Black Dog Arts Life Drawing Sessions 


“The study of the nude, you see, is the best lesson that a landscape painter can have. If someone knows how, without any tricks, to get down a figure, he is able to make a landscape; otherwise, he can never do it.”
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875)

Observational drawing and painting from the human figure has been a part of traditional art practice for hundreds of years.  Whether or not the artist intends to make finished paintings of figures - there is no better way to study the effects of light on form than regular drawing in the quiet concentration of the life drawing room.

Black Dog Arts has offered life drawing sessions to its members since its early days. We meet most months on Sundays at The Fisher Theatre for four hours’ drawing between 10.30 am and 3.00 pm. We engage the region’s most experienced male and female life models. The sessions are untutored - but follow a regular pattern. For the first two hours, there will be several short warm-up poses of just a few minutes in length - building up to longer poses of around half an hour.  After a 30 minute break, the remaining two hours will usually be spent on one or two long poses - enabling artists to work on more detailed studies. Regular members include professional and hobby artists, textile artists and sculptors. 

There will be 9 life drawing sessions in the new 2018/19 season.  Our regular venue is The Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay.  We usually meet in the main auditorium where the model is on a raised platform with room for artists all around. The next dates are:
  • 25th November 2018
  • 27th January 2019
  • 24th February 2019
  • 31st March 2019
  • 28th April 2019
  • 26th May 2019
  • 30th June 2019
  • 29th September 2019
  • 27th October 2019

There are two ways to pay for the sessions.

1. SUBSCRIBE! For a one-off payment of just £75, you will have a guaranteed place at all 9 sessions.  This offer is for fully paid up members of BDA only and is excellent value at under £8.50 per session. Subscription payments are due at the session on 25th November.  BDA membership is currently £10 per year.
2. DROP IN!  Attend on a session by session basis at the BDA members’ rate of £12 per session - or the non-member rate of £17 per session.
(NB. Drop-in places may be limited if the season is fully subscribed.).  

There is an e-mail list for anyone interested in the BDA life drawing sessions. If you wish to subscribe to the group or be added to the list for regular updates and reminders, please contact:

Malcolm Cudmore on 01986 893291 (hm), 07912 793204 (mb) or
Email: [email protected] 

Previous experience is not necessary.  We welcome new members.