Pens & Brushes Philippines recently added another feather on their cap, with their event in Green Sun Hotel in Makati, aptly themed “The Deities of Ancient Egypt”. The activity was a life drawing session which featured male and female models that helped artists capture the same level of appreciation that the ancient civilization of Egypt was known to have for the human body – adorning and pampering it in every possible way, to unveil its beauty and mysteries.
Life drawing (nude) workshops can be intimidating for most people, even uncomfortable, but Pens & Brushes Philippines have found a way to conduct these sessions with professionalism and provide a very casual, relaxing and less intimidating environment.
As artists came in, they registered and were then ushered into an intimately-set area where a platform was set in the center where the models were to pose for their sets. Attendees were welcomed by other performers, such as the band Timog, who helped set the mood for the event. Faber Castell provided for the art medium to be used which ranged from pencils, charcoal, black ink and colored pens and pencils.
The activity was very straightforward – the entire workshop took about three hours and was composed of three sets. Both male and female models had 45 minutes of individual posing followed by a 10-minute break and concluded with a couple pose for about 30 minutes, and then some time for refreshments and socials at the end.
Compared to the usual nude drawing workshops, this session was similar to speed-dating. Models changed their poses after a specified number of minutes, beginning with just 2 minute-poses, then 5-minute poses and followed by much longer poses, which lasted from 10 to 15 minutes. With this, the art enthusiasts were able to have more material to work on and challenge their skills of coming up with expressions of their art under a very limited time.
Everyone passionately rendered their art in appreciation of what was in front of them. First-time attendees of the activity gave feedback that the experience was surprisingly relaxing and, as the models came in, the artists in them were brought to life. “I thought I would feel uncomfortable when the session began, but as soon as the models came in, it was the clear appreciation of the human body’s muscle definition, movement and contours that captured my interest,” says Grace who attended the activity for the first-time.
Indeed, everyone is welcome in these art workshops of Pens & Brushes. It’s not limited to those who attended art school or took up Fine Arts in college. Pens & Brushes Philippines aims to contribute to the development of the arts and humanities in the country. “We would like for people to have a venue where they can develop their skills, while at the same time, challenge these skills,” said Emerson of Pens & Brushes Philippines.
Those who attend the activities of Pens & Brushes come with different levels of engagement in the arts – there are those who are professionals, there are hobbyists, and there are also those who just came so they can relax. The way that the sessions are conducted provide for an even footing for everyone. They can freely express themselves and their art at the workshops.
Ivan, who was a second-time attendee in Pens & Brushes Philippines’ workshops, says that these sessions provide him with a chance to reconnect with his passion. “I completed fine arts in college, and it is what I do now, but my work is done in digital. When I do this, I feel a release. It is good to do traditional artwork again.”
For future workshop schedules of Pens & Brushes Philippines, please visit www.pensnbrushes.com or visit their Facebook page PensNBrushesPhilippines.
