Member-only story
Figure Drawing 101: Nudes
Finding beauty in the contours of life
I summoned all my courage and entered the art studio five minutes before class began. I was one of two non-art majors taking the entry-level drawing class, so each time I went, I struggled with my inner critic tapping me on the shoulder and reminding me that I didn’t belong. This night she was especially loud.
Exactly how do you think you are going to be able to draw the human body?
You can barely sketch an apple.
These are pros sitting around you.
Leave now. While you can save face.
Dr. Lewis must have seen the panic on my face. Our seats were arranged in a large circle with the subject sitting on a stage in the middle of the circle. She stood behind me, put one hand on my shoulder, and said nothing. It was her way. When students lost their footing, she stood behind them and waited. If you engaged her, she would answer. If not, she waited until she felt you settled then moved on.
Tonight she was more intentional than usual. Until now, we spent three hours of class drawing still-life arrangements. She placed gourds and pumpkins alongside baskets of peppers, cabbages, corn, and tomatoes. Then she pulled out a timer, and gave us the go ahead.
