I went to college to study graphic design. One of the classes required involved drawing nudes. It was called “Life Drawing”. Although I was a little nervous on the first day of class, I soon discovered I would have little time to really think about the fact that the man or woman posed spread eagle in front of me was completely nude.
The class was told at the beginning that no one was allowed to laugh or make fun of the models. There was to be no talking. Any breach of these rules would result in an F for the day. Two offenses involved an F for the course and expulsion from the class. The class was to be taken seriously and was closed to outsiders. In the center of the room was a dais where the model would go at the beginning of the class, disrobe, and pose.
From that moment on I would stand at my easel and draw. The class often moved fast where there was only time for a quick sketch before the model would move again. We practiced drawing blind contours where you are technically not allowed to look at your paper, only at the model allowing the pencil to follow the lines and shapes we saw. Other times we would be granted a longer sitting where we would be required to capture our subject in more detail.
must memorize them. You must capture the form, lines, and shadow quickly and accurately. To do it well we also studied the bodies skeletal and muscular anatomy. To draw the form well took practice and skill. For homework we were required to draw self portraits and close up studies of our hands and faces. During class, we were required to draw perfect strangers without their clothes. It wasn’t dirty, it was art and it greatly enriched my art education. Looking back on my experiences from that class I realize I learned another all important fact. All people are either male or female. While we all have our differences, in many ways we are all the same each of us unique and beautifully made.
