She's a good girl, loves her mama

I tried running outside today. FAIL! My lungs burned, my throat felt like it was taking on blood and my nose dripped like a facet. After a measly 10 minutes I was a done deal. SO MAD. I knew transitioning from the treadmill to the road wouldn't be a cakewalk but I was not expecting this.

I tried something else new today that went much better than the running. I went to a life drawing session with Nigel and his friend Andrea. I don't know what made me try drawing again since I haven't seriously sketched since junior high art class, but I am so pleased with myself!

I met Nigel and Andrea at the Cre8ery Gallery in the Exchange district for a drop in session. I tried to put together an artsy outfit but couldn't quite get one together so I just went with jeans and an interesting combo of layered t-shirts. I tried to make my hair extra messy to compensate. I would have worn my glasses but I wore them all day at work and they gave me a headache so I had to pop my contacts in.

The gallery supplies you with a seat/easel contraption, some rocking tunes (re: Tom Petty!) and the nude model. The model does mixed poses that she holds for 30 seconds to start and gradually increases the time as the session goes on. You don't get much out of the 30 second poses but they are a good warm up and gave me a chance to get reacquainted with my 2B pencil and sketchbook.

I had two thoughts that stuck with me as I drew: 1) The human body is really beautiful. I love the way the shadows and the light make it interesting. 2) Is there a writing exercise like this? Could I go to a place and be given an object to write about from different perspectives for increasing amounts of time?

I didn't go in with any expectations for my work, which was probably the best way to approach the activity. I just wanted to spend some time with a pencil and see what happened. I usually started off with finding the longest line in the pose and sketching that out, then added the other side. It was refreshing to spend some time creating something on paper without using words.

These were my favourite pages of work:



I gave the model some Amazonian legs here; so generous of me.



This was from the last two poses. I struggled with the angles of her legs and was starting to get frustrated a bit.



These were from the minute and a half poses, I think. Look at that bum! I am so proud of that bum! Doesn't that look real? I should put this one on my fridge.

I hope to go again. Look at me, Little Miss I Go to The Cinematheque and do Drop In Nude Model Drawing. Where's my beret and closet full of black huh?

All the vampires walkin’ through the valley
Move west down ventura boulevard
And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows
All the good girls are home with broken hearts

--Free Fallin' -- Tom Petty