Life Drawing 2026

Your Year to Start 🚀

Last weekend I managed to get to life drawing, and am very relieved that at least I started off this year right, and with the intention to make drawing a priority. If you’ve been thinking about trying out life drawing, or if you know this is something that you are really interested in but just have never gone, then this post is to encourage you to stop thinking and just go!

Generally, there are 2 main reasons stopping most people (certainly these are what stopped me from going for waaaay too long):
1. people have the idea that they are “not good enough” and that life drawing is full of exceptionally talented drawers, not beginners.
2). And / or people don’t know what they are supposed to do in life drawing, and think that you need to know anatomy first to be able to draw the figure.

Firstly, everyone is in the weeds. There might well be very experienced drawers alongside rank beginners, but in that moment everyone is battling!! 😂 Also, life drawing is the perfect training ground for anyone who thinks they can’t draw. It’s where I truly learnt to draw.

Secondly, in terms of what are you supposed to draw … well, it’s actually not anatomy. You can focus on that, but it’s more valuable to be able to focus on something slightly different. And that is: on how you observe the figure.

One thing I keep coming back to whenever I think about life drawing and what it means to me, is observation. I think the thing we are supposed to be doing in life drawing is using it as a place to practice observation, in a controlled and supportive environment. I also think that the fact that the subject we draw is the human figure and not a collection of objects, is very significant. For me, drawing the model is an opportunity to understand embodied presence and to learn how to react to that presence with lines and marks.

So, all in all that’s the practice. Learning to draw from direct observation, leaning into presence, and working with your mark.

Plus, the fact that you get to draw alongside other artists as well is a rare privilege. It’s transformative, and it opens you up to new ways of drawing simply by being around other amazing and talented people!

So make this the year you start. Go to life drawing, thank me later and let me know how you get on!!

Siobhan

❤️