25. Go Rollerskating (check)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing (Check)

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

Linking with #TrafficJamReboot #WowOnWednesday #TheRandom #FineWhatever #SundayBest #WBOYC 

#ConfidentTwosday &  #Stylewithasmile for the Opera Australia Costumes