The Big Draw

A A A Comments By Susan Froyd Thursday, May 13 2010

From personal experience as an erstwhile artist, I can tell you that life drawing can be such a pain. For one thing, the professional pool isn’t very deep, and no matter how good the model is, you’ll get tired of her particular variety of au naturel stretch, sprawl or repose. And the amateur pool? Don’t get me started. There’s always one of those guys, whom I find much less interesting to sketch, who volunteer a little too quickly, thinking of themselves as the lord’s completely unvarnished gift to women. Or men. Or men and women. And why can’t they all just stand still, anyway? I don’t want any swinging, wobbling, shivering or grinning.

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On the other hand, the best remedy I’ve heard of for solving the many vagaries of life drawing can be experienced tonight during Body Worlds Sketch Night at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where from 6 to 9:30 p.m., artists can bring their sketchbooks and have at it in the best of conditions, free of crowds and offering the best models ever: the dead, plastinated ones featured in the current Body Worlds exhibit. “It’s a unique opportunity for artists, because it really shows anatomy,” notes the museum’s Heather Hope. “You’re literally looking under the skin at the true structure of the musculature.”

Admission to Sketch Night ranges from $16 to $25, but the return is priceless; get information and reservations at www.dmns.org or call 303-322-7009. The museum is at 2001 Colorado Boulevard.
Tue., May 18, 6-9:30 p.m., 2010

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What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.