Energy In the Room

I have discussed how much I enjoy working in group figure model settings. The weekly sessions I attend had been on break for the holidays. Two weeks ago we started up again in a new space - a large open room that usually hosts yoga classes. The new year and venue have brought out large crowds of motivated artists.

The start-up routine is familiar. Lots of commotion, people greeting each other, moving chairs, setting up easels, sharpening pencils. Enter the model, off comes the robe and everyone goes to work. You can feel it - there is an energy in the room. One can't help but absorb some of that energy when working with a group of motivated souls. Here are two thirty minute efforts from the first two "yoga room" sessions.

Nude Study, oil pastel, 9 1/2" X 8 1/2"

Reclining Nude Study, oil pastel, 7" X 10 1/2", 

It fascinates me how we are all in the same room seemingly doing the same thing. But in reality everyone is working in their own private world, focused on the task before them with motivations and methods as varied as the personalities.