Every artist needs to spend some time drawing from a living human. The human form is just too complex and requires close study in order to get better that form down. For those looking to become better artists, this means that at some point the artist in question needs to actually work with a model. This means that the artist needs to hire a model in order to draw the person and thus be forced to look carefully at how the skin and muscle of the model work in relation to their skeleton and other features. Thus artists doing life drawing in London have the same issues as other artists, and it can make the rite interesting.
Models in a #metoo World
Artists today have issues that artists in previous generations did not need to deal with. The first problem is that they need to make sure that the model feels comfortable with the environment. This can be difficult because the model is already in an uncomfortable position, and is not in control of the environment in general. When it comes to making the environment more comfortable, this means that a distance must be agreed to, there needs to a no-hands policy, and the artist needs to be upfront with what he needs right from the beginning and stick to it. This should help to avoid any problems later on with the model, and even create a long-term respectful relationship.
Allowing For Social Distancing
The pandemic has created other issues, especially in an occupation where the other person cannot wear a mask and is required to be close to the other person. There are a number of ways round, the most basic of which is to simply use a video set-up, where the artist is in one location and the model in another. Even when the two are in the same space, just keeping the room’s air circulated and maintaining a good amount of space should allow for basic safety concerns.
Social concerns have made life drawing in London a much more interesting prospect, and those issues need to be allowed for when the model signs on. Allowing for those situations is something that an artist needs to be aware of, and doing so can actually make for a much more professional setting. By implementing these safeguards, it is possible to have a much more productive session, and thus make the life drawing experience even more productive.
