Life drawing classes

A life study in oils, by Roy Munday

We hold life drawing classes in Lydiate Parish Hall on the first Saturday of each month.

Life-drawing is the key to painting. Why? Because it forces you to observe and to measure accurately! I have taught many students life-drawing, though you struggle at first in getting the measuring correct it pays back enormous dividends for the rest of your life. If you can draw the figure, then I believe you can draw any subject. Believe it or not, even people who know nothing about art, if shown a drawing or a painting of the nude, will immediately see if the figure is not drawn to the correct proportions! They will sense that something is not quite right. On the other hand, if shown a painting of a landscape they were unfamiliar with, half the painting could be out of proportion and it would not be obvious.

Painting of the nude, will immediately see if the figure is not drawn to the correct proportions! They will sense that something is not quite right. On the other hand, if shown a painting of a landscape they were unfamiliar with, half the painting could be out of proportion and it would not be obvious.

Are you a beginner, unsure about having a go at life drawing?

We put on a taster session for beginners twice a year, even those more advanced, so you can experience life drawing before committing yourself further. Contact Roy for more details & to go on the waiting list, or fill out the adjoining form and we will keep you updated.

Venue and Costs

The classes are held in Lydiate Parish Hall, 288 Southport Rd, Lydiate L31 4EQ and run from 10 am to 3 pm. The cost is £30 per class and refreshments are provided. Bring your own lunch.

Note there is no life drawing class in August.

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Along with the measuring process, you will learn to develop tone (or shading), that will turn a flat drawing into something three dimensional.

An example of our short poses, usually to start the session.

The classes are held in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere so that they are also enjoyable.

Once competent with the drawing process, then you can really start to experiment with style – trying new ways of rendering the figure. You might want to try rendering the figure in a semi-abstract style, eventually taking it to abstraction?

In the life class, you will be encouraged to use different medium, from drawing, pen & ink and painting.

A painting of a life model in the life drawing class

The best method for measuring anything when drawing & painting, is to use the thumb & pencil method, also known as the comparative system. I teach this method to anyone joining the life class. You can learn the procedure in two hours, then it’s practice. You use this method for any subject, not just measuring the figure .

Again, using the thumb & pencil method, or comparative system, it allows you to get accurate proportions. In fact, you use the same method to measure any subject, still life, landscapes, anything!

With this method, you can ensure you correct proportions of the figure. Do remember, don’t bring the actual mesurement from subject to your drawing. No, you bring the information, if you bring the actual measurement, you wll get small drawings!