Life Lines: Monday Morning Life Drawing with Alison Price

This exciting and vibrant group exhibition explores the diverse ways that the artists have looked to capture the moment in the life room.

“A great way to start the week,” is a sentiment that is echoed by the artists/enthusiasts who eagerly attend the Monday morning Life Drawing sessions held here in Perth’s Creative Exchange. Through a shared passion of drawing from the life model, this collective peer support group has formed organically over the last two years. Largely self directed, different ideas, techniques and media are regularly explored through the practice, bringing a fresh energy and discussion into each session.

Throughout the history of Art, from the earliest cave paintings to the cutting edge of our modern times, artists have sought to convey through divergent means the difficult and often tricky practice of the human figure, ranging from realistic representation to illustration, modernism and abstraction. It would be safe to say that it’s all subjective and that there is no definitive argument in which the genre can be bracketed. Thus the practice of life drawing, normally from the nude model, can vary from a detailed study over a period of time, as preparation for a longer painting, or a quick and explosive burst of creative energy on the drawing plane, as the artist responds to the pose and timing of the model.

Presented here in this exciting and vibrant exhibition is an eclectic mixture of the many ways that the artists have looked to capture the moment. In the life room patience and sharp observation is a fundamental requirement, which takes time and practice for the result of a successful outcome. The images on show here reflect the artist’s acute studies using various media that both injects a spontaneous reaction and a more detailed response to the poses.

It also goes without saying that none of this would be possible without the professionalism and expertise of the models. Experienced models will get to know and often have their own input into the requirements that the class seeks. Ranging from swift dynamic short poses to more lengthy sittings where the ability to remain almost static for a time requires a great effort of mind and body. Many thanks to them and enjoy the exhibition.