How long have you been doing life drawing?

**FlameDragon** · September 4th, 2007, 03:15 PM

How long have you been doing life drawing/studying the anatomy? After about how long did you notice your drawing of the figure improving?

**Malicious Panda** · September 5th, 2007, 03:40 PM

About a year, and I'm still learning and picking up new stuff as I do studies, and read more, and observe more, it's tricky.

**FlameDragon** · September 7th, 2007, 07:49 PM

A year?? Wow. Yeah I have to start doing it on a regular basis then. There's supposedly this FREE life drawing class that I'm going to check out, thinks it starts in October but if it's free then maybe it might not be as good? Not to harp on free things, but I guess people who really know their stuff if they are teaching it would want to get paid.

**FlameDragon** · September 10th, 2007, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Jens

i've been doing it for about 3,5 years.. last year i started going more, my school has life drawing classes 6 hours a day you can attend if you're a student.

So last half year i took about 6-15 hours of life drawing a week. I notied most improvement in last half year as well

Thats very long,...wish I had a job so that I could afford to go more often!

**dose** · September 10th, 2007, 06:39 PM

10+ years

**Flake** · September 10th, 2007, 08:59 PM

I'd guess 60+ 3 hour classes, but being at a slightly wanky art school quite a few of those were "Hey kids, let's explore the human figure through the medium of torn paper" kinda classes.
I also went to a lot of optional after school classes though so my numbers will be way off.

Short answer = nowhere near long enough, wish I could afford to go and do more at the local college, they have at least one good teacher and some great models.

It's only in the last year or so that I've begun the detailed anatomy studies that I should have done at art school. Back then I was competent enough to eyeball it and score passing grades, I now want to know exactly what it is that I was "eyeballing".
.

**Ramon Hurtado** · September 11th, 2007, 02:09 AM

i havent done much figure drawing, but drawing from life in a serious manner, i would say about a year, before that i did a lot of mindless doodles that got me nowhere...

**HunterKiller_** · September 11th, 2007, 02:36 AM

One and a half years now.
I love it.

**Collin Smiley** · September 11th, 2007, 10:26 AM

I dont doo it at all but id love to learn

Dead

NingaClan

**FlameDragon** · September 11th, 2007, 10:55 AM

At life drawing the other day there was a boy who was only 14!! Man I wish I started that early

**Kfeeras** · September 19th, 2007, 05:13 PM

you're never too old ;-) and look at marko, he says he never took real life drawing classes/sessions; he observed his surroundings and people, and learned from it, went trough life with open eyes. that point of view i find to be very interesting. so don't be afraid, there's artists who started drawing when their kids moved out..

**Valor** · September 23rd, 2007, 09:53 PM

I have been drawing the figure since I was 15. I noticed improvment after the end on every session, meaning 9-15 weeks, depending on the length of the session/class. I also noticed the complements I would get from my peers. I am almost 25 now.

**OldJake666** · September 24th, 2007, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by FlameDragon

At life drawing the other day there was a boy who was only 14!! Man I wish I started that early

I'm only 14 as well and I did my first life drawing session on Saturday. It was loads of fun. I've got an other one tomorrow! I'll try to make it at least every Saturday and hopefully if I have time the Monday night ones as well. Sadly the Tuesday sessions are when I'm at school.

Learning early...
Jake

**KazuroHiroshi** · September 24th, 2007, 03:26 AM

Figure drawing, hmm..i've started it half year ago, and im 19 now.
I wish i could start figure drawing in the early age too,
but now seem not too late though.

I never have any figure drawing b4 until i major in Fine art half year ago.
yea, i need to put more effort on it.

**AztcFireFlower** · September 26th, 2007, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by Flake

I'd guess 60+ 3 hour classes, but being at a slightly wanky art school quite a few of those were "Hey kids, let's explore the human figure through the medium of torn paper" kinda classes.

That's funny....My whole college experience with art was like this. No real solid principles until I found a great school taught by illustrators.

I'd say, if a class is free GO. Check it out, you're getting some kind of exposure to drawing from life.

I've been drawing 15 plus years and I'm still attending workshops as well as specific teachers as I continue to seek advancement in my skills. I will probably continue to seek advice on the process of making pictures throughout my whole life. Life drawing is an incomparable discipline. Requires analyses as well as co-ordination built on constant practice. It's a beautiful way to spark brain cells.
However, skill requires hours of practice, wether it's in a life drawing class or drawing from photographs. The process to understand the form is the same.
I can advance with one 6 hour drawing session a week, but when I add another un-instructed workshop (4 hours) I begin to gain alot of faciltiy and confidence.
Who cares what age you start, if you are serious about gaining skill, it's the dedicated hours you are willing to put in that makes you good.

**FlameDragon** · September 29th, 2007, 08:10 PM

I think I found a free life drawing session around me, hopefully it will be good!

**TheDonut** · September 30th, 2007, 05:52 AM

I did my first life drawing class on Thursday. It's not with my college, it's some 'adult education' class that runs for 20 weeks, 2 hrs a week. I wish it were longer but it's all I can find around me

still, better than nothing

**egerie** · October 2nd, 2007, 01:51 PM

I had life drawing for 6 years and started seeing something that I was starting to be happy with after 2.5 years. After 5 years I thought I had reached a step and knew I needed to continue working hard and learn in order to improve and not stagnate in a level of quality that would be "better than your average sketcher".
It's been 5 years since I did life drawing and I lost a LOT of it

I'm working on getting back on the horse with Dr. Sketchys and sessions a few friends and coworkers organise.

Keep on drawin'!