Mid-winter may seem an unseasonal time to start a register of life models – to connect artists with nude models – but a Canberra entrepreneur has established a database of more than 60 models available for work.
Lauren Sutherland, a life model herself and founder of The Tipsy Sketching Club, has just created the Canberra Life Model Collective to bring local sketchers and muses together. The need arose in 2022 when Lauren first started her business of running sketching sessions in bars around town.
“Initially, one of my challenges was finding a variety of models that I could hire for all of the life drawing sessions,” Lauren said. “The last thing I wanted to do was get returning patronage that would be turning up and drawing the same model every event.”
“I really enjoy myself life modelling and being able to see other people take a step into that world and really blossom is great.”
All life models on the register are professionals with experience ranging from a few months to 10 years. Lauren said many of the newly-registered life models were millennials.
“I realised that there’s a disconnect where there’s the traditionally older life models that have been doing it for years and may be nearing retirement now, and they’re very well established and they know everyone in the art world,” Lauren said. “But there wasn’t really a way in for young people to put their hand up and say, yeah, maybe I wouldn’t mind getting naked for people on stage. Like, it’s an odd thing to pose to strangers.”
Apart from recruiting models for her own Tipsy Sketching Club sessions four times a month, Lauren also posts jobs where Canberra artists or conveners have reached out for models. She pays all models appropriately because “the gig’s not easy”.
“It can take a toll on your body, even if you’re just standing still,” Lauren said. “I used to enter a little bit of a meditative state where that’s my time to force myself into a bit of stillness. I’ve received a lot of feedback that other models find it the same because everyone is on the go all the time.”
It seems alcohol and the arts is a popular combo, with Pub Choir selling out around the world, and Paint and Pinot making a delicious partnership. Lauren has grown her business from one venue a month to four. Her most recent venue is Duxton’s in O’Connor and Lauren has her sights set on Belconnen.
In a smart business move, Lauren (who has a hospitality background) holds her sessions on a quiet week night or Sunday, when a venue can be closed off to the public for privacy – and the hospitality industry is glad of the patronage. At an average Tipsy Sketching Club session, Lauren gets around 25 people. The demographic is varied but predominantly millennial and Gen Z.
“It’s awesome to see emerging generations being interested in this art form that traditionally attracts older generations,” Lauren said. “It’s opened up life drawing again to those social and public spaces that maybe those generations are just more comfortable being in.”
A side note to aspiring life models: all life drawing venues are well-heated. Canberra.lifemodel.collective is on Instagram.
