We are Chester Life Drawing, a relaxed and friendly bunch of creatives in Chester! 

Based in the University of Chester's Creative Campus, we offer £10 untutored life drawing sessions every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7 to 9pm.

We seek models who are friendly, creative, and punctual. It’s important to have a solid understanding of your body and an imaginative approach to shapes you can create with it. Being aware of how long you can comfortably hold poses is crucial. Poses need to be held as still as possible, so artists can complete a full anatomy study in the time given.

Through life modelling, you are offering artists the opportunity to study a range of human forms, with dynamic poses and emotional expression. Life drawing allows artists to study human anatomy in real-time, helping them understand proportions, muscle structure, and movement. Consider this when thinking of what you bring to the session. We encourage models to avoid simply standing or sitting straight on; instead, think about incorporating twists, diversity of shape, and fluidity into your poses. By being open to suggestions and collaborating with artists, models help create a more dynamic and engaging session, fostering a creative atmosphere.

Professionalism is key, and we value those who are open to reasonable suggestions and requests. A willingness to collaborate with our artists to help them get the most out of each session is greatly appreciated. We encourage a positive attitude, so being adaptable and receptive to feedback helps create a supportive environment for everyone involved. Leave your ego at the door, approach each session with an open mind, and remember that this is a team effort where everyone contributes to the creative process. Models who demonstrate respectful and patient communication during sessions and via emails to create a positive atmosphere will be prioritised over those who are overly persistent or exhibit passive-aggressive behaviour.

Currently we pay £20 an hour and book for 2 hours a session, in line with the Register of Artist Models guidelines. There is free parking available on site, with a small car park to the front and a big one at the back. Entrance is through the front reception, where the receptionist on the desk will direct you to the studio. We have a small storage room for art supplies which acts as our changing room, with a dressing gown and slippers. All fabrics are washed after every session, so everything is fresh and clean. We have a studio light and heaters, and our space is a secure dedicated studio room within the university. Our model's comfort and safety is our highest priority, so no cameras are allowed, phones have to be put away, and iPads need their cameras covered. We tend to play some bangin' tunes from the 60s & 70s, so our models sometimes struggle with wanting to sing and dance along. Sorry about that! ;)

Poses are free for you to choose, as we never want to push you into something uncomfortable. Our artists sometimes suggest poses if they need a study for a piece they're currently working on, but you always have the final say for how you stand (or sit, or lie down!). We LOVE a theme, so if you have something creative you'd like to try or props you want to bring, go for it! We've also run multi-model sessions before, so if you'd like to team up to do something really exciting then give us a shout. 

Our pose timings:

5x 1 minute (great for high energy, dynamic poses)
1x 5 minute
1x 10 minute
1x 20 minute
- A short 10-15 minute break -
1x 50 minute (a long lying down pose allows our artists to get stuck in and make a more ambitious piece of work) 

Fancy being a muse for a lovely community of arty folks who are dedicated to improve their drawing skills? Check out the model FAQ on our website, send us an email, and let's get drawing!

chesterlifedrawing[.]com/faq