Best Life Drawing Classes in London
Content originally published for The Merit Club
Photo by Mike Petrucci on Unsplash
Where best to get your creative juices flowing this New Year? A Life Drawing Class! Whether you're a complete novice with a pencil and paint-brush or whether you have bucket loads of of creative confidence, I’ve rounded up a selection of classes that will welcome you into their fold. Drop in for one class, sign up to a whole course - these workshops are some of the most vibrant, fun and quirky in the city, so why not do something different and give one a go.
CANDID ARTS TRUST
Candid Arts Trust provides Drop-In Life Drawing classes, perfect for testing out your skills in a comfortable and relaxed environment where newbies and professionals mingle together.
If you're looking for some guidance, tutors are on hand to give useful tips and advice, but if you're equally happy just going it alone, this class gives you the space to experiment and create as you please.
We'd recommend the Draw, Drink & Socialise Class on Friday Evenings. In this session there are 2 models and your ticket price includes a drink. It's all very low-key. Materials are provided if you need, but you can bring your own too. Take a look at other people's work, bring some friends, and enjoy an evening feeling cultured, creative and in good company.
Also, why not try out the cute cafe next door! It will be sure to get your creative juices flowing with their higgledy-piggledy armchairs and tables and welcoming atmosphere.
Discover More candidarts.wordpress.com
WHEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 7pm-9pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 11am-1pm
Friday, 7pm-11pm
WHERE: Candid Arts, 3 Torrens Street, Angel, EC1V 1NG
INVESTMENT: £9 on the door for Monday - Thursday, £15 for Friday evening classes.
ART MACABRE
Art Macabre stand apart from the crowd with their life drawing and death drawing workshops featuring theatrical costumed models to sketch and draw. It's great fun - and expect the unexpected! This is a chance to explore the darker side of arts, with their imaginative themes, diverse models and subjects, unique locations and cultural collaborators.
One session you may be in an East London basement bar, the next a famous gallery, and if something a bit more spooky is your vibe, try out one of their special after-dark events - they're no stranger to a creepy Victorian cemetery or crypt! From LGBTQIA+ life drawing to a queered contemporary vision of Shakespeare, this is life drawing with a magical, enthralling, captivating twist!
Discover More artmacabre.co.uk
WHEN: Various dates
WHERE: Various London locations
INVESTMENT: £15 per class
LONDON DRAWING
If you're after variety and a range of different life drawing experiences, look to The London Drawing Life Drawing Team.
They offer drop in sessions, Saturday workshops, courses, summer schools and unique life drawing events across London, with exciting venues across the city including the Museum Of London, Battersea Arts Centre, The V&A and Design Museum.
Their speciality are Secret Sketch sessions on a Saturday, with a Morning session (11-1pm) and an afternoon session (1.30-3.30pm). All classes are led by an experienced tutor, with materials to buy, at a cosy underground hideaway at the Vaults.
Look to their Drawing Theatre classes too for creative workshops that fuse theatre with drawing for a completely immersive and unique experience.
Discover More londondrawing.com
WHEN: Monday - Saturday
WHERE: Various London Locations at Artizan St Library Liverpool Street, Waterloo Action Centre, Vaulty Towers Waterloo, The Kings Head Hoxton.
INVESTMENT: From £10 per class
LIFE DRAWING WITH ELSC
ELSC are inviting an audience of creatives and artists to come and draw them as they perform their art of stripping. Describing themselves as a "bunch of feisty, articulate, fiercely independent women, who also happen to be strippers", they aim to shatter stereotypes and challenge stigma. As they promote on their site, "they are bored of working in badly run strip clubs, being financially exploited and having very little say in how the venues are actually operated and so to counter this they have begun organising their own pop-up events, to create their own working conditions."
Working at strip venue the Crown & Shuttle (an old school East End boozer) back in the day may have been a rowdy experience, but now two artistic forms of expression and two worlds collide with stripping and life drawing.
Discover More meetup.com/Life-Drawing-With-ELSC
WHEN: Mondays, 7pm-9.30pm
WHERE: The Crown and Shuttle Pub, 226 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE
INVESTMENT: £15 per class
Covent Garden LIFE DRAWING
The Covent Garden Life Drawing classes offer an extremely relaxed and friendly atmosphere, priding themselves with their sociable and laid-back vibe that will put you completely at ease if you're looking to have a go at Life Drawing - ideal if you're new to drawing or haven't done it in a while.
With two models per session and a variety of poses (2 mins, 20 mins, 45 mins) it offers you the chance to experiment and ease your way into the session. They're untutored so there's no pressure and you can have a go as you please.
Discover More: coventgardenlifedrawing.co.uk
WHEN: Every Thursday
WHERE: Society of Friends Meeting House, 8 Hop Gardens, WC2N 4EA · London
INVESTMENT: £12 per session or pre-book 6 sessions for £60
If you’ve never given life drawing a go why not get a group of you and your friends together. It’s social, chilled-out, and a different activity to try out this New Year. Amateur or pro, it’s something to enjoy and there’s no need to take it too seriously!