drawanyway.com

When I was a life model, I earned the princely sum of £6.00 per hour, and I am sure the rate has gone up since then. Some serious artists used to book me to model for them alone; more often I’d be modelling for a class, and my pay would be made up from everyone’s contributions. But whether or not you can afford to pay a class fee, or even for the luxury of someone standing nude in your own home, there is also the matter of time to take into consideration. Busy Draw Anyway readers can’t necessarily spare a formal, pre-booked, regular time to sit down and draw.

One solution is to take your life models where you can get them. Would your partner, your housemates or your pals sit still for you? Much as I hate to admit it (having made a fair living from my skills in my modelling days), there are not that many skills required by a model, other than the ability to stay reasonably still, or at least move slowly enough for you to track the changes. Sit someone down with a book or in front of the TV, and promise you’ll show them the end result. As you get better at drawing, models will be more receptive to the idea. So long as you stick with clothed poses, anyway.

No-one willing? There are other options open to you. I’ve written about drawing people in the street before (here and here), but that does require a quick hand. Sleeping babies often stay almost still for hours, an they also have that ‘aw’ factor. Or if all else fails, you could turn up the heating. Your pet cat will be delighted to stay in the same position by the radiator all day.

 You have just today and tomorrow to vote for Draw Anyway in the Brighton & Hove web awards! The dress has been purchased!