I have loved drawing nudes for as long as I have been an artist. It is
an age-old practice in western art. Art history books are full of
them. Some of the most famous museum pieces in the world are “au
naturel”. The most impressive I have seen in person is Michelangelo’s
colossal sculpture in Florence, Italy, called David.
The drawing group I attend on Tuesday nights is devoted to figures. A model of either sex takes poses for three hours. This particular group likes mostly short “gesture” poses lasting from 1-10 minutes.
When I am drawing a gesture pose, my skills from years of study are used fluidly and instinctively. I don’t have time to worry about mistakes—or correcting anything. It is all impulse.The longest pose is about forty minutes. Then I can gauge proportions, study foreshortening, make corrections and take time shading.
What greater art is there than the human form?
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