Figure Drawing at OAA

Dear Students and Artists,

I want to take a moment to address something that has been on my mind for quite some time regarding life drawing at the Ottawa Art Academy.

Over the past while, I have made several sincere attempts to establish and maintain regular life drawing sessions within the studio. As many of you know, this is a discipline I take seriously. Drawing from the figure has long been considered a cornerstone of traditional training and there is simply no substitute for working from life when it comes to developing a true understanding of form, structure, and observation.

However, despite these efforts, it has become clear that there is not a consistent or committed enough group to sustain these sessions in a way that meets the standard they require. Life drawing depends on reliability (both in attendance and in approach) and without that foundation, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify the time, coordination, and cost involved in running them properly.

Because of this, I have made the decision to discontinue offering life drawing sessions at the Ottawa Art Academy for the foreseeable future.

This is not a decision made lightly. It comes after repeated attempts to make it work, and a recognition that, at present, the conditions simply are not there to support it in a meaningful way.

That said, I do want to leave the door open for those who are serious about pursuing figure drawing. If a group of dedicated students wishes to take the initiative to organize sessions independently (handling scheduling, participation, and model arrangements) I would be open to being hired to teach instructed life drawing under those circumstances.

Until such a structure is in place, the studio will remain focused on its current programs and areas where there is strong, ongoing engagement.

I appreciate the interest that has been shown, and I respect those who have made the effort to participate. Should things change in the future, I would be open to revisiting the possibility of reintroducing life drawing in a form that is sustainable and worthwhile for everyone involved.

Sincerely,

Matt Collins
Chief Instructor