Life Class - with pics in blackpropaganda

I have opened my Father’s Day cards - as always one son always sends one with an ironic message - and the other just ignores the day - I appreciate both approaches. I also have one which I bought myself in Marks and Spencer as part of an offer where you got a pair of shorts, polo shirt and a card for less than £20. I needed the clothes and so bought them myself for FD, and SW.... wrote something appropriate in the card! She also kept the envelope pristine so we can use it some time.

And it is the longest day - and now it is all downhill until December - and it is far from the first day of summer here - cloud, skiffs of rain, and C28 degrees in Spain seems an ancient memory.

And there was a first yesterday - i participated in a life drawing class - not as the model!!. There was an opportunity to spend a couple of hours drawing - it was well organised - and a dozen or more of use - just three men - enjoyed the chance to try out drawing from life. The model was experienced and we started off with three five minute poses - then longer from 10 minutes - finishing up with 25 minutes. So you could see the model from all angles, and had to think quickly about putting the mark on the paper, and dealing with line and proportion.

This was my first effort -

A longer time had her lying down - and the great thing was trying to capture the sweep of her body and legs - and the tantalising triangle of her beautifully shaved pubic area. There was a major problem of the foreshortening of her right arm - and getting the proportions right

The final position was sitting - and that was difficult - I worked in pencil and was not happy and then got some more paper and worked in charcoal - it makes you freer - and I concentrated on her top half (easier) - and suddenly there was life in the picture - and it took ten minutes - hey, I want to do more of this!!!

Just to show what I am up against - one of my favourite Klimt drawings