Life Class: Today's Nude

Comments

1. I would very much like to purchase this on dvd, or at least watch them all again. Could you let me know if this is poss?

   Posted by yvonney on 15/08/2009 18:19:48

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2. I came across these programmes (with Judy Purbecks life class) by accident while ill at home. What a wonderful idea. Frustratingly I only managed to record the last two so I looked at the rest on line. I agree that the camera should have spent more time on the model to give us more drawing time but each artist gave me something different to consider. John Berger ,as always, very inspiring. Gary Hume? crap- usual boring model, he didn't look after her either and he produced nothing of interest. I would love to see more of this type of art programme on TV - with more advertising to encourage people to watch and to be put on at a more popular time.

   Posted by Lindsay Chase on 06/08/2009 15:40:10

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3. I work near where I live and I have had much pleasure this week by rushing home at lunchtime, grabbing a sandwich and picking up a pencil and some paper and doing a drawing. I haven't drawn for a while and that half hour has been a really enjoyable space. Please can we have some more programmes - only longer and maybe after work. I have never written to the TV before but felt compelled to in the light of negative comments in the newspapers. Please give us more!!!Anitra Jones

   Posted by Anitra on 10/07/2009 15:53:47

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4. As an artist and tutor myself I have to completely agree with Steve L-B and many other comments. Fantastic opportunity and well done C4 for doing it in the first place, but a little more thought would have made it a much better programme. If the target audience was competent artists, then great (I had a ball); but for anyone else, perhaps students too scared to show their lack of skills at a real life class, the programme was less than successful. Anyone who teaches knows that their students respond better when they respect the tutor and to be honest, a couple of the represented "artists" commanded little respect. In fact, one seemed to be a complete newbie to the life class and worse, chose a newbie for a model too. Of course, art does not have to be representational, but the greatest joy in a life class is to reproduce what you see before you - individually interpreted. The skills needed to learn that are within the reach of nearly everyone and I felt that this programme could have gone a long way to helping those at home achieve that.

   Posted by Penny on 09/07/2009 14:34:45

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5. Unfortunately, these programs show the poor state of the art-establishment in the UK - aside from the conceptual "britart" rubbish, even the "figurative art establishment" is currently populated by people whose drawing and painting skills mostly leave a great deal to be desired. While the aim of promoting figurative art is laudable, and all the participants should be appreciated for their contributions, the drawings submitted to the related flickr "Life Class:Today's Nude" group by members of the public http://www.flickr.com/groups/lifeclass/pool/ totally upstage the featured artists on the programs.

   Posted by dcorc on 09/07/2009 00:06:19

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6. I have just watched this and am totally flabbergasted at how this made the ch4 line-up. The whole programme contradicts itself. Humphrey continues to give completely unhelpful pearls of wisdom and then moans about having to talk to the camera calling it a distraction. He also states that there is a special connection between the nude and artist and that drawing a nude can be an intense experience. I understand this to be the thrill and joys of life drawing. Unfortunately this is lost through the medium of television. This makes the programme redundant. A saving grace would include Humphrey giving the viewers specific tips on brush stroke technique or on colour choices. He doesn't. He moans. There was nothing inspiring about watching Tinka (bless her) trying to fight falling asleep to the dull tones of Mr Ocean. And I completely agree with Mark1 - the final product doesn't deserve transmission itself let alone a whole 25 minutes building up to it. It's awful. It looks nothing like the model and does look like a poo. I hope ch4 reconsiders the airing of future episodes or makes them in a way so that they would be beneficial to anyone wanting to pick up life drawing. The best bit was the trojan horse at the end - maybe Dali's crying from within it. Alex

   Posted by Alex on 08/07/2009 01:21:00

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7. I tuned into this programme expecting to learn a great deal about improving my skills as an artist and was left feeling rather disappointed with the information i received as well as the final picture done by a man that is a well respected artist. Instead of looking like a high quality life drawing that would inspire me to attempt this style of art myself, i believe that the finished product looked like nothing more than a piece of poo. Sorry to put it so bluntly but i can't think of any other way to describe it! Hopefully tomorrow's show will be more helpful.

   Posted by Jill on 07/07/2009 16:16:08

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8. i think you are missing the point... you don't learnt to draw by watching an artist drawing, you learn to draw by doing it! Otherwise you will just end up never having your own style. If you look at the flickr group, it shows how different people interpret what they are seeing. This is an absolutely brilliant program, and very brave for Channel 4 to show it. love it and hope it continues after this series.

   Posted by thomas on 07/07/2009 16:00:50

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9. I do kinda have to agree with Chris in that NOT seeing Ocean's work until then end does allow the viewer to create and not imitate. However when Ocean's work is finally revealed for all of 15 seconds, before the panning shot of the studio and resident horse, I wanted to see something a little better than a poop shaped, poop coloured, dripping poop down the paper, picture of a poop with a turqoise bracelet. Not SO inspiring. I think i would also like ch4 to run a disclamer on the bottom of the screen informing me that a) this isn't one of their reality wind-up shows, and I'm not being filmed choking on my bran flakes as I watch this. b) that there will be only ONE camera angle of a naked woman on my screen for 35 mins. c) that I am not on any hallucenagenic drugs... this IS actually happening. Other than that, absolutely CRACKING show,(almost as good as "disabled pets") it really made my day, I'm just sorry I hadn't cottoned on to what was happening sooner... but (forget Prime Ministers Questions) sketchbooks at the ready tomorrow!!!! Much love to Tinka, you're lovely. x

   Posted by Mark1 on 07/07/2009 15:04:22

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10. I agree fully with Christine M. I was hoping to watch an expert at work in order to learn from his technique. I was disappointed.

    Posted by Tony on 07/07/2009 14:27:59

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11. What an invaluable opportunity to take part in a life class with words of advice without seeing the artist at work, therfore forced to make your own interpretation. It was exciting to at the end see Ocean's work; an inspiration for the next class. The long sit was good following yesterday's quick sketches. I do hope this series will be followed by similar ones. Can it be purchased on DVD?

    Posted by chris i on 07/07/2009 13:46:50

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12. I have missed the series. Can I buy it on DVD? I'm livid with myself !

    Posted by linda cooney on 05/07/2009 10:16:38

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