A group of established artists have been gathering for invitation-only figure drawing sessions, an exercise that had fallen out of fashion.

[…]

Only a few years ago, the idea of artists gathering to paint from a model would have seemed impossibly old-fashioned and hokey - and if the model was female and nude, sexist to boot. Yet for nearly three years now, a number of artists - not students putting charcoal to paper for the first time, but successful artists with established styles and audiences of their own - have flocked to Mr. Cotton’s weekly invitation-only sessions

via: Trendy Artists Pick Up an Old-Fashioned Habit

I’ve been trying to put my finger on why I find this article sort of strange. First though, congrats to everyone mentioned. It’s always good to get a mention in the NYTimes.

I was trying to figure out if the writer really believes that it’s unusual for painters to gather and sharpen their drawing skills or if this was just some sort of not-so-subtle PR plant. I’m leaning toward PR plant.

I just can’t believe anyone would think that this is some sort of new trend. If artists are interested in figuration — or drawing at all — one of the best ways to keep your skills at a high level is to draw the figure.

Don’t believe the hype, artists have for years gathered to share the expense of a figure model. It’s nothing new. permanent link to this post