"SIZZLING CINDERELLAS IN SLINKY COSTUMES AND 'HUNKS OF MAN FLESH' ARE PARADED IN FRONT OF ASPIRING ARTISTS."
As far as we can recall, the prerequisite for Life drawing classes was a naked old man with a semi-stiff and a bunch of students trying not to laugh. Life drawing is normally associated with those awkward school years and art-school acads’, but Bambi your eyes wide in excitement, because here comes Dr Sketchy - a brilliant new breed of high-brow art class making pencils scribble faster than pulses.
Founded in 2005 by artist, author and former artists’ model Molly Crabapple, her Brooklyn event subverts the orthodox method of drawing nudes, instead using theatrical themes with burlesque inspired models. Promising a evening of drinking, drinking, drawing and debauchery, sizzling Cinderellas in slinky costumes and ‘hunks of man flesh’ are paraded in front of aspiring artists (and casual voyeurs disguised as fashionable fops). In between sittings, artists and fops can sip vino while relaxing to a miniature Variety Show of poetry and music. Learning to life-draw suddenly got sexy.
It’s no wonder this small-time Brooklyn soiree made marks across the world. Together with a traveling road show and flash-mob events, Dr Sketchy art classes have popped up in over 80 countries, proving anything but being sketchy...
Right now, Madam Molly is settling her arse very comfortably into the London scene, perusing the drink-dens, smokey hubs and cabaret clubs for her next line-up of model talent. Past posers have included strip-teaser Marianne Cheesecake and pin-up performer Slinky Sparkles. It’s all about the costume, or lack of, and the theatrical mis en scene each ‘performer’ can throw into the ring. But is it enough to draw out, as it were, the artiste in every attendant?
You can imagine the scope and quality of work that, ahem, arises. Doodles, Alberto Vargas imitations, dribble stains and Renoirs all materialize under the guidance of a compeer’s theme - ‘Film Noir’, ‘Cabaret’, ‘Snow Globe’ and naturally ‘au natural’ are all interpreted with subjective candour, to the delight of a possible 1st prize for best work.
But this isn’t just about art on paper. This is about the art of creating art, a life-style that was almost burnt to its Parisian ashes, revived in snatches through the old-school hearts of vintage passionistas like Molly. Because of Molly, Dr Sketchy poses on the vanguard of our vintage renaissance, providing a spectacular cabaret infused lifestyle for future-retro enthusiasts (and curious voyeurs) to enjoy for backwards decades to come.
Want to drawer at one of Sketchy’s infamous classes? Peruse her dandy-licious website for all the details!
Words: Tiffany Tondut
Sketches: Lauren Silberman 2008