Life Class: Today's Nude

Comments

1. I missed the series when it was shown on TV. Is it possible to buy the series on DVD so that I can practice drawing at my leisure . I am concerned that i will not be able to view this for long

   Posted by Hilary on 26/07/2009 11:33:31

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2. I love to draw the human form, but don't get many opportunities to do so. So I welcomed the chance to do some life drawing offered by this series. However, I found the first three artists completely uninspiring along with the chosen poses. I felt that established artists should at least have the basics of drawing and be able to offer some useful tips to the people watching and drawing at home. A half hour for the full programme really isn't long enough either as a couple of warm up poses would have been good and a slightly longer main pose as well as time to look at the artists finished work at the end. Also the girl on wednesday had never life modelled before and should have been given some guidence as to what a comfortable and holdable pose might have been. The camera crop for that pose was really bad and would have been more useful if we could see the full body and background as the eye would. Tuesday's pose was just unbelievably boring. Thursday and Friday were an improvement in poses and artists attitudes. It might be an idea too to have just one or two episodes a week as I think most people would struggle to do every day. All in all, it's a great idea, but it could have been done better.

   Posted by fiona flavin on 10/07/2009 19:30:35

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3. Excellent idea for a series. Life drawing is enjoyed by many people because not only is it the best way to learn how to observe it also encourages self reflection and an acceptance of our humanity. If Helen's child was at all disturbed by seeing a naked body on TV then she has to ask herself why and what is she doing to the child's attitudes. Some of the tutors have not been competent in figure drawing but fun to watch nonetheless. I'd like to see more of a teaching angle in the artists' contribution.

   Posted by Peter Kavanagh on 10/07/2009 09:10:33

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4. Really enjoy the series can't wait for Harry Hill to skit episode 2.Could train a monkey to paint better , but you already have - best laugh i've had in years !!!!

   Posted by Richard on 09/07/2009 10:34:46

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5. It might help if you used artists who have some degree of competence in drawing, who know how to set up their easel so they're not peering round their drawing board. Models should be able to sit still for ten minutes and the cameraman should use a focal length which at least approximates to the human eye so you don't get that unnatural foreshortening produced by a zoom lens. It's a good idea done wrong.

   Posted by Alan on 09/07/2009 00:46:04

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6. Helen, I agree with Colin. Children should be supervised when watching TV. This is ART, and the human form has always been painted/sculpted/drawn. The human body should be celebrated as a beautiful thing in all its sizes and colours. We are all naked under our clothes and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I only wish there were more instructional programmes on TV for budding or experienced artists. Watercolour challenge was great fun, and avidly watched by many people.

   Posted by Russell on 08/07/2009 12:45:36

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7. I have just watched this, and have read the response that Helen wrote. I think that the answer here is that the human body is a beautiful thing to look at, as for the language is is rather mild and I would hazard a guess that the child in question will come into worse. The question for me is why was the child not being supervised as to what he was watching. I think it's best to rememberTV is not a toy or a nanny for any child, no matter what their age and I'm sorry that Helen was offended. Keep up the good work C4 and more of this kind I have informed my partner who works as the Open Lerning Manager to pass programe details to the art dept. I will upload my drawings soon.

   Posted by Colin McGowan on 07/07/2009 15:35:16

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8. Fantastic series so far - well done channel 4, would like more on Maggi Hambling working (superb artist) this is art at its best helping to seduce us all into drawing and painting. Those with issues about the human form are only the repressed when it comes to Art the human form is central to its expression!

   Posted by Tracey R on 07/07/2009 13:33:19

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9. I am absolutely outraged that this programme containing strong language (swearing) and nudity was allowed to be aired at 12.30 until 1pm in the afternoon! My 2yr old son was watching and I'm appalled that there was no warning or explanation why it could possibly be necessary to show this explicit material. I would appreciate a response to this serious matter Helen

   Posted by Helen on 06/07/2009 18:29:33

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10. I agree. An hour would have been better. I would have liked to have seen more of Ms Hambling's working. However, I enjoyed the programme and did manage to get some marks down.

    Posted by someone on 06/07/2009 16:01:21

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11. It would have been so nice if you made this available on iTunes or youTube, or anywhere else for that matter, so people from other countries could get involved. It is a great idea. You will never ever see anything like this in the U.S. - less paid TV perhaps. Spread the news, art is for everyone! Wear out a pencil, Jim

    Posted by Jim on 05/07/2009 15:59:43

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